JOB Talk: with an esthetician
JOB Talk: with an esthetician
Name/age: Erika Rucker, 30
Occupation: Licensed esthetician (skin care and waxing expert)
Employer: Inspire Skin & Body Day Spa in Greensboro
Years in field: Four
Salary range: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual wage in 2007 was $30,600, the most recent data available. However, pay can vary substantially depending on service prices, compensation structure, commission and bonus pay programs.
What does your job entail?
My job is to provide optimal high-performance, results-oriented skin and body services. This includes a variety of skin care treatments such as facials, chemical peels, microdermabrasion (removal of dead skin) and waxing, as well as makeovers and makeup applications. I can also perform other treatments such as body scrubs, body wraps, spray tanning, brow and lash tinting, and ear candling (removal of ear wax).
Estheticians are taught to understand and help a number of skin problems such as acne, sun damage, premature aging and rosacea, and may work with various skin care machines. I also help design a home care treatment plan for my clients to achieve the best results. I give referrals to dermatologists for conditions I cannot treat and to cosmetic surgeons for more intensive cosmetic procedures such as Botox or other injectable fillers.
How did you become involved in this line of work?
I’ve always had a love for research and science-based careers. I started out wanting to be a brain surgeon, then a heart surgeon, and lastly an OB/GYN. After graduating high school, I had a talk with my cousin, who is a doctor. She asked me if medicine was a passion. I thought about it, and the answer was no. I spent the next couple of years working behind a desk trying to figure out what my passion was. On a trip to the beach one year, my brother introduced me to a lady who was in the spa industry. He told me she was an esthetician. I asked her about it. Instantaneously, I knew that’s what I was supposed to be doing. I never equated my focus and attention to my own skin (as well as health and wellness) with a career in esthetics until then.
What training or education is required?
I attended Leon’s Beauty School in Greensboro full time, (and the program) took six months to complete. There are also community colleges that have esthetics programs, and some can take up to two years to complete. In order to obtain a license in esthetics in the state of North Carolina you must complete 600 hours of training and pass both a written and practical licensing exam. Anyone interested in becoming licensed in North Carolina should contact the North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners in Raleigh.
What does it take to do your job successfully?
As a foundation you must have a passion and desire to care for others. To be truly successful in this business you must first be a good listener. When a client comes in to see you, they are asking for your help — perhaps on treating a skin issue or in just learning to relax. You must listen to what they tell you (and often what they don’t) to determine each person’s individual needs.
It is also extremely important to be able to connect with and be attentive to your clients. A client can pick up on when you are not paying attention to them. You must make your client feel like the only one in the spa. That can make a huge difference in whether or not they reschedule with you.
Have a willingness to learn. In this industry, new discoveries in technology and products are forever emerging, so reading and research is key. You have to stay on top of your game by going to trade shows and communicating with other estheticians. I love learning and sharing ideas and techniques with my colleagues.
What’s most Editorial note: Answers are submitted by e-mail and have been edited for space, clarity and accuracy.
Every two weeks, Job Talk highlights a different job in the Triad area with input from those who actually do them. Interested in participating or have a suggestion for a job you’d like us to feature? Contact Patrick Collins at 412-5934 or patrick.collins@news-record.com.
