If you're considering joining the spa industry, chances are
you already know that it's one of the most fulfilling and unique job
environments available today. But did you know there are literally dozens of
positions available in the spa market? From day spas to medical spas to cruise
ship spas, there are plenty of locations available, and hundreds of jobs within
those locations, making it easy to find the one that's just right for you.
Types of Spas
Knowing more about the industry will help you to find the
right career for you. The following is a partial list of types of spas
available today:
- Club
Spa: This fast-growing segment of the spa population is often found in big
cities. Club spas combine fitness equipment with spa facilities, so you
can work out and then relax afterwards with massages and spa treatments.
- Cruise
Ship Spa: For spa employees who like the idea of travel, working at a
cruise ship spa is a great idea. Often cruise ship spa employees are
contracted out to various cruise ship lines and experience travel to all
sorts of different locales.
- Day
Spa: The most typical type of spa, a day spa features various treatment
facilities under one roof. Sometimes combined with a hair salon, other
times as a stand-alone business, day spas can be found in almost any city
in the country.
- Destination
Spa: For those looking for a real getaway, a destination spa can offer it.
These spas are often found in remote areas such as mountain resorts or
vacation cities. They offer an all-inclusive relaxation experience, with
fitness programs, organized activities, and various classes that customers
can attend, along with typical spa treatments.
- Hotel
Spa: Hotel spas combine the idea of a getaway with a relaxing spa
treatment that is available to customers at any time. Most hotel spas are
also referred to as "resorts" and offer massages and treatments
in customers' rooms as well as in a main spa facility.
Types of Spa Jobs
The roles of employees at various spas will not vary widely
from location to location. Most feature a basic hierarchy of employees, and
some require training. Here's a small sampling of available spa jobs:
- Aesthetician:
Responsible for recommending skin care and certain types of treatment for
various skin conditions, they design treatments that fit into a client's
lifestyle and budget and offer tips for daily maintenance as well as
all-over corrective procedures. Aestheticians must undergo fairly rigorous
beauty school training and are often members of national foundations that
keep them up-to-date on new developments through conferences and ongoing
training.
- Massage
Therapist: Massage therapists are trained in relaxation and medical
massage. Although it's not required in every spa environment, in order to
become certified most massage therapists must learn how to deal with
injuries through massage, and are medically trained to help heal pulled
muscles or aches and pains. In a medical spa, they will put these skills
to use; in a typical day spa, they may just be required to use relaxation
massage to give clients a good experience.
- Spa/Fitness
Attendant: These individuals offer support to therapists or aestheticians.
In general, an attendant will do everything from clean and organize
hair-cutting tools to cleaning and maintaining fitness equipment.
The hours and pay rate you can expect while working in a spa
will vary greatly. As you can imagine, trained massage therapists will receive
higher pay than assistants; a manicurist with several years' experience
operating her own business may be better paid than a hair stylist with limited
experience.
If you're expecting a typical 40-hour work week your best
bet will most likely be a club spa or a day spa. Resort spas, cruise ship spas,
and destination spas operate on a seasonal basis; while they may be open
year-round, they certainly have a "busy season" and that is when
their employees work the most hours and are in the highest demand.
The Future of the Spa Industry
As going to the spa becomes less of a unique luxury and more
of an everyday occurrence to many people, spas as businesses are thriving. The
benefits provided to daily life by a spa experience are not going unnoticed,
and spas are becoming popular in large cities and small towns alike.
Joining the Spa Industry
Training can give you the edge when it comes to working in
the creative facets of the spa industry. Community colleges and beauty schools
all over the country can give you the training you need to become a certified
spa professional. While completing your training, you may wish to work as an
assistant to gain valuable insight into everyday spa operations. Spas also
offer positions that don't require formal training, ranging from reservations
and front desk attendants through beverage servers.
Hcareers is the ideal place to find a spa career. From
cruise ship and destination spas to hotels and resorts, breaking into the spa
industry is becoming easier every day as the popularity of spas all over the
world continues to skyrocket.