Spa Job kinda a vent

[djc1175]

Arggggg! What have I got myself into? I started a reception job at a new spa/salon place this week. The understanding was that I am in school, thats my priority and I wanted to work pt. To me thats like 16 or so hours. But when I got my scedule it was 30 hours. 9 hour days with no chair on a hard floor, in "professional attire" (heels!!) So after the first few days I asked about my Part time hours and if there would ever be a stool/chair. Got my hours down to two 9 hour days but they don't give chairs. I am looking at the massages the mt there has done and I think its like 3 in one week. I know they are new, but I swear I could drum up three massages in a weeks time myself. And if not I would be home folding MY sheets & laundry,not theirs. I am not sure how they are paying her except she is an employee and basicly has to clean etc if not doing massage. The whole reason I am doing this is to possibly have a job afterwards but I think I am not going to be interesed. I know I am a stubborn want to do it my way kinda person, but this is rubbing me wrong already. So, do I stay on and see it as education in the industry? I know I probaly will. Thanks so much for reading and just letting me vent on all this. I am tired and it doesn't help that I walk in and my son says "hey I need cookies for a party at school tomorrow", and my husband is calling to say "can you stop at a cash machine for me" I just feel like crying. I am not sure whats wrong with me. I think between school and trying to do my best there, and learning at work a new computer and fatigue, well you know. Thanks again & happy holidays. Hope I made some sense here.

 

[Sara Hitchens]

Sounds like you have already had a good "education" from this job. Knowing what you want or don't want from a job as an MT will put you that much closer to achieving your goals. Don't waste your energy worrying about the current MT and her contract/employment. That is her issue to deal with.
As for the 9 hours in heels, well, can you get some gel inserts or something? Or can you slip out of your shoes on occassion? (Cut me a bit of slack here, I am a guy, and don't know much about wearing heels

And don't forget to give yourself some congrats for getting the pt hours you wanted instead of putting up with what they originally scheduled you for. That is a great step on your part.

 

[customizedsongwriter]

here's how i feel about a job like this. it's hard to do because once you become a therapist, people who work with you will still see you as their "receptionist". there was a girl that did that at the spa/salon i worked at and i'm not sure she was taken as serious as the other therapists. i thought she was wonderful (of course it helped that she went to school where i did-lol) but others didn't treat her the same. of course it's not fair but it's the way things go. 9 hours is a long shift to be standing on your feet on a hard floor. i know i couldn't do it!

good luck with whatever you decide!

 

[EBRAYWORLD]

HEALS!!! You have got to be kidding me!!! I massage in sneakers!!! Sorry but you need to find a new job before your body regrets it... And as for no chair, I would then bring my own, yes it does get annoying bringing it back and forth but it will save you from fatigue.

Acutally at the spa that I used to work at, my boss wanted us to look sporty neat... so sneakers fit the description!!! And no one complained!

 

[smills0205]

here's how i feel about a job like this. it's hard to do because once you become a therapist, people who work with you will still see you as their "receptionist". there was a girl that did that at the spa/salon i worked at and i'm not sure she was taken as serious as the other therapists.

Similar experience at the salon/day spa where I used to work. One of their receptionists decided to go to school to become a stylist. She came back to work with us immediately upon graduation.

Within a month I heard them complaining about how ungrateful she was and how they'd let her go. Well I knew she'd asked them for a raise, because when she worked as their receptionist before going to school she told me, she had made more money per hour with them than she did now as a licensed cosmotologist!

She still works at the salon she joined after leaving there!

 

[Veronica Alicia]

I knew I should have asked for all your wisdom on this subject before I took the job! Thanks for all the info. The chair thing is they don't want you to sit. So bringing one is not an option. Sporty atmosphere sounds like a way better way to go. On the massage appointments I think what I was thinking was that it sort of pointed out to me that I feel pretty comfortable marketing for myself. Just kind of clarifing in my mind that this may not be the setting for me when I graduate. You're right on that the current mt will have to fend for herself on that one. And I didn't even think of the attitude of "once a receptionist always a receptionist" mindset. Makes sense. I am on break from school and don't work again for 4 days so I think I am going to go do some Xmas shopping, go to hubbys office party tonite and just forget it all for a few. Thanks for letting me whine, complain and get it all out there. I will keep you all posted.

 

[MightyHyphy]

I firmly believe ya gotta go with your gut. I haven't had good experiences with salon/spa type places. I was never employed at one but had to do a student inturnship at one. That pretty much turned me off of that kind of business. This was more of a day spa type place, mind you. It sounds like you have the neat oppertunity to really observe this place and how it works. If it's not flying for you, look for somewhere else to work, if you can.

I was a housekeeper (at the same place I work now) part-time before I went to school. When I was in school, I was able to swap massages with the therapists at work and I wored on many of my co-workers (personal trainers, fitness staff, group exercise instructors, and management). Once I graduated, not only did I have a job waiting for me, I had great referals from my co-workers. I haven't been treated any differently than the other MT's. Keep looking, hopefully you'll find a place that works for you.

Sorry, I keep rambling on.....I also worked at a local Kohl's store while in school. I had family life (a 2 year old son and a 3 year old daughter, well, and my husband to take care of), work (supposed to part time but they kept scheduling me for more and more hours. Plus they started to disreguard my availability, they started to schedule my shift earlier than I was able to make it in. My hubby works midnights, the earliest I could be to work was 8 AM, they didn't really care.), and then school full time! I can totally understand how your feeling.

Steph!

 

[Jessie C]

Well, I'm glad you've had your hours reduced, but you do need to evaluate whether your body can even handle the two 9 hour days in heels. You may eventually feel it in your massage work.

When I was in school I worked reception at a spa. The thinking originally was that I would have support from other MT's while in school, plus it may eventually lead to a massage job. Well, I did get wonderful support from everyone around me and that was very important and valuable. However, I realized within weeks that I did not want to work in a spa. I stayed with the job until I only had a few months left in school because it suited the hours I could work, the pay was decent, the people were nice, it was close to my home and I had the support from the MT's. Once I didn't need it all anymore, I quit. I had stayed long enough to learn a lot about business stuff. Mostly, I learned what NOT to do! They made a LOT of business mistakes, as far as I was concerned. The clients would tell me a lot of their complaints, both about the way the spa was run, as well as about the MT's and other technicians.

We were allowed to sit and even though we had to wear nice clothes, etc., I had comfortable shoes. They were appropriate, but comfortable. I have bad feet, so wearing 3 inch heels was not an option for me.

Good luck

 

[CARLY MCKENZY (MATHS)]

Where I work at we have no chair behind the front desk.Use too but not anymore. Everyone that worked there said and agreed that the recepiontist sitting down while waiting on people looks and is tacky and unprofessional. We have a kitchen in the back and we sit back there..as all do reception work at one point or another.
the 9 hours in heels. I use to work retail and I worked anywhere from 4-12 hour shifts in heels...I just got use to it. Soak your feet every night and massage them.My advice...they do sell comfortable heeled shoes invest a pair or 2.
Let me ask this , Did they specifically say heels only or any type of dress shoes? I wear dress shoes to work sometimes but I slip them off in my room, I rather massage barefoot anyway.

 

[Pompal 09.]

Shannon, I may indeed have to go shopping. Oh Darn!! I do understand about looking professional. I just want my body to operate safely. We have no seating at all and there are some times during the day,(making confirmation calls for example) where taking a load off for just a few minutes would make the difference. I am feeling more at peace with it all as I have allowed myself to give it a shot as is and say bye bye if necessary.
Thanks