You have surpassed your goal of completing aesthetics school and now hold the coveted “Golden Ticket,” also known as your state license. As you ponder your options, you decide that the classic day spa is where you want to land as a newly minted aesthetics professional. Our focus will be on facilities that offer only skin care and body therapy treatments. Let’s take a look at the traditional day spa, a place which encompasses classic skin care treatments and body therapy in the form of massages, wraps, scrubs, and hydrotherapy.
You will be expected to work cohesively with a team of like-minded skin and body care professionals. You will need to lock arms and partner together as you all collectively move clients from treatment to treatment and even from one treatment room to another. The goal is to provide the ultimate experience for clients.
There are thousands of day spas in the world, with more being opened each week. It’s a rare thing to visit a hotel, resort, or any city large or small and not find a day spa. In America, the numbers are impressive, counting close to 5,700, according to a survey done by Pricewaterhouse Coopers in 2018.1 No wonder the expectations and corporate stakes are extremely high. Do you have what it takes to be the consummate service provider? Are you comfortable putting others’ needs before your own? Can you handle working with all demographics?
Today’s spa employers are expecting you to hit the ground running, although many provide training on their methods; however, you must have the basics down. One of the number one pieces of advice I can give is to visit local spas and experience a variety of treatments. It is very important to have first-hand knowledge of what you will be doing on a daily basis. Most beauty schools do not offer a spa diploma, so it is up to you to advance your knowledge, as well as your education, by attending workshops, along with live and online classes. Yes, you will need to make an investment – there is no other way to learn. Always remember that your education does not end once you pass your state board examination – your license is a license to learn more. In order to be invaluable to your new spa employer, you will need to get as much advanced education as you can. Not only does it show your commitment to your profession, it will also give you an edge in the industry. The opportunities are endless. Are you ready? Here are some question to ask yourself.

• Are you committed to being a service provider?
• Have you taken advanced education or are you planning to?
• Are you open to learning new methods?
• Are you dependable, responsible, and punctual?
• Are you willing to work weekends and evenings if need be?
• Do you make every effort to dress your best with on-trend makeup and hair?
• Do you work well with a team?
• How good is your time management?
• Can you accept constructive criticism?
• Are you willing to be teachable and coachable?
• Can you put the needs of others before your own?
• Are you able to upsell and cross sell other spa services?
• How are your retail and sales skills? Do they need improvement?
• Are your salary expectations reasonably based on your skills and experience?
• Do you want to grow with your new spa or are you using it as a stepping stone to other opportunities?

Though just skimming the surface, the above considerations will give you a career track to run on.
Another question to consider when preparing for an interview is, “how would my actions, commitment, and attitude be if the shoe were on the other foot?” If you were the owner or spa director doing the hiring, would you hire yourself? Though you may not own the business or have a financial stake as an investor, as a beauty professional, wherever your path may lead, you should always treat each job, client, and service as if you were the owner. This mindset changes everything. An open-minded owner will be delighted to have employees that take charge and view their job not just as any job, but as a career, where doing and giving your best is woven into the fabric of the daily operations of the business, not caring who gets the credit. Be sure to provide the best services to clients and the communities you serve. This will help make your new career priceless.

Reference
1 Href, Maito and Robin Eisner. “Spas Now Part of American Life” ABC.com www.abcnews.go.com

Denise Gaston is a proud CIDESCO diplomat, licensed aesthetician since 1989, certified clinical aesthetician, and is NCEA certified. Gaston has served as the northern California trainer for Repechage Skincare and as an aesthetics instructor for Miss Marty’s Hair Academy and C.I.D.E.S.C.O. Institute. She is a former spa owner, having had a private practice for 10 years. Gaston is currently the vice president and director of aesthetics at Fremont Beauty College. She is a reviewer for Milady’s Standard Cosmetology Textbook 2008 Edition; Milady Standard Esthetics: Fundamentals, 11th Edition; and Milady Standard Esthetics: Advanced, 2nd Edition. Gaston also serves as a subject matter expert for the California State Board of Barbering and Cosmetology.