How to Find Success At A Day Spa
While spa opportunities for massage therapists abound at the moment, selecting a spa to ultimately work for should be a process. It is worth the time to visit spas in your area to see the type of therapies they provide, the price points of their services and products, and the type of clientele seen on a regular basis. Working in a spa environment usually is much different than working in a private practice in that the pace is quicker, spa treatments are offered as well as massage, and the procedures offered tend to be more uniform in nature.

Once you have narrowed the choices down, there are definite qualities that will help you to sell yourself to a spa.

For example, European Skin Care in Colorado Springs, Colorado, looks for therapists with a positive attitude. "In our 32 years in business a lot has changed in the spa industry," says spa owner Luba. "Now that spa treatments are so popular, our massage therapists also do body treatments, like herbal and seaweed wraps, [while] those who are licensed to do so also do facials.

"As long as the therapist knows their basic skills, we are more than happy to give them additional training as a part of their employment while at our spa," she adds.

Christopher Sleeme, director at Quintessence, a day spa in Atlanta, Georgia, looks for therapists with training in multiple techniques. "We prefer therapists who can do different types of massage who are nationally certified," he says. "Specialties like pregnancy massage, along with a mastery of Swedish and deep-tissue skills, are also helpful."

At Quintessence, experienced massage therapists mentor those new to the spa, teaching them useful techniques and guiding them through signature spa treatments.

"Therapists coming from a good holistic background with good conversation and client-evaluation skills tend to do well with our clientele, [which] requests a great deal of general wellness massages," says Sleeme. "Our therapists also do hand and foot massage, scalp massage, reflexology, mini facials and about six different kinds of body treatments."

Among specialty techniques, stone massage is the most-requested massage at spas. Jo Schmitz, owner of Gallery on Hair & Day Spa in Appleton, Wisconsin, named being certified in stone massage as one of the key qualities that she looks for in a massage therapist.

"Of course, a great personality is important—but the more techniques a therapist is certified in the more useful and versatile they ultimately are to our spa," she says.

At Gallery on Hair therapists earn $10 per hour or 50 percent commission (whichever is higher). "We pay 50 percent of continuing-education classes and will also pay for an entire certification process if it is for a therapy that is useful in the spa," Schmitz says. "We also give in-house training for popular spa therapies like salt glows.

"We see a lot of therapists that are concerned with making money," she adds. "New therapists should focus on learning as much as possible and giving quality care to clients. The money will naturally follow if you are doing a great job."

Giving a massage to another therapist, owner or manager is almost always a part of the interview process.

"Sometimes an interview will go well, but when it comes down to the hands-on portion of the interview, the therapist just doesn't have a touch that works for what our clients prefer," says Cindy Abraham, spa director for Jeremy Todd Wellness Spa and Salon in Seattle. "We look for therapists who are confident and in tune with the client. We also prefer therapists who are looking for a career opportunity and plan on working at the same spa for a reasonably long period of time."

At Jeremy Todd, where therapists can expect to make close to $50 per hour with benefits and tips, selling retail is also of paramount importance. "We run their numbers every month, and do expect our therapists to sell," says Abraham. "We also expect our therapists to get out there and promote themselves. We look for therapists who will hand out business cards, ask for referral business and try to create lasting relationships with clients."

At Technicolor Salon & Day Spa in Allentown, Pennsylvania, many things factor into getting the job and being successful at the spa once employed. "When interviewing, we look for the details—the little things like how professionally the therapist has chosen to dress, how they are with carrying on a conversation, and other mannerisms that indicate maturity, teamwork skills and overall attitude," says Frank Shipan, the spa's owner.

While a massage is a part of the final interview process, other things are also evaluated. "We take a close look at their methods of client consultation, draping techniques, conversation and the type of touch they give during a typical massage," Shipan says. "We sometimes use a mystery shopper for this interviewing process to try and capture the therapist as they would actually act during a massage with a client."

While retail sales are one of the many things that massage therapists do at Technicolor, the most important task other than giving an enjoyable and therapeutic massage is bringing the client back in.

"We expect our therapists to put effort into getting the client to re-book and in building a regular clientele," says Shipan.

Technicolor has three full-time massage therapists on staff and seven therapists on call. The spa pays them salary plus commission with benefits. Shipan advises that therapists research where they are going, act professionally and work on each other. "You can never be too knowledgeable of your craft or of the various spa services offered," he says. "The more you know, the more valuable you will be to a spa and the richer your career will become."

Skills and good personality are the key elements spa employers want.
Tammy King, manager at Mere Image Day Spa in Goodyear, Arizona, says that she looks at ?the whole person ? including people skills, self-confidence and how they interacted with others."

Nancy Lovejoy, owner of Bliss Day Spa & Shop in Metairie, Louisiana, similarly values personality over the skill sets. "We look for therapists who are highly skilled and experienced with a sense of flow, a great touch and a high skill level," she says. "However, a therapist who is true to their craft, natural with themselves and respectful of others can be trained in additional spa modalities and skill sets. You can't train a therapist to have a great work ethic or to have a high level of integrity."

Putting in the work to find the right spa for you is an equal trade-off: You will be investing your time, energy and a portion of your career in the spa that you choose. Look carefully for a good fit for your career goals, lifestyle, work preferences and income requirements. Once you have selected a few spas that seem to offer the qualities that you are most concerned with, research their history, understand their corporate culture—and, above all, put yourself in the shoes of the owner or manager. Be truthful about who you are and how you work, and always put your best foot forward.