Hello, I am about to graduate with honors from a big name ($$$$$$) cosmetology school in the states and yesterday I did my first technical interview at a corporate salon that is owned by the same person who owns my school.
Before this interview, I had booked a color appointment with the color coach in order to experience the salon as a guest. The customer service was great and my color was fantastic, but I was concerned with the cleanliness of the salon. Dirty Mirrors, fingerprints, product build and crumbs up on the stations. Fast forward...
My 1st interview went really well and I was feeling positive about the apprenticeship program, but still had reservations about the cleanliness of the place.
Yesterday myself and few other students from my school went for our 2nd/technical interview at the salon. We were all a little nervous, however everyone started off feeling positive about the opportunity. The color coach that provided excellent customer service to me as a guest was in charge of conducting our technical. I greeted her when I arrived, but she did not greet me, the other students, or our models. Instead she pointed down the hall and told us to set up. Luckily, because I had gone as a guest a couple of weeks ago, I was able to help the other students find the color room, the coat closet, and the supplies needed for our models.
Once our models arrived and we began working, the coach rotated between the 3 of us and took notes the entire time. She reviewed EVERY single thing we did, asked us questions, and wrote on her notepad the ENTIRE time. As the technical interview progressed the tension in the room continued to build. Still I continued the while trying to remain positive... It was not easy.
When it became time to clean up, I could not find any cleaning solutions and asked where I could find them. I was told that they cleaned with cold water and a towel, that no cleaning solutions or formulas were used in the salon.
Yuck! I suppose that explains why things seemed so dirty...
At the end of the interview, we were each separately brought into the room and given feedback on every aspect of our service. Much of my feedback was positive, however I did lose a few points for doing things the way that I had been taught at school. I took her feedback to heart, and saw it as an opportunity to learn something new. However, I was concerned that both types of feedback were provided in a way that seemed more demeaning then constructive.
At this point, I have been invited back to continue with the interview process, however I have to admit, that I no longer feel positive about the opportunity. I know that I will have to start somewhere and work hard to prove myself in this industry. I am completely ok, starting at the bottom and I have never carried the attitude that I am too good for any task. However, I am not sure that I want my 1st job to be at a place that is dirty or where I suspect that stylists may not be treated respectfully or as valued members of a team.
The bottom line is that although I will continue with the interview process in order to learn from the experience, I do not think this apprenticeship is right for me. However, because I am new to this industry, I would like to hear your thoughts and feedback. How can you choose the right apprenticeship and how do you know when an opportunity is wrong for you?
Before this interview, I had booked a color appointment with the color coach in order to experience the salon as a guest. The customer service was great and my color was fantastic, but I was concerned with the cleanliness of the salon. Dirty Mirrors, fingerprints, product build and crumbs up on the stations. Fast forward...
My 1st interview went really well and I was feeling positive about the apprenticeship program, but still had reservations about the cleanliness of the place.
Yesterday myself and few other students from my school went for our 2nd/technical interview at the salon. We were all a little nervous, however everyone started off feeling positive about the opportunity. The color coach that provided excellent customer service to me as a guest was in charge of conducting our technical. I greeted her when I arrived, but she did not greet me, the other students, or our models. Instead she pointed down the hall and told us to set up. Luckily, because I had gone as a guest a couple of weeks ago, I was able to help the other students find the color room, the coat closet, and the supplies needed for our models.
Once our models arrived and we began working, the coach rotated between the 3 of us and took notes the entire time. She reviewed EVERY single thing we did, asked us questions, and wrote on her notepad the ENTIRE time. As the technical interview progressed the tension in the room continued to build. Still I continued the while trying to remain positive... It was not easy.
When it became time to clean up, I could not find any cleaning solutions and asked where I could find them. I was told that they cleaned with cold water and a towel, that no cleaning solutions or formulas were used in the salon.
Yuck! I suppose that explains why things seemed so dirty...At the end of the interview, we were each separately brought into the room and given feedback on every aspect of our service. Much of my feedback was positive, however I did lose a few points for doing things the way that I had been taught at school. I took her feedback to heart, and saw it as an opportunity to learn something new. However, I was concerned that both types of feedback were provided in a way that seemed more demeaning then constructive.
At this point, I have been invited back to continue with the interview process, however I have to admit, that I no longer feel positive about the opportunity. I know that I will have to start somewhere and work hard to prove myself in this industry. I am completely ok, starting at the bottom and I have never carried the attitude that I am too good for any task. However, I am not sure that I want my 1st job to be at a place that is dirty or where I suspect that stylists may not be treated respectfully or as valued members of a team.
The bottom line is that although I will continue with the interview process in order to learn from the experience, I do not think this apprenticeship is right for me. However, because I am new to this industry, I would like to hear your thoughts and feedback. How can you choose the right apprenticeship and how do you know when an opportunity is wrong for you?
