Massage Job Interviews

Be prepared to go to an interview.

With so many options it is often difficult to find a place to work that fits with your personality and the way you want to do massage. When

 you do get an interview opportunity, go into it prepared to ask them questions to see if you want to work there (if you haven’t already). It will show them that you are really interested in what you do and where you will work. You may also be able to create your own job or bring new ideas to the employer if you can get an idea of what is needed there.

Interviewing the employer

• What image do they portray to the community in their marketing/advertising?

• What is their reputation in the massage community? 

• Will they supply all the clients?

• How will they get you the clients? What marketing/advertising will they be doing?

• Where will they get referrals from? What people are they networking with?

• Is there an incentive for you to bring your own clients in like a higher hourly wage or bonus?

• What incentives will there be for you to build a practice? One company I read about tracked the number of repeat clients per month and gave incentives for therapists who improved their numbers each month.

•  Will they make you sign a non-compete clause that states that you can not take clients with you if you leave the office or start your own practice within X-amount of miles from the office? Some places may ask you to do this. It is difficult to enforce, as clients will go where they want anyway. You may also be able to leave and tell clients where you are going but not be able to solicit their following you to your new location. Check with an attorney on this before signing a non-compete clause.

• What benefits will you have? vacations, retirement accounts, sick days, etc.

• What support will they provide to assist you in working with clients and understanding the therapeutic process? Weekly meetings to keep you informed of what is going on in the company would be beneficial. Supervision? Peer Groups?

•   Will they do the insurance billing and bookkeeping or teach you to do it?

• Will they supply the table, linens, lotions, music, stereo and other accessories or will you?

•   One thing you need to make sure of is what your official status is – employee or sub-contractor. I have seen many places say that you are an employee but in reality they should be sub-contractors.

Be prepared for what questions might they ask you.

• The typical what type of massage do you do? Where and when did you go to school? What classes have you taken?

•   What does doing massage mean to you?

• How has being a massage therapist changed your life?

•   Put what you do into one or two sentences.

•   What do you want to get out of this job?

•   Why do you want to work here?

• What are you going to do for this company? Why should they hire you?

•   What will you do to build clientele? An employer will be more motivated to hire you knowing you know what you are doing and are motivated to be a part of the company.

•   Create your own vision for the office. Where do you see it going?

•   What marketing, advertising or networking ideas do you have?

•   What are you going to do that is different from everyone else?

•   You may also be asked to do a massage on the owner or someone who works there. 

Presenting yourself to an employer or business owner.

Part of the job interview is how you present yourself to the employer. Most massage employers are looking for someone who can professionally represent their company.

So here are some tips for presenting yourself to a potential employer or business owner:

• Know what your ideal office space and practice looks like!

• Create your vision before you start looking for a job or space. Knowing what you want can save time. Settling for less usually has consequences. 

• Answer in the manner that the ad requests. 

• If you are cold calling (not knowing if they have a position or space available) ask when a convenient time to call is and set up a phone meeting. Keep calling to show you mean it and are serious, but don’t over do it and be obnoxious.

• Write a resume that tells who you are, not just what you have done. Resumes of the old chronological, here’s what I have done type are outdated. Write to tell who you are, what massage means to you, how has it changed your life, what your goals are, what is your philosophy when working with clients. Show how you love what you do and who you are!!

• If you are cold calling, try calling just asking for information (informational interviewing). Start a conversation to find out more about the office you are looking at. Don’t mention that you are looking for work or an office space. Ask questions about the person’s practice and what they do there. Go get a massage there ! See if you want to participate in or be associated with that office! People respond when they can tell you are interested in them. One of the basic needs of people is to be of value. If you can show you are sincerely interested and not out to get something from them other than information, both parties will benefit from the connection.

•   Get to know them.

•   Then there are the standard rules: be on time for the interview, dress appropriately. (Even though massage tends to be an informal business, looking good is important and shows your respect).
  bullet After the interview, send some kind of acknowledgment – a thank you card, an email, a phone call something!! Even if they said something like “We’ll contact you”. 

•   Even if you don’t get the space or job, send a follow up after that. You never know what will happen. Something may not work out with the new person, things may change or there may be more opportunities in the future. Don’t give up!

• Suggest creating an employee contract so that you will know exactly what is expected of you and what is expected of the employer. Don’t leave anything to guessing. It is always better to get things in writing. If you are sub-contracting, a contract will be a necessary part of the agreement and will also thoroughly outline the details. Know what your contract says and what every line means!

• Don’t ever give up until you get exactly what you want!!  Don’t settle for less!