Pay your dues

When you just got out of school, you start at the bottom. To get to the top, you must pay your fair share by gaining the experience necessary to land your dream job. The following tips come from estheticians who have experience working in the skin care field.

Say hello to our panelists

Rebecca Williams is a licensed esthetician in California. She received her education in Oregon at Phagan’s Beauty College. Fortunately, Oregon requires more hours than California to be an esthetician. When she moved to California, she did not need any additional education. Be sure to check the requirements for the state in which you want to practice. Williams is currently working on her doctorate in organizational leadership at Pepperdine University (Malibu, CA).

Linda Oksman is the director of Amethyst Spa and Boutique at Radisson Fort McDowell Resort and Casino in Scottsdale, AZ. She has certificates in skin aesthetics, cosmetology, and massage therapy. And she has her doctorate in naturopathic medicine. She has been in the industry for over 20 years.

Margina Dennis has an Advanced Certificate in Esthetic Skin Care from the Catherine Hinds Institute of Aesthetics (Woburn, MA). She also works as a licensed makeup artist and is a beauty editor for LA’G Magazine.

Here are her suggestions for success in the field of skin care:

Network and Advertising

“Go to the annual conferences put on by the industry. Networking is the biggest thing,” says Williams. “Post flyers, offer special offers, and leave your business cards wherever you can. I used to leave them at friends’ businesses and cafes. Create mailing lists and send them monthly to your customers.” Once you start meeting people and become a known presence in the industry, more people will recognize you and request your services. You can find conferences by becoming a member of associations, such as the National Association of Cosmetology or the National Coalition of Estheticians.

practice your skills

“Before you get your license, consider working for a department store cosmetics counter to improve your product sales skills,” says Oksman. “This will make you much more marketable once you start applying for your actual esthetician position at a spa or salon, especially if you end up becoming a top salesperson.”

“I contacted spas [when I started out] and asked them if they were looking for an esthetician,” says Dennis. “I found that a lot of places don’t necessarily advertise that they have an opening.”

Offer your services

“I went to different salons, spas, and massage places that didn’t offer skin care. I would create specials like ‘Get 10 facials, get 11 free.’ It took me nine months to a year to get established,” says Williams.

Dennis did something similar. “I also talked to salons to see if they were interested in adding esthetic services and setting up shop at one for a while.”

“You can also volunteer your skills at a local battered women’s shelter or a nurses’ hospitality fair,” says Oksman. “These charitable efforts really look good on your resume to a future employer.”

Specialize and enhance the experience

“People sometimes specialize in a line after school, like Dermalogica,” says Williams. “My school required us to learn five different lines, but every school is different. In these one-week to one-month programs, you can become an expert on the product. This will make you more marketable.”

“Plus, taking graduate classes will help you jump to a more confident comfort level. And remember, if your focus is on 100 percent guest satisfaction, you’re already ahead of the game!” Oksman says.

final thoughts

“Visit as many places as possible to get an idea of ​​where you want to work and the services you want to offer,” says Williams. “If this is something you’re very committed to, be persistent. Don’t give up. It’s a field worth being in.”