Interviews and Candidates

I remember the days sitting on the candidate side of the interview. I think its safe to say the best word I can think of to describe the feeling was… NERVES!!

Nervousness is quite common and understandable for the interviewee for pretty obvious reasons- they are the ones looking for employment and on a “quest to impress.”

They’re always thinking prior to the interview:

• “Watch what I say”
• “Sound Professional”
• “Stand Out”

However, most candidates don’t think about the nervousness on the employer’s side. Looking for someone trustworthy, reliable and hard-working who will be a wonderful addition to your team can create some stress.

The employer is always thinking prior to the interview:

• “What will I ask”
• “Be Professional”
• “Hopefully they come” 😛

Additionally, interviewing in the age of social media allows the employer to research the candidate before meeting them. On that note, something else we should also be considering as employers is “do not cross any lines” in the questions we ask.

What questions are OK to ask?

There is this wonderful thing called the Alberta Human Rights Act which applies to everyone, including employers who are interviewing potential employees.

This act was created by the Government of Alberta to promote fairness and equality. The act emphasizes 15 protected grounds which are off limits when asking interview questions. Take a look at this valuable tool for employers to use and make sure you keep it professional!

But I want to know all I can about this candidate!

Understandable. When you hire someone you are bringing them into your circle of trust. Details about their personal life would be helpful in making the hiring decision, however, as you prepare your interview questions, keep in mind the protected grounds.

Take a look at this ALIS article on what questions are acceptable and what questions are unacceptable for ideas.

Did you know we have a beauty industry job bank?

Our job bank is free, fast and easy to use. When you post your job listing with Executive Spa Group, you are able to post multiple listings for up to 30 days at a time. Candidates submit their resume and other application material directly to you, thereby allowing you to be fully in control of the screening and hiring process.

POST YOUR JOB NOW , no account necessary!

Shauna Jenkins

EXECUTIVE SPA GROUP
(780)604-2772
info@executivespagroup.com

Is Bullying affecting your Workplace?

Society has come along way in terms of acceptance and awareness. These are two different but equally important terms. Acceptance can be defined as a person’s agreement or approval to the reality of a situation without attempting to change it. Awareness is knowledge or perception of a situation or fact. Whether it be gender, race, religion, disabilities or sexual orientation, all people are entitled to equal rights and respect.

Bullying is a huge issue that is being recognized and addressed worldwide whether it be verbal, physical or cyber. There is a certain stigma that adults are not a target of bullying, maybe a preconceived notion that unless you are under the age of 18 you should be able to “brush off,” “get over” or “have thicker skin” towards unkind acts or words aimed at you.

The truth is there are no limitations or age requirements as to who is a victim of bullying. It is important to be able to recognize what bullying is and the negative effect it can have on the team and the business as a whole. If you see bullying in the workplace, it is your responsibility to do your part in contributing to a healthy workplace. Here are some tips from Alberta Learning Information Services on how to identify, address and resolve any bullying.

There are laws to protect employees from bullying. Take a look at our Employment Regulations Contact List to know different laws created for your protection.

EXECUTIVE SPA GROUP

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Executive Spa Group

Beauty Industry Resource Centre
(780) 604 2772
info@executivespagroup.com

Work Schedules and Pay Structures of Beauty Careers

Beauty Careers have evolved and expanded to new heights in the last decade. Say good-bye to the days of Beauty Providers being limited in terms of scope of practice and services offered and say hello to staff with an army of various skills!

Trending now is continuing education and specialized training. Service providers are building their repertoires as fast as the ever growing industry is expanding. With that being said let’s take a closer look into what a career in Beauty Looks like and what can be expected:

Hours

First and foremost– Beauty Professionals almost always work weekends! That is one thing in this industry that stays the same. Employees should expect to put in some evening shifts as these are usually the most popular appointment times.

Evening and weekend appointments are usually the first to book up so the more availability you have during these times the busier and more successful you will be. Most employers in the Beauty Industry require staff to work a minimum of 2 evenings a week and at least one of the weekend days providing they are open both. Many establishments are closed Sunday and Monday with the exception of those located in a mall which are usually always open 7 days a week.

In the Beauty Industry, it is important to be available as much as possible for those in demand time-slots. For every 5+ hours worked an employee is entitled to a 30 minute break, this can be paid or un-paid at the discretion of the employer. This can also be split into 2, 15 minute breaks if agreed upon between the employer and employee.

Wages

With service providers becoming more educated and versatile, wages have become more competitive. The more skills an employee brings to the table as a service provider the more of an asset they are to a company. This growing trend of having a plethora of skills is wonderful but has made it hard to have an a definitive answer of what to expect financially.

