Why is it so hard to write a resume?

Writing a resume is difficult when you lack work experience or the training required to do a specific job. However, even when you have experience and/or training, putting the words down on paper can still prove a challenging task.

We recommend breaking down your resume-writing into two components:

• Prep Day
• Typing Day

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Prep Day

What is your job goal? Have you narrowed this down to the industry? The particular employer? The more research you do, the better your resume will look.

Now that you’ve thought about your goal, allow yourself some time to think about the skills you think you need to have for your goal. For example, if you want to start at a “ABC Salon and Spa” as a receptionist, ask yourself, “what skills does that receptionist need to have?”

Let’s brainstorm…a good receptionist…

• has a friendly demeanour and a welcoming smile
• knows about services and products sold
• is able to answer questions from clients
• needs to work well with people
• knows basic math
• is able to use point of sales and booking systems
• has good phone manners
• ensures the clean maintenance of the facility
• supports the team

Now that we’ve thought about the skills you would need for that particular position, ask yourself:

“What skills do I have that relate?”

Don’t focus so much on your duties at your previous job, as much as the skills you applied there.

If you have little to no work experience, think about skills you may use on your free time. What are your hobbies? Do they include particular skills?

Now that we have a list of your skills to pick from for later, our second task is to think about the personality traits required for your goal.

For example, a good receptionist has the following traits:

• friendly
• punctual
• organized
• intuitive
• research-oriented

Now that you’ve thought about the traits you would need for that particular position, ask yourself, “what traits do I have that relate?”

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Typing Day

Now that you have well-though-out ideas, organizing them into a resume will be a breeze!

Types of Resumes

1. Chronological resume- your best bet if you have sufficient experience and the training required for your objective
2. Functional resume- an excellent choice for those with little to no work experience
3. Combo resume- best for those with skills from another industry not related to your job goal

Check out these helpful links:

Find a Job: A workbook to help you find the job you want

Work Search Basics

Visit our job bank.

Visit our job bank for beauty industry jobs. It is Alberta Beauty Industry- focused and contains up-to-date job listings in Alberta. 

EXECUTIVE SPA GROUP

Beauty Industry Resources

(780) 604 2772

Who are we?

We are Career and Employment Consultants who specialize in the Beauty and Personal Care Services industry in Alberta, Canada. Our mission is to cultivate the Personal Care Services industry and increase the standard in employment practices and occupational health and safety.

We help people overcome barriers to employment and develop skills, knowledge, and work experience needed to participate in the labour market either directly through employment or self-employment

Our free online resources can help your answer questions regarding training & education, employment, self employment, and hiring staff.

Years of experience

Our Career and Employment Consultants have teamed up with Beauty Service Professionals to truly understand the needs of the beauty industry in Alberta. As a result, we have created a repertoire of online service to help Albertans find beauty industry resources.

Combined, we have 40+ years of experience to help you address many beauty industry career and employment matters.

Resources to overcome barriers

We have the expertise to work with people from diverse backgrounds. Employment barriers come in all shapes and sizes, therefore, we have networks of people who specialize in all types of barriers.

The main goal of Executive Spa Group is to create an environment where Albertans can pursue their passion in light of employability issues that could potentially derail them from achieving their goals.

Service Providers

Online resources for Service Providers include our online job bank. Beauty job seekers can use our job bank to help them find employment opportunities in Alberta, Canada. It is updated multiple times per week to help you connect with employers in a timely fashion. Plus, find resume and cover letter templates online to help advance your job search.

On the other hand, if you are not a job seeker, and instead are a “course-seeker”, we have resources for that as well! We have compiled a list of beauty industry training providers in Alberta (and Canada wide for online learning) called 411 Training Directory.

In addition, our online blog is full of articles to answer questions regarding employment disputes, starting a beauty business, becoming a beauty educator, plus more!

Entrepreneurs

Small business owners make up a large piece of the beauty industry ‘pie’ in Alberta, Canada. Many people find it an attractive option when it comes to their livelihoods. It is common to see people grow a successful beauty business from a single, short technical training course.

Online beauty industry resources for entrepreneurs can be found in our blog articles. These include articles on how to plan and execute your business idea, plus information on licenses and permits required for your new beauty business.

Employers

For some people, the next step after opening their own salon or spa is hiring staff. While this is a great achievement that deserves recognition, it does come with unenviable challenges. Picking the right people for your team and keeping them happy requires mental effort and a bit of luck!

Online resources for employers include our beauty job bank to help you find the ideal candidate. Because we specialize in beauty jobs, our job bank is attentive to the specific needs of Alberta’s beauty industry employers.

In addition, our online articles provide guidance on accessing any available grants to train new employees. On that note, here’s hoping you are able to create a great team! However, we also share resources with employers for when the work environment isn’t doing very well.

