Spa Job Search
Get the position you want in a tough economy
By Monica Schuloff Smith
Originally published in Skin Deep, November/December 2009. Copyright 2009. Associated Skin Care Professionals. All right reserved.
Finding a job in the current economic climate might be like finding a needle in a haystack, but spa industry leaders agree on one thing: some jobs are available for a select few. The difference is applicants have to be more prepared and skilled than ever because standard applications and resumes just don't work these days.
"Hit the streets," advises Brittany Molina, owner of Brittany Spa Salon in Jacksonville, Florida. Molina says she rarely looks at a resume any more as she prefers to see a candidate in person.
"Employers are in a position to be more particular with who they hire and don't want to take any risks in a bad economy," says Annet King, director of global training and development for The International Dermal Institute. King admits, however, that even her company has seen a slight decline on its job board.
Hannelore Leavy, executive director of The Day Spa Association and The International Medical Spa Association, says jobs are rare in the day spa industry. "There is presently a saturation of the market due to increased enrollment over the past years. The closing of many small day spas has left many therapists looking for work."
Even though the U.S. unemployment rate is the highest it's been since 1983, industry leaders tell spa professionals not to give up. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said in a recent Wall Street Journal report there are tentative signs that the sharp decline in economic activity may be slowing. Bernanke added, "A leveling out of economic activity is the first step toward recovery."
Where to Look
"Jobs most certainly are available and don't let anyone tell you any different," says Michelle D'Allaird, international consultant and owner of Aesthetic Sciences Institute. D'Allaird says she is still successful in helping more than 80 percent of her graduates gain employment. She feels there are still opportunities because of the enormous growth in positions within medical offices--not just dermatology and plastic surgery practices, but with all doctors, including OB/GYNs and general practitioners.
"The medispa business is flat," says Frederic Holzberger, founder and chief executive officer of Aveda Fredric's Institutes. "People are putting off elective cosmetic surgery because of the cost. There are not a lot of openings in that area. There are still a lot of people viewing facials as a luxury, so that segment of the business is down, too."
Professionals may be forced to look for jobs in nontraditional areas like assisted-living residences, country clubs, cruise ships, and health clubs, says Dorothy McKinley-Soressi, vice president of industry relations for Empire Education Group. "Look at part-time positions that could open doors in established spas."
According to Erika Mangrum, managing director of business development for Intuiskin, there is a growing need for spa managers who are business savvy.
"In a slow economy, there is increased emphasis on instilling and managing sound business practices. A spa manager needs to understand profit and loss, instilling a strong customer service culture for the team, and quality management," Mangrum says.
Who Gets Hired
"There are more people in the marketplace than there are positions, so standing out is a must," Mangrum says.
Holzberger agrees that jobs will always be available, but only to those who are multi-talented or multi-licensed. Job seekers should diversify their skills, such as with hair removal, nail, or massage licenses. He adds that retail knowledge is key.
Molina, also feels retail skills are a must. Today's therapists have to be hungry for business and eager to learn. "I hire for attitude and train for skill," she says. "I like to find employees who are not going to wait until the book fills up for them."
Scott Missad, president of the sales training company Agility Group, echoes Molina's thoughts on client bookings. He says the days when owners fed clients to their new hires are gone. Courses in communication, marketing, public speaking, and sales can help. Many classes may be offered locally and inexpensively.
Because of the level of competition, candidates need to be able to convince an owner they can be an asset to the business, Leavy says, and be prepared to accept an entry-level position and work their way up the ladder.
McKinley-Soressi says to set yourself apart from the competition by mastering a new, in-demand service and learning how to vary all treatments for male and female clients.
Get Started
Experts agree the most important thing when searching for a job is to have a plan and do research. Gordon Miller, executive director of the National Cosmetology Association, says you need to plot a career path and align yourself with a position that works you into that path.
"When you're researching potential employers, ask yourself, 'Is this someplace I want to be for a long time, or is it a short-term stepping-stone, and to where?'" Miller says.
Research is as simple as logging on to the Internet. Holzberger suggests job seekers search for spas by zip code. The retrieved results will return the names of businesses with the most Internet search hits. Take note of the top 10 establishments listed. These establishments, if you manage to get hired by them, could help build your clientele rapidly.
