Industry pro, Deedee Crossett, answers your burning questions about the industry every month in Skin Inc. magazine.
Great question! I’ve been the Dean of the San Francisco Institute of Esthetics and Cosmetology for 21 years, and I answer this question almost every day! Things have changed since COVID-19, so I think this is an important topic.
1. Review online presence. Make personal posts private. Your future clients and employers want to see your professional work and some social activities. Keep your personal life personal.
2. Make your resume relevant. If you are applying to a lash or waxing studio, your resume can be more creative; including photos and links to your online portfolio. Applying to a med spa requires a more traditional resume. Photos are popular and a good way to present yourself. You should look like the person they want to hire. Avoid selfies and party pics.
3. Confident handshake. Look your clients and employers in the eyes. Handshakes should be firm and your body position upright and confident. If you look bored, unsocial, or unapproachable it will be difficult to build a clientele.
4. Practice. You are fresh out of school, so you need to practice your massage, waxing techniques and treatments. Think about the concept that it takes 10,000 hours to become a master. You have 600-1,000, so you need more time to become an expert. Honor your craft and be humble.
5. Schedule your future. You are starting a new career; you’ll need time to build your income and clients. You will work weekends, nights and some holidays. Inform your family, friends, and partners that you are creating a future business that will take time. Financially successful professionals will tell you that you need a strong work ethic.
6. Be nice to yourself and others. No one wants an angry esthetician. Your health and well-being matter, and you’ll be able to deliver insanely great customer service when you are nice to yourself and others.
Founder and owner of the San Francisco Institute of Esthetics and Cosmetology since 2002, Deedee Crossett is an industry pioneer for raising the bar of undergraduate education for cosmetologists and estheticians. She can be reached at www.facebook.com/deedee.crossett.