Our reader question for the next issue of ASCP Skin Deep magazine is what advice would you give a new graduate who is about to start a career in esthetics? Is there something you wish an experienced esthetician had told you when you started out? Pass along your wisdom by replying here, and we'll use some of the replies in the July/August issue of the magazine!

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Read Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell.

I wish someone had told me that as driven as I was, and as much as I truly wanted to do everything perfectly... You have to see a certain amount of faces, and put in a certain amount of hours in order to really know how to be an expert. It takes time to figure out how to balance being personable with being professional. 

I also wish I would have had someone tell me that you just can't please everyone. There is no way possible that you can provide everyone that will grace your table with the exact service that they want or expect. It's simply not possible. You can't beat yourself up about it, but you can try to learn from each experience (positive and negative). 

I think it's very important to realize that graduating esthetics school is just the beginning. Continuing education is key. It's the main thing that will keep you inspired in the treatment room. 

I wish I'd known that the key to building a thriving business is sales. I didn't want to be "pushy", but clients want you to lead the interaction and be the expert. Getting a client on the right home care routine solidifies in their mind your value as an expert, and it keeps them returning.

I wish I would've gone out on my own sooner. And live your passion!

No matter how sure you are that you did something right, if a client complains about dissatisfaction with the service, do it over, do it exactly as they ask and don't charge them twice. You may gain a discerning, yet ultra loyal client who likes it done right but won't go to anyone else because you're the only one who knows what they want.

If you've redone a service as they ask and they're still not happy, don't be afraid to let them go. (But no refunds unless you really did something wrong! Don't short change yourself.)

Be more discerning than your client. They like it.

Be friendly and forgiving. Listen to your clients and get to know who they are. Show that you're genuinely interested in them.

Have confidence, get as much outside education as possible, and market yourself to everyone you meet.  When you first start out expect to be slow, don't think you are going to have 20 clients a week to start off, you may have  1 or 3, but don't let that get you down.  It takes time to build this profession into a career.  Find a niche and don't think you have to do everything because you learned it.  If you hate waxing, don't do it.  While having your own business is great, try to get a job in a spa to start and learn from other estheticians that have been in the business longer, or try to shadow different places if they let you.  Take advantage of all the support groups that are out there on Linked In, ASCP and Facebook.  Connect with other estheticians in your area or surrounding areas so you can trade and help eachother.  Find people of like minded professions to refer clients to, LMT's, Chiros, Yoga or fitness instructors, etc. 

Sheila, One of the greatest things I ever did was to trade with a real estate agent, a zumba instructor, and a photographer! This is great!

DON'T DO WHAT YOU HATE!!!

You are spot on with that one!

As for connecting with other Esties....well...I can say that I have tried that in my area and it did not end well.  But you can always try!  Don't be afraid of competition either! 

I don't have any esty friends in my immediate area but one is about 20 min north of my business, one about 30 min south and one is about 2 hours east.  Sorry you haven't had a good experience!  that is crappy!!

Personal trainers are great referrals and great for trade too.  Mine has sent me so many clients!!

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