Job Satisfaction

I am trying to gather information about esthiology from people who know it best- the people working in the field! I am considering a career switch, but I'm sure many of us would like to know how you truly feel about what you do. I've scoured the forum and gotten a bit of an idea, but wanted to get something a bit more updated.

We know jobs are tight. Many other forums echo the same woes- "There isn't much out there in terms of jobs- especially for newbies!"

Are you satisfied in this field? Do you consider your job rewarding? Has the work you put into this worth it? Would you do it over again? If so- what are the rewards? If not- what has been the biggest factor in your dissatisfaction?

Thank you!

All great questions, Thalia!

Let's see, I have been working professionally for ten years now. Before that I was in skin care sales for ten years. I feel that what I do is genuinely beneficial from not only a beauty standpoint, but more importantly from a health standpoint. Healthy skin IS beautiful skin. I started out working in a salon, and was there for the first five years. I now work in a medical cosmetic surgery center, and the two are WORLDS apart, as you can imagine!

Honestly, it is not easy to earn a full-time income in this field, unless you have something different. Special. Unique.

In the salon I did mostly waxing, and a few facial treatments. In the medical setting, 90% of my treatments are microdermabrasion and post-Obagi Blue Peel enzyme treatments.. There are MANY newer modalities being touted, and it is part of YOUR job to get educated on what they are (Microcurrent, LED, etc.), and this will all come AFTER school. Post-grad education and experience is where you will actually BEGIN to learn about this industry.

But is it worth it? It is to me.

lpt

Thank you so much for your feedback, lpt!
That is very good information to have- particularly since on thing I'm trying to decide on is which program to go to based on what and how they train (I found a place that offers training in LED, peels, microcurrent, microdermabrasions, whereas many schools around here don't bother with those).
Thanks again!

I agree with LPT. Especially the part relating to being special and unique. This is the key. Another key is being a good self learner. You not only have to stay up on what is new but you have to be ahead of it.

Thanks for the feedback, Jeff. I have a background in counseling and have worked at a few hospitals in that capacity, so I hope that will give me an interesting edge/duality!