Beauty Educators

Some people are teachers at heart. If training others is your passion, our online resources include our free online 411 Training Directory to help you fill your classes. This directory is available to all Albertans searching for beauty courses in hair, esthetics, and massage therapy. Contact us by email to add your course to our directory.

Also, our online Beauty Educator courses help you prepare a curriculum that meets industry standards plus ensure that you meet any licensing requirements and permits.

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

Interview Tips for Beauty Industry Job Seekers

At ESG, we understand interviews can be a scary thing, so we decided to share some interview tips with beauty industry job seekers.

Before we start, let’s keep in mind a few things…

Things to remember:

• Both parties want to make a deal
• First, show you have the skills required
• Second, find out if you are actually interested in the job

SETTING UP THE INTERVIEW

Try to follow these steps:

• Find out as much as you can: Who is interviewing you and what are their positions in the salon/spa?
• Always answer your phone professionally while looking for work
• Voicemail- make sure your message reflects your professionalism

DURING THE INTERVIEW

Things to remember:

• They don’t know you, or your skills and knowledge. Explain yourself thoroughly when answering questions
• Ask questions. Don’t be afraid to ask the tough questions such as pay and benefits
• Body language. Refrain from crossing your arms, slouching, etc.
• Ask to rephrase if you do not understand the question
• Ask if you can take notes. Writing down questions helps some people concentrate and also gives you the opportunity to come back to a question if you get stuck. Clarify to the interviewer that you intend to leave your notes behind
• Thank the interviewer

Typical Questions

1. Questions about you and your skills
“Tell me about yourself/Strengths/weaknesses.”
Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. The interviewer wants to ensure you are working on your current weaknesses.

2. “What if” questions
“Tell me about a time when you had a conflict with a coworker.”
The interviewer wants to know how you have actually handled conflict, not how you hope to handle conflict in a best-case scenario.

3. Your interest in the spa/salon
“Why do you want to work here?”
The interviewer is looking for commitment. NEVER give a vague answer. Show the interviewer you’ve done your research.

4. Plans and expectations
“Where do you see yourself in 5 years?”
The interviewer wants to make sure that you are motivated enough to be promoted in time.

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We recommend you write down answers to all the questions above and practice reciting them before your interview. Writing your answers will prepare your response and avoid those awkward “ummm”s.

Be prepared for a technical interview if your first meeting goes well!

We hope our interview tips help. Good luck on your interview!

Visit our job bank.

EXECUTIVE SPA GROUP
Beauty Industry Resource Centre
(780) 604 2772
executivespagroup.com

Careers in Beauty for People with Disabilities

We often don’t see disabled people working in the Personal Care industry, specifically, in beauty occupations. However, many services are ideal for a person with mobility issues. For example, Nail Techs or Lash Techs sit for most of their day.

Training in certain services can prove to form a lucrative career for a person with a mobile disability. For instance, self-employed Lash Techs charge around $80 for 1 hour of service.

Are there government supports to help me find employment?

There are there supports for beauty industry workers with disabilities. Disability Related Employment Supports a.k.a. ‘DRES‘ is a provincial employment support that funds supports or services for Albertans to help them find and maintain employment.

There are also supports for employers who want to hire people with disabilities.

If the eligibility criteria for all parties are met, you may find supports in:

• education/training,
• job search, and
• the workplace

Examples of eligible assistive services:

• job coach
• note taker
• academic aide
• tutor

Examples of eligible assistive technology:

• Set-up, installation and training on use of specialized equipment and/or software
• ramps
• wheelchair lifts
• widening doorways
• making a washroom accessible
• raising lowering or adapting a work station
• adapting equipment for the specific use of a person with a disability
• power door openers

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EXECUTIVE SPA GROUP

Beauty Industry Resource Centre

ATTN: Beauty Industry Employers

We would like to invite you to post your current/future job posting with Executive Spa Group.

Our job bank is free, fast and easy to use. You can post multiple listings for up to 30 days at a time. Candidates submit their resume and other application material directly to you, thereby affording you full control of the screening and hiring process.

By advertising in our Job Bank, you will ensure your posting is seen by thousands of beauty professional job seekers across Alberta.

No account necessary

Simply complete our template outlining the skill set you require and submit it for posting. It’s that easy. And because Executive Spa Group specializes in the beauty industry, you’ll find it easy to specify exactly what you’re looking for.

Why post with Executive Spa Group?

• Alberta Beauty Industry-focused
• Visited by Service Providers in Alberta looking for their next employment opportunity
• Attracts top industry employers and job seekers
• Contains up-to-date job listings in Alberta
• Easy-to-use
• Always free to use!

Click here to begin posting your job listings with Executive Spa Group.

Executive Spa Group
(780) 604 2772
executivespagroup.com