"But be cautioned that some areas may be down due to job losses in the area," Holzberger says. "Be sure to look at unemployment rates and home foreclosures. Houston is hot right now because of the oil industry. Colorado is doing well, too. These are places where property values are holding up, which is a good indicator of a strong market."
"Don't go necessarily for the most glamorous elite environment, go for the busy place that has a strong client base, great client retention, and lots of traffic," King says.
Beyond local research, a job seeker must know the issues today's spas are facing, including competition, customer retention, and the latest trends and techniques, Mangrum says, noting that everyone should have a personal "brand."
Network and Align Yourself
Just because resumes aren't unlocking every opportunity, you should never go without one. It's still important, King says, but a personal recommendation is gold. Make the right impression and form contacts from the very beginning of your career and all the way through.
"Be the right hand to your school instructor and make contact with any sales representatives who visit your school, as they know where all the jobs are. Be resourceful and reach out to every busy day spa, full-service salon, and skin center in your area," King says.
All networking avenues, including job boards, should be included in a job search. Leavy says The Day Spa Association launched a website last summer to enable job seekers to place their resumes into the category of spa positions for which they are looking.
"If you are not Internet savvy and can't use the technology available, you are invisible," King says. The Internet can help job seekers stand out. A Web page can showcase work and experience beautifully, and this can be a tremendous way to grab an employer's attention, Molina says. (Associated Skin Care Professionals offers members, including students, a free website and e-mail address, including high-quality photography. Log in using your member ID number and last name at www.ascpskincare.com.)
"Ensure that you have a clean cyber personality," says King, who warns job seekers not to upload unprofessional content to social networking sites like Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace, or Twitter. "This is the first place employers are going today to do their research on you. If you're partying and have posted all that information online, the potential employer will find it," Holzberger says.
Job seekers should also join professional associations, which can help them connect with others in the field. These affiliations can make candidates stand out.
"Most spas depend on your license and school diploma as proof of competency, but professional certifications show you have a certain level of proficiency," Miller says.
Another way to gain proficiency is to learn the ropes from someone who's been there. Missad says a mentor can offer guidance, but insists job seekers find one who is busy with a full book of high-paying clients.
Plan B: Going Solo
Experts concur it's not a time to go solo, unless you already have a few hundred clients in a database and know you'll make enough money to cover all of your costs and then some. If you decide to work on your own, Leavy suggests you try to find a salon or spa that still offers booth rentals so you can build a clientele. "When you are ready, you can move with your clients into your own space," Leavy says. "Just be sure the owner of the salon or spa will allow you to bring (and take) the clients with you."
D'Allaird says traffic flow is key: "Connect with a business like a gym, a medical facility, a nutritionist, a physical therapist, or even a popular clothing store."
With some salons or spas going out of business, it may be an opportune time to consider snatching up, at a markedly reduced rate, a ready-to-go facility, Holzberger says. He cautions, however, that to start your own business now, you need to have a great support system, a high profile in your community, and lots of friends.
"I don't recommend embarking on entrepreneurship just because there's no other option," Mangrum says. "It needs to be because that's your desire, you are fully prepared, have researched the options, have a business plan, and enough cash to get you through start-up and a minimum 12 months of operating losses, while paying yourself something."
What to Expect
If you really want a job, you should be willing to do anything to get your foot in the door. For every resume you walk in, e-mail, or send out, expect that you will only get a few callbacks. Most employers won't even bother with your application unless they have an opening. On the day you walk in, be prepared to do a face-to-face interview, practical skills test, or even shadow an employee to learn the spa's systems. This is how a spa's management will see if you fit in.
Today, many day spas are converting their compensation structure to salaried employees, Leavy says, but this doesn't mean they are abolishing commission structures and bonus pay. With salaried employees, it is easier to assign staff members tasks that need to be done during less busy times, plus, an employer can insist on uniforms, protocol according to the spa's philosophy, and so forth.
"Expect the interview process to be tougher than in years past," Mangrum says. "Employers are looking for people who can immediately add value." D'Allaird says, "Above all, don't become discouraged. Love what you do, and you will succeed." SD
Monica Schuloff Smith is a Miami-based editor, freelance writer, and industry consultant, and is the former editor in chief of Les Nouvelles Esthtiques & Spa. She has authored hundreds of articles on the skin care and spa industries. Smith is serving her third governor-appointed term as a member of the Florida Board of Cosmetology. She can be reached at aldsmith@bellsouth.net.
