Finding Your Dream Job

CG Funk

Dream Job

1.Environment and location2.Your resume3.Prep for success4.Interview5.Post Interview Strategies

Location, location, location

●Choosing a career path ●Where to live? ●Researching employers ●Still in school? Start now

Choosing a Career Path

1.Decide what type of work you want to do.

2.Decide what environment suits you best.

3.Decide where you want to live.

Your ideal Work Environment

●A small, family style location●High volume, energetic location●Neighborhood spas●Destination resorts●Medical clinics or centers?●Take time to think about who you

are, and what work environment would feel comfortable and rewarding to you

Location, location, location

●Decide where you want to live. ●What kind of lifestyle do you want to

have?●Research employers in that area●Use the web to search, either through

career websites, massage/spa association websites, and national employer websites

●Your massage school is a great resource as are fellow massage therapists

Still a Student?

●Start your career path search now ●Visit your career placement office often

during your program ●Talk to your teachers ●Visit employers as a student to experience

their work environments ●Attend all the job fairs and career days your

school organizes●Meet therapists in your profession and start

to build a network

Section Two – Your Resume, Your Life●The Dos of good resume writing

●Avoid the top resume snafus●Key points employers look for●Video resumes – is this a good

choice for you?

Your Resume

●Construct an effective resume●Focus on what you bring to the

employer, not what you want from the job

●Pay attention to detail●Customize your cover letter

Your Resume

●Do the basics●Make it easy for the hiring

manager●Be professional●Instead of sending, consider

taking resume to location

What an employer looks for

●Clean and easy to read●Overview of previous job descriptions –

○watch out for too much detail ○List your relevant talents and past

experience.●One page if possible●Always include email address and

contact phone number●References if requested

Prep for Success!●Learn everything you can about the

employer ●Attire that’s on fire ●Practice your rap●50 minutes or 60 minutes….be

ready for your hands-on performance ○Remember, the interviewer becomes a

client on the table

Learn about the Employer●Its important to know the basic

information on the employer you are interviewing with ○Know their service offerings and retail

items ○Find out about who their main clientele is○Learn their history, vision/mission

statement and level of service○Visit their website○Visit the location in person if it is a store

or building open to the general public

Attire that’s on Fire

●What is a professional massage therapist?

●Massage therapists come from diverse backgrounds, beliefs, ages

Massage Therapists!

Looking Professional

●Understand the employer and the clientele they serve

●Tone down your creative touches●Remove face piercings and cover the large or off

color tattoo●Pay attention to your hair, fingernails, body odor,

breath and make-up. ●Only one chance to make a good first

impression●Save your creative look for social activities and

adopt a more traditional look for interviewing and at work

Practice your Rap!

●Practicing out loud for your interview

●List a few key things you want the employer to know about you

●Formulate answers to questions and answer them out loud

●Exercise prevents you from rambling in the interview

Qualities Employers Look For

●Qualifications●Positive attitude●Interest in the company and position●Stable work history●Clear sense of purpose●Communication skills●High performance standards

The Verbal Interview●Smile! Make eye contact often! When meeting

the employer, shake their hand●Follow the interviewer’s leads, but try to get the

interviewer to describe the position and the duties to you early in the interview process

●Establish rapport with the interviewer ●Make sure that your good points come across to

the interviewer in a factual, sincere manner. Stress achievements

●Respond to questions being asked as they relate to the position, or the company’s needs

The Verbal Interview

●Avoid discussing salary at the first interview

●Make sure you talk about why you are interested in this position and what you can offer the company.

●Let the interviewer know how excited you are about the position

●Make a statement that indicates that you can do the job

The Verbal Interview

●Be prepared to ask questions during the interview.

●Insightful questions help both of you determine if your relationship will be mutually rewarding.

●Avoid questions that relate to salary, benefits, vacations, and retirement.

The Practical Interview

●50 minutes or 60 minutes….be ready for your hands-on performance

●Practice your massage flow and techniques before the day of the interview

The Practical Interview

●The job offer is dependant on you performing a great massage

●Think of the interviewer as a client ○Take them through your intake process○Treat them as you would their clients to show

the excellent service you offer○Ask them about areas they want you to

concentrate on, pressure preference, areas to avoid before they are on the table

○Don’t talk often during the massage unless they ask you questions

The Practical Interview

●Key components to a great massage therapy session:○Professional - Presentation○Service○Quality of touch –Initial Contact○Body mechanics/posturing○Draping - Modesty○Flow/Connection

Professional Presentation

●How you look and how you sound●During a practical interview both

of these are vitally important.

Service●Interview the employer as you

would a client●Listen to them●Check in with them a few times

during the practical interview to make sure you are addressing their needs and requests

Quality of touch – initial contact

●Your quality of touch and initial contact will make all the difference

●Presence, focus and intention!●Alleviate nervousness by centering

yourself●Initial contact is a great way to

connect with the client, signal that it’s time for them to relax and center yourself

Body Mechanics

●Use good body mechanics●An employer has vast experience

in receiving practical interview massages and they CAN tell when the therapist is not using good body mechanics and posture.

Draping

●Most employers are very aware of draping during a practical

●Modest draping, like the tuck and pull, is a good bet

●Make sure your drape is neat and secure at all times

●Practice your draping before the interview.

Flow/Connection

●Employers will want you to perform a full body, therapeutic massage that flows

●You will be graded you on how well you connect the parts of the body and the overall massage experience

●Show off your special moves, but make sure you also complete a full body experience

Day of Interview●Know the place and time of the

interview, the interviewer’s full name, the correct pronunciation and his or her title

●Allow sufficient travel time●Plan to arrive exactly ten to fifteen

minutes before your actual appointment

●Keep a positive frame of mind●Relax

Biggest Interview Mistakes

●Acting bored or cocky ●Not dressing appropriately ●Coming to the interview with no knowledge of

the company ●Not turning off cell phones or electronic devices ●Not asking good questions during the interview ●Asking what the pay is before the company

considered them for the job ●Failure to remove unprofessional photos/content

from social networking pages, web pages, blogs, etc.

Biggest Practical Interview Mistakes

●Sloppy and/or revealing draping●Talking●Offending body odors●Failure to follow interviewer’s

requests●Inappropriate techniques●Straying from the 50/60 minute time

allotted

Post Interview Strategies

You did your best, now what?●Follow up tips to come out a winner●Perseverance is the magical elixir●Reassess your performance – learn

from each interview experience to apply next time

●You got the position – GREAT!●You weren’t selected – find out how you

could improve

Post Interview Strategies●Send a thank you note

○Not only proper etiquette and a common display of appreciation, but it also allows you to reaffirm one or two key points of the interview

○Lets the interviewer know how interested you are in working for the company

● If you don’t hear back in a few weeks, call and leave a message.

Post Interview Strategies

●If you aren’t hired, ask the employer for feedback on how you could do improve

●Then, fine tune your presentation and skills for the next interview opportunity

Recap

●Environment and location○Decide where you want to live and what

kind of work environment you want●Your resume

○Clean, easy to read○One page is possible○Professional contact information○References if requested

Recap

●Prep for success○Professional attire○Practice for your verbal and practical

●Interview○Be on time○Dress professionally○Engage with interviewer○Treat interview as client in therapy room

Recap

●Post Interview Strategies●Thank you note●Follow up call●Ask for critique

Thank You!!!

Now, go out there and make a difference with your healing

touch!