Here is a general outline of what some Beauty Industry professionals are being paid but keep in mind these rates vary depending on the employee’s training and experience and will continue to do so as well as increase as their skill-set and experience grows:

Hairstylist- $15-$25 per hour
Esthetician- $14-$18 per hour
Medical Esthetician- $$16-$22 per hour
Make-up Artist-$15-22
Lash Technician/ Nail Technician-$15-$17
RMT-$30-$34 per hour

Keep in mind these are guidelines only. Most Employers offer a commission either instead of or in addition to hourly pay. A lot of Beauty employers offer 50% commission but are required to pay employees at least minimum wage if the commission is lower and they are expected to be available throughout the spa or salon’s hours of operation. A detailed commission agreement will clarify some questions regarding hours of work you are expected to be available.
Some places offer a 10-20% commission on services in addition to hourly pay. Almost all places offer 10-15% commission on retail sales, this encourages you to sell, sell, sell!

Additional Training

It is so important to stay fresh and up-to-date in this industry in order to thrive. This is where additional training comes in. Keeping yourself educated and trained in new technology and products/ services will boost your confidence and help you be successful which is a win-win situation for yourself and your employer as your clientele builds and products fly off the shelves.

Sunday and Monday are popular training days in the Beauty Industry, whether it is on location or elsewhere. Employees must be paid if these training sessions are deemed mandatory and the employee is entitled to overtime if applicable. If the training is less than 3 hours the 3 hour rule still applies.

Important things to Remember to Thrive

• Stay Current
• Be on Trend
• Invest in additional Training
• Ensure your company is Fresh and Exciting!

Executive Spa Group (ESG)
201, 10518 82 Ave. NW
Edmonton, AB.
(780) 604 2772
info@executivespagroup.com

Tips on Reducing Staff Turnover

There’s 2 words to best describe the world we live in today, “more” and “better”. People are moving at such a fast pace these days, balancing their work life as well as trying to maintain a personal one! There’s always a new iphone launching, a newer version promising a “better” version of the last, with “more” features, apps and ways to stay connected. Personal connections and interactions have now been overtaken by online networking and communicating. People search for that better car, better house, better clothes…BETTER JOB. People strive for more money to obtain these better things and so it begins a constant cycle of striving for more to get better. How does this translate into careers today? Staff turnover. Staff turnover is inevitable but the ones who are affected the most by this are employers. This affects not only their business and pocket books, but most importantly the success of their establishment. There are ways for employers to decrease the turnover of their staff and lessen the chances of their employees looking for the next best job with the promises of more. Training, Appreciation and Recognition are going to attract staff and keep them as loyal and productive employees.

Provide Training

First of all it is important for employers to be the “more” that employees are seeking. Offer more services, beef up your service menu and offer the most cutting-edge on trend services. Provide training for all the services you are offering and advanced training as well to take your employees to the next level and make them the best educated staff around. Training can come in may different forms including product knowledge on retail lines, hands-on training for the services you offer or things like first aid and personal development workshops. When employees are educated they feel confident and appreciated. They feel they are worth their boss investing in them and believing in them and this in return helps to put that looking for better attitude at bay. Ask Executive Spa Group how you can access grants for staff training

Appreciate Your Staff

Appreciation comes in many forms and is unique to every employer/ employee relationship. There is no right or wrong way for an employer to show their staff how appreciated they are. Staff discounts for themselves and close family members, commission on product sales, bonuses when personal and professional goals are met and a positive, well stocked, beautifully maintained working environment and a simple “Thank You” are all some great examples of employee appreciation. This is by no means a one-sided relationship, when the employee feels appreciated they will in return work harder, more efficiently and most importantly happily! It is vital for employers to schedule some time to get to know their staff outside of work, this helps to maintain healthy workplace relationships and strengthens bonds between the employees as well. One of the biggest causes of staff turnover is conflict in the workplace. It is important to resolve conflicts before they spread and involve multiple team members. Communication is key!

Recognize Your Staff

Staff recognition is an integral key to minimizing staff turnover. There are very few people who don’t like a shout-out for a job well done or a compliment. It is important for employers to celebrate the wins and strengths of their employees. Some ways for employers to do this is verbal recognition to the employee themselves, or to any and all employees who have met their goals in staff email blasts, staff meetings or some type of recognition board. Employee spotlights or features in client email blasts as well as on the company website are an amazing way to make employees feel special and introduce them as well as their strengths to existing and potential clients. There is a saying that greatly refers to the topic of staff turnover; “The Grass Is Greener Where You Water It.” If an employer invests in their staff, helps nurture their skill, builds on their knowledge and makes them feel appreciated and empowered then that helps to quell the searching cycle. If an employer is giving the “more” experience and being the “better” option then there is no reason for staff to be looking elsewhere. The best thing for employers to remember is happy staff is staff that is not online looking for the next best employment opportunity. Training, Appreciation and Recognition are the gold standard for reducing staff turnover and keeping loyal, hardworking employees.