Looking for info on whether practical/hands on interviews are normal in job hiring?

I've always worked for myself, but I'm hiring a MT and an esty and I need to do practical assessments.

Can business owners who have hired chime in on how you go about doing this?
And can Estes who've done these types of interviews chime in on what they've experienced?

Basically, do Estys do practical and what are the common steps? A full facial? A wax? On the owner/interviewer or a model?

Same with MT..

I have no idea how to proceed! :)

Thanks!

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I had to do this on a few interviews.  The interviewer simply told me what they wanted me to do.  One had me do a full facial. Another just wanted to experience cleansing and massage.  One asked for waxing.  I was fine with all of them, it  gave them a feel for what I could do and how my touch felt. 

Thanks Jodi! That helps. Wasn't sure if I was supposed to be the 'model' and if it should be a full facial (and, for the MT, a full massage) or just a short service?

Any interviewers out here want to chime in on procedure or what to look for?

Just make sure you don't make it seem like you just want a free service.  The one was so casual, after the facial, she says...'would you mind waxing my eyebrows?'  The way she said it, was like - oh yea, I need that done, not that she cared how good I was at it.   

LOL, wow, ya that would be awkward.

I think I'm not so worried about that for the facial, but for the MT I'm interviewing, it seems so awkward to lie there and receive a full massage.  I'm sure it'll be relaxing and nice, but I have to be clinical and assess  :)

Maybe I should go and get a relaxing (no assessment) massage before I get the one from my interviewee, LOL.  I could really use one!  :)  I'm so stressed about my Grand Opening... I wouldn't want to fall asleep or something during the interview (totally wouldn't happen!)

Can't wait to do these final interviews, though.  I hope that my assessments of their resumes, prior experience, and our first interviews match up with skills!

I have always done a "practical" - usually as a call-back.

Most will ask for a full-service in order to assess your flow and time management (especially with massage). Sometimes it will be on the owner - sometimes it will be with a lead therapist.

All you have to do is ASK what the interviewer wants you to do.

In the case of a facial, especially since you will probably NOT know the product line, they will usually set out the products that they want you to use.  You can even ask if they have a certain protocol that they want you to follow.

You should probably get used to this - I have never heard of anyone getting hired without a practical.

Hi Cindy,

I was more asking from the role of owner.  I am hiring a few people, not doing the practicals to get a job  :)

But, it does help to hear that its pretty standard!

thanks

We often, but not always do practicals for employees.

ALWAYS for esty's so we know where they are in the spectrum.  Usually for MTs, but not always, mainly to get a sense of their style and is only a screening tool if they are not responding to feedback or aspects of their technique are not good.

thanks for the info!  That helps  :)

In past interviews I was to perform a service ( minus one place) there I interviewed with manager then second was with owner and was " trained on job" . It was not my first place of employment ( but my last before going on own) ! Others a facial and wax- I did facial on owner and wax on models... They gave me info on products and rest was sorta up to me.

A few key points do they know the line you are using? past experience? I 100% would call a reference, if not more. You never know now days but background checks are easy and hopefully people are honest if you ask them about past and in general.
I also was asked to do a bikini wax on an interview -( went well/ok - etsy watched it- closely and was odd to me) i performed on an employee that was hair stylist and did facial on the same Esty that watched) this was after first initial interview with manager. I then did facial on etsy- she never said what type just give me facial. They used dermalogica- she said I used to much cleanser/ I would not have lasted a month there working with her-if I did get hired! So be sure to say what you want and have an employee handbook with what you expect along with verbal questions to see how the person you interview responds. Do they feel comfortable doing chemical peels? Do you need them to answer phones or do sidewalk? Do they have clients? Pay- experience- etc.

In my own hiring I have interviewed and narrowed down. Once asked one to perform that day ( facial) just cleanse, tone, massage). Other one came back and that way you can get a feel for personality and technique along with education, sanitary, etc. I think it's up to you if you would like to watch them perform on a model or yourself.

I hope you find good matches for your business!

thanks for the insights and ideas!

I have narrowed it down to 2 of each, so I won't be doing a lot of practical assessments.  I think I'll have them perform the practicals on me, since there's really no one else unless I get a model.  I do prefer to experience the person's technique myself anyway.

I would absolutely have a hands on interview.  I would either ask a friend or a very regular client to be the model so you can watch their process and makes notes.  You would need someone who will give you feedback that will be honest and not biased.  I would do the same for the MT (maybe not be in the room for that one).  Anyone can say they are great for the job.  You also want to make sure they don't have bad habits and are clean while they work. 

This is a standard practice.  I did this in two interviews.  One was a mini facial and underarm wax; the other was a full facial.  In both cases, since I had not mastered the skincare lines, the esthetician interviewing me made the product selections and laid them out for me to use.  It was a way of measuring technique and touch, more so than product knowledge.

Now, when I conduct practical interviews, I usually instruct estheticians to conduct a modified facial without equipment (except steamer and lamp).  I ask them to give a verbal skin analysis as they would with a client, deep cleanse, exfo (usually just an enzyme or scrub) and extract, mask, arm and hand massage while mask is on, mask removal and application of serum+SPF.  I give them about 25-30 minutes for this abbreviated facial.  I choose these steps because they are very important to me - particularly cleansing technique, extractions, and the quality of the arm and hand massage.  I also make sure they can stick to a specified amount of time.

Similarly, when I interview a massage therapist, it is a 25-30 minute interview.  I select upper or lower body for the interview, and explain that they will be doing either the upper or lower portion of a full body massage with firm pressure but not deep tissue.  Again, I show them what oils to use, and explain that I want them to be generous with hot towels during the massage (again, because hot towel technique in massage is very important to me).  If they are a deep tissue specialist, I usually have someone else conduct the interview because many deep tissue techniques are too painful for me.

In either case, you are setting up the room for them in advance, giving them a little tour of the room and what to find where, and asking them if there is anything else they need in order to perform the treatment.

A final note - you should specify that they are not to use any outside products on you, and mention any areas you don't want touched.  I had an overzealous recent esthetics graduate bring her own aromatic oil blend that smelled absolutely disgusting, and proceed to massage lots of it into my scalp before I realized what was happening.  I had somewhere to go after work, and I was greasy and smelly.  She did not get the job.

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