Finding a job in the current economic climate might be like finding a needle in a haystack, but spa industry leaders agree on one thing: some jobs are available for a select few. The difference is applicants have to be more prepared and skilled than ever because standard applications and resumes just don't work these days.
"Hit the streets," advises Brittany Molina, owner of Brittany Spa Salon in Jacksonville, Florida. Molina says she rarely looks at a resume any more as she prefers to see a candidate in person.
"Employers are in a position to be more particular with who they hire and don't want to take any risks in a bad economy," says Annet King, director of global training and development for The International Dermal Institute. King admits, however, that even her company has seen a slight decline on its job board.
Hannelore Leavy, executive director of The Day Spa Association and The International Medical Spa Association, says jobs are rare in the day spa industry. "There is presently a saturation of the market due to increased enrollment over the past years. The closing of many small day spas has left many therapists looking for work."
Even though the U.S. unemployment rate is the highest it's been since 1983, industry leaders tell spa professionals not to give up. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said in a recent Wall Street Journal report there are tentative signs that the sharp decline in economic activity may be slowing. Bernanke added, "A leveling out of economic activity is the first step toward recovery."
Where to Look
"Jobs most certainly are available and don't let anyone tell you any different," says Michelle D'Allaird, international consultant and owner of Aesthetic Sciences Institute. D'Allaird says she is still successful in helping more than 80 percent of her graduates gain employment. She feels there are still opportunities because of the enormous growth in positions within medical offices--not just dermatology and plastic surgery practices, but with all doctors, including OB/GYNs and general practitioners.
"The medispa business is flat," says Frederic Holzberger, founder and chief executive officer of Aveda Fredric's Institutes. "People are putting off elective cosmetic surgery because of the cost. There are not a lot of openings in that area. There are still a lot of people viewing facials as a luxury, so that segment of the business is down, too."
Professionals may be forced to look for jobs in nontraditional areas like assisted-living residences, country clubs, cruise ships, and health clubs, says Dorothy McKinley-Soressi, vice president of industry relations for Empire Education Group. "Look at part-time positions that could open doors in established spas."
According to Erika Mangrum, managing director of business development for Intuiskin, there is a growing need for spa managers who are business savvy.
"In a slow economy, there is increased emphasis on instilling and managing sound business practices. A spa manager needs to understand profit and loss, instilling a strong customer service culture for the team, and quality management," Mangrum says.
Who Gets Hired
"There are more people in the marketplace than there are positions, so standing out is a must," Mangrum says.
Holzberger agrees that jobs will always be available, but only to those who are multi-talented or multi-licensed. Job seekers should diversify their skills, such as with hair removal, nail, or massage licenses. He adds that retail knowledge is key.
Molina, also feels retail skills are a must. Today's therapists have to be hungry for business and eager to learn. "I hire for attitude and train for skill," she says. "I like to find employees who are not going to wait until the book fills up for them."
Scott Missad, president of the sales training company Agility Group, echoes Molina's thoughts on client bookings. He says the days when owners fed clients to their new hires are gone. Courses in communication, marketing, public speaking, and sales can help. Many classes may be offered locally and inexpensively.
Because of the level of competition, candidates need to be able to convince an owner they can be an asset to the business, Leavy says, and be prepared to accept an entry-level position and work their way up the ladder.
McKinley-Soressi says to set yourself apart from the competition by mastering a new, in-demand service and learning how to vary all treatments for male and female clients.
Get Started
Experts agree the most important thing when searching for a job is to have a plan and do research. Gordon Miller, executive director of the National Cosmetology Association, says you need to plot a career path and align yourself with a position that works you into that path.
"When you're researching potential employers, ask yourself, 'Is this someplace I want to be for a long time, or is it a short-term stepping-stone, and to where?'" Miller says.
Research is as simple as logging on to the Internet. Holzberger suggests job seekers search for spas by zip code. The retrieved results will return the names of businesses with the most Internet search hits. Take note of the top 10 establishments listed. These establishments, if you manage to get hired by them, could help build your clientele rapidly.
"But be cautioned that some areas may be down due to job losses in the area," Holzberger says. "Be sure to look at unemployment rates and home foreclosures. Houston is hot right now because of the oil industry. Colorado is doing well, too. These are places where property values are holding up, which is a good indicator of a strong market."
