Working as a skin care professional will have its rewards, challenges, and surprises. Being informed and realistic about how your workplace operates will better equip you for a fulfilling career.
Job Duties
At a spa, you may be expected to perform tasks outside just the delivery of skin care services. Will you need to answer the phone? Clean the room? Take out the trash? If you are paid by commission, will you be compensated for the time you spend on those additional duties? If these topics aren’t mentioned during the interview process, ask. It’s important for you and your employer to be in agreement about them before you start work.
Working With Others
Your ability to get along with coworkers is vital to success. Learn to identify and respect the differences in others’ culture, behavioral characteristics, needs, and values. An important part of establishing a professional work environment is to recognize the strengths and weaknesses of each individual (including yours).
In any workplace, there will occasionally be conflict, whether related to a specific task or to a broader difference of opinion. Learn to recognize which issues really matter, when to stick to your guns and when to gracefully allow others to have their way. Active listening and empathy will help you manage a conflict and contribute to a better working environment.
Negotiating Skills
Negotiation does not mean one person wins and the other loses. If it’s done right, both parties end up better off than when they started. Whether you’re negotiating your wages with an employer, or resolving a workplace problem, be creative and try to find multiple points of value to bring up during the conversation. You will learn as you go, improving your ability to create a mutually beneficial situation.