The Problem with Beauty School 2

by Amy Sherman

Jan 13, 2014

There are so many things that my school did not prepare me for upon completion of my training in Esthetics.  I was not given any kind of realistic job futures.  Don't get me wrong!  I know that Esthetics is like a lot of things, you get out of it what you put into it, but when I went in to the school I attended for my "Interview"  They told me job prospects could reach into the 40,000$ range.  Now, I don't know about you, but that has taken me years to build up to and didn't include the first job where I made $5,000.00 for the entire year.  

Also, Several of my cohorts in class were totally shocked that they would ever have to work weekends.  (Which I just assumed, but they did not)

They also don't prepare you for the interview and job market.  I had no idea what I should and shouldn't be looking for in a job prospect.  What are red flags?  What questions should I be asking in an interview? How does compensation work?  Pros and Cons of going it alone, commission, hourly, etc. Including taxes.

And for goodness sake! Teach us how to retail! 

How about meeting with a tax person just to get an idea of what one will NEED?

How about some internet marketing skills?

Also, there are all kinds of different modalities using different options.  Why not go over those?  Or at least describe them.

Here are a few things my class did NOT prepare me for:

  • Being yelled at by another Esthetician.  Who was wrong.
  • Being yelled at by a Manger in front of clients.  Because I put a conditioner on the wrong shelf while I rang up over $5,000.00 worth of product, sales, and gift certificates.
  • An owner who refused to buy retail because she didn't believe in wearing makeup or "any of that frou frou crap".
  • Snakes.  Lawd! The snakes...
  • Cockroaches
  • weird centipede-like crawling things. On clients.
  • Blistering breakouts from any number of combination of treatment problems.
  • ingredients.  any kind. period. Heck, I could teach the ingredients class to my own class.
  • Waxing the nostrils or ears.
  • Brazilian Waxing
  • Makeup contouring
  • Boundaries with clients
  • Maternity Leave

Just a few examples of things that I would've liked at least a heads up on.  Do you have anything to add?

Load Previous Comments

  • Amy Sherman

    Kimberly you are right on with the bikinis! The school I went to no longer exists. They were bought out while I was still going there which created a lot of confusion. Now, it's much better!

    Feb 2, 2014

  • Holly Sheppard

    Aesthetics is a career that you have to continually take additional classes to educate and expand your knowledge. Researching the industry talking to another aesthetician before jumping into school would be the best thing, than you have a slight understanding of what to look for in school. Brazilian is a continuing education class..why? I don't know, that's just the way it is. There's unexpected situations in every job, you live and you learn :)

    Feb 8, 2014

  • Amy Sherman

    Agreed Holly! I had a school friend who had no idea that she was going to have to work weekends. Lol :-)

    Feb 9, 2014