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Spa Jobs: How to Start Your Career in the Beauty & Spa Industry

by | CAREER GUIDANCE, Career Paths

The spa and beauty niche is an attractive sector within the hospitality industry. Not only do you get to meet people from all walks of life, but spa-goers tend to be more relaxed, making for a peaceful work environment.

No matter your reason for wanting to work in a spa or salon, we've got you covered. Below we've outlined the necessary steps for kickstarting your career in the beauty industry.

Let's dive in!

Things to Consider Before Diving Into Different Spa Jobs

First, as with any job search, do some soul searching to determine if the spa and beauty industry is a good match for you. Like with any field, there are tons of different roles available, which may come with their own pre-requisites. But generally speaking, there are a few things to consider while deciding whether a spa and beauty career is for you:

Are You Comfortable with Coming Into Close Contact with Strangers?

Many spa jobs require you to perform treatments such as massage, hydrotherapy, herbal wraps, scrubs, and more. If you’re uncomfortable coming into close contact with strangers, these roles might be challenging for you to thrive in.

Meeting New People

While you'll likely have regular, repeat customers, there's a good chance you'll meet new people every day. Whether they're walk-ins, visiting the area, or just a new customer, you'll have to be comfortable meeting and conversing with new people every day. 

It’s Hard Work

While spas are a relaxing treat for patrons, behind-the-scenes isn't always as peaceful. Often, employees need to hurry from one client to the next, with little breaks in between. Plus, there's a good chance you’ll be on your feet all day and have to manage multiple responsibilities. Therefore, multitasking is an absolute must for thriving in this industry.   

You're Part of the Spa Experience

Many people visit a spa for the first time after receiving a gift voucher. As such, they might not be familiar with the process. While salons are relaxing, when customers first walk through the door, they may be unsure what to expect. So, are you good at making people feel at ease? As this is an imperative skill to have. 

 

The Benefits of Working in a Spa

With those considerations in mind, let’s take a moment to appreciate all the great things about working in a spa:

You get to work in a beautiful environment. Spas are designed to be serene and attractive. Who wouldn’t want to work in such a gorgeous setting? 

You'll benefit from relaxed customers. Retail and hospitality jobs are often considered stressful because of the demanding customers you come into contact with. Whereas, at a spa, most visitors step through the door in a good mood, ready to relax. So, you’re much more likely to meet smiling faces!

Career progression. If you start as a beauty practitioner, there's scope for professional growth. Whether that means gaining extra qualifications, becoming an expert at specific treatments, opting for management training, or even opening your own business. There are plenty of professional development opportunities to be had. 

 

Different Kinds of Spa Jobs

Now that we've (hopefully) piqued your interest, let's turn our attention to some of the more common spa and beauty industry jobs.

Spa Attendants: Spa attendants work in resorts, salons, and hotels and are specially trained to provide facial, body, and hydro treatments. They often assist massage therapists by preparing treatment rooms and tables and offering refreshments, towels, and robes to clients.

Massage Therapist: Massage therapists are expert masseurs. Often, they work in resorts, salons, and hotels. This is skilled work and can be undergone in full-time employment or on a freelance basis.

Beauty Therapist: Beauty therapists are qualified to provide beauty treatments like facials, waxing, manicures, basic makeup, and more.

Make-Up Artists: This role specializes in providing makeup treatments. Like many of the positions listed here, you could either work in a day spa on a full-time basis or opt for freelance work.

Spa Receptionist: As the title so aptly suggests, spa receptionists handle the salon's front desk and help to settle customers in. They have to explain the procedures, make customers feel at ease, and manage appointments. Spa receptionists should be outgoing and customer-friendly.

Spa Manager/General Manager: As a spa manager, you’ll oversee staff and coordinate administrative tasks for the spa. This includes scheduling shifts and putting procedures in place to maintain professional standards across all the spa’s services.

 

Qualifications You’ll Need for a Career in the Beauty Industry

The qualifications you need vary. For instance, positions that require expertly executed treatments usually require more-depth training. 

But generally speaking, experience in the following areas will serve you well:

  • Administration
  • Customer service
  • Hospitality
  • Sales

Spa therapists across various disciplines may be required to hold a current license in aesthetics and/or physiotherapy. For example, to become a licensed massage therapist, you'll need to take approved national examinations in massage therapy. This could include the massage and bodywork licensing examination. Once you’ve graduated from an accredited massage therapy program and completed the required hours of training, you can also apply for a state license.

For most specific spa jobs, a training program is more important than an academic degree. You can become a spa receptionist or spa attendant with just a high school degree.

 

Are You Ready to Find New Career Opportunities in the Spa Industry?

Thanks to COVID-19, the future of hospitality seems uncertain, so there's no time like the present to start thinking about fresh career opportunities.

A spa position is an excellent route if you're looking for versatile work, where you'll meet new people in a beautiful environment. With many specialist training paths to go down, there's plenty of room for career progression.

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