"Don't go necessarily for the most glamorous elite environment, go for the busy place that has a strong client base, great client retention, and lots of traffic," King says.
Beyond local research, a job seeker must know the issues today's spas are facing, including competition, customer retention, and the latest trends and techniques, Mangrum says, noting that everyone should have a personal "brand."
Network and Align Yourself
Just because resumes aren't unlocking every opportunity, you should never go without one. It's still important, King says, but a personal recommendation is gold. Make the right impression and form contacts from the very beginning of your career and all the way through.
"Be the right hand to your school instructor and make contact with any sales representatives who visit your school, as they know where all the jobs are. Be resourceful and reach out to every busy day spa, full-service salon, and skin center in your area," King says.
All networking avenues, including job boards, should be included in a job search. Leavy says The Day Spa Association launched a website last summer to enable job seekers to place their resumes into the category of spa positions for which they are looking.
"If you are not Internet savvy and can't use the technology available, you are invisible," King says. The Internet can help job seekers stand out. A Web page can showcase work and experience beautifully, and this can be a tremendous way to grab an employer's attention, Molina says. (Associated Skin Care Professionals offers members, including students, a free website and e-mail address, including high-quality photography. Log in using your member ID number and last name at www.ascpskincare.com.)
"Ensure that you have a clean cyber personality," says King, who warns job seekers not to upload unprofessional content to social networking sites like Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace, or Twitter. "This is the first place employers are going today to do their research on you. If you're partying and have posted all that information online, the potential employer will find it," Holzberger says.
Job seekers should also join professional associations, which can help them connect with others in the field. These affiliations can make candidates stand out.
"Most spas depend on your license and school diploma as proof of competency, but professional certifications show you have a certain level of proficiency," Miller says.
Another way to gain proficiency is to learn the ropes from someone who's been there. Missad says a mentor can offer guidance, but insists job seekers find one who is busy with a full book of high-paying clients.
Plan B: Going Solo
Experts concur it's not a time to go solo, unless you already have a few hundred clients in a database and know you'll make enough money to cover all of your costs and then some. If you decide to work on your own, Leavy suggests you try to find a salon or spa that still offers booth rentals so you can build a clientele. "When you are ready, you can move with your clients into your own space," Leavy says. "Just be sure the owner of the salon or spa will allow you to bring (and take) the clients with you."
D'Allaird says traffic flow is key: "Connect with a business like a gym, a medical facility, a nutritionist, a physical therapist, or even a popular clothing store."
With some salons or spas going out of business, it may be an opportune time to consider snatching up, at a markedly reduced rate, a ready-to-go facility, Holzberger says. He cautions, however, that to start your own business now, you need to have a great support system, a high profile in your community, and lots of friends.
"I don't recommend embarking on entrepreneurship just because there's no other option," Mangrum says. "It needs to be because that's your desire, you are fully prepared, have researched the options, have a business plan, and enough cash to get you through start-up and a minimum 12 months of operating losses, while paying yourself something."
What to Expect
If you really want a job, you should be willing to do anything to get your foot in the door. For every resume you walk in, e-mail, or send out, expect that you will only get a few callbacks. Most employers won't even bother with your application unless they have an opening. On the day you walk in, be prepared to do a face-to-face interview, practical skills test, or even shadow an employee to learn the spa's systems. This is how a spa's management will see if you fit in.
Today, many day spas are converting their compensation structure to salaried employees, Leavy says, but this doesn't mean they are abolishing commission structures and bonus pay. With salaried employees, it is easier to assign staff members tasks that need to be done during less busy times, plus, an employer can insist on uniforms, protocol according to the spa's philosophy, and so forth.
"Expect the interview process to be tougher than in years past," Mangrum says. "Employers are looking for people who can immediately add value." D'Allaird says, "Above all, don't become discouraged. Love what you do, and you will succeed." SD
Monica Schuloff Smith is a Miami-based editor, freelance writer, and industry consultant, and is the former editor in chief of Les Nouvelles Esthtiques & Spa. She has authored hundreds of articles on the skin care and spa industries. Smith is serving her third governor-appointed term as a member of the Florida Board of Cosmetology. She can be reached at aldsmith@bellsouth.net.
