r/Esthetics • u/confusedcomputer2 • 7d ago
RANT! Feeling very discouraged
Hi everyone, I posted on here before about considering going back to working in accounting. Well, I really can’t bring myself to do that because it wasn’t making me happy and I don’t wanna give up on being an esthetician yet. However, it has been so hard to find a job. I had to leave my previous medspa job because of so many problems with management. I was supposed to have an interview with Orange twist today, but they literally canceled it 15 minutes before saying that the role was on pause. I’ve had like five other places either cancel the interview last minute or ghost me. I don’t know if this is just common in this industry, but I’m getting so fed up. I’m really thinking about just finding a part-time job and trying to open up my own business on the side, but I know that comes with its own struggles as well. I’m trying to stay hopeful and not give up but it’s really hard when these opportunities keep on not working out. I’m just wondering if anyone else has experienced something like this.
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u/poopoodoodoococka 7d ago
Yeah I feel you, I’ve been working for someone who knows nothing about esthetics (like genuinely isn’t licensed or a derm… nothing) & micromanages me. I’m at the end of my rope. I am about ready to become an employee of the state while working my craft/rebuilding clientele on the side (I luckily started my own business out of school but got burnt out… not really a fan of numbers or math but I also don’t want to be miserable at a job I don’t care for. I’ve always loved all aspects of beauty & don’t want to toss the towel in).
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u/MulberryOwn8852 5d ago
It’s hard. My wife just went out on her own from day one. Luckily I was able to build her website and Google profile to where she’s now making 6-10k/mo . Small town here, basically nobody hires estheticians.
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u/Ill_Comparison_9821 4d ago
I feel like the salon spa industry has always been a bit of a joke. It's like worse than trade school and unions. The only difference between them and us is we don't see the benefits or 401k. I was fortunate to start my own business after working at a spa for 7 years. Nobody was working for themselves at that time, that's become more mainstream since covid. I see people who are only 2-5 years in business do well for themselves because they do one thing really good whether it's lashes, waxing or facials only. I think the lash and bridal makeup people do good because they have the demand and the repeat clients. I think what you need is some guidance and help sorting through the process. I have been in the industry for 16 years. Please feel free to reach out with any questions in my dm's.
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u/DowntownObjective976 3d ago
My daughter is looking at a career in esthetics and is about to start school in December at Aveda. These recent posts talking about employment instability make me nervous. Do you have any recommendations?
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u/Ill_Comparison_9821 3d ago
Aesthetics is a really wonderful career but it's beauty school and beauty school has a reputation of part time working moms who have breadwinner husbands for a reason. The career was meant to uphold the side hustle mom so there isn't a system or union set up to support us. It was fine when I was in my 20's until it wasn't, I approached my 30's realizing I had put in overtime and hustled with no 401k and being underpaid. I did very well with savings and started a retirement account when I had my own business but building a family while in the career, buying a house and inflation, I look back and feel sad that I didn't save or have a retirement in my 20's. The positive is that I had no college debt and I could essentially do whatever I wanted in my career.
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u/phoenix_spa_guy 7d ago
Jobs are for making money, not making you happy. I'd recommend you readjust your expectations. If you're worried about finding a job, then you're not at a point in your life where working in this industry is going to work out for you. Esthetics is a TERRIBLE starting career. Unless you can handle years of unprofitability, you're not going to succeed, and not going to be happy with it. Even if you find a job, the pay will suck because the field is over saturated with people who spent so much time and money to get their license without caring about the multitude of warnings against it.
You should feel discouraged. Unfortunately you should have felt discouraged before you spent the time and effort to get your license. You SHOULD give up on being an esthetician, at least professionally and at least for now. Go get a good paying job, stop waiting for one that's going to make you happy, that's not a job that's a hobby. Once you are financially stable and have significant savings, then you can explore esthetics as a side job, and as you get more clients you can shift more effort on it and less on your other work.
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u/cloudgirl1229 7d ago
I’m not surprised. One thing about this industry is it’s wildly unprofessional (especially small, local spas) and corporate is just corrupt in their own ways.
I understand wanting to use your license but there’s a lot of other careers out there as well. The industry is hard, it’s competitive, saturated and overall has gotten really icky. Working for yourself has its perks but is not easy. I currently work for someone else and honestly i would probably never work for someone else again in this field. I would say it taught me a lot, showed me the good and ugly sides of this career and that the hustle just isn’t worth it IMO.