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BUSINESS
BREAKING RESUME RULES! By Robyn McAlpine
How to pimp your resume and get away with it! It’s the talk of all the industry forums, the gaping hole and significant lack of therapists in our industry and whilst I don’t doubt that great skin therapists are thinner on the ground, what If it’s not so much a lack of good therapists but a lack of good applications? I’m about to teach you how to turn heads with your job application that will guarantee you an interview and hopefully have you elbows deep in the best job opportunities that our industry has to offer! It’s no secret that our industry is always looking for great therapists. We’re notorious for the feast and famine of job openings where there’s either all or nothing. Right not, the opportunities are HUGE with the last two years really levelling the playing field and right now, it a therapist’s dream market with some of the most lucrative salons opening their doors to new team members. But what if the phone isn’t ringing and you’re not getting call backs? There are jobs a plenty so why are you not getting any bites? Now, I’m the first to admit that I am no HR Expert. I don’t know the latest resume trends or what font and format you should be typesetting. But as an employer how received hundreds of applications, I have discovered key things that really turn the heads of those who do the hiring and firing and am about to spill it all here. I have seen too many great therapists let down by poor quality applications. So, I’m letting you in on a few little secrets. I’m here to tell you it’s time to break these three golden rules and get yourself noticed! 1: forget everything you know about a cover letter. We’ve been told to keep it short and sweet but I can assure you, we want way more than a single paragraph introduction. We want to get to know you and the cover letter is your chance! The most successful applicants in my business have been the ones who didn’t stick to the recommended two paragraph cover letter. They are the ones who broke the rules and used the cover letter to tell me who they are, why they love our industry and what they love about life.
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Beauty Biz Year 15 Issue 2
I am hiring someone who I want my clients to connect with. I can’t figure that out from a one-page formal resume and cover letter. Instead, use the entre page to tell me what you’re passionate about. Not a professional writer? Don’t worry, speak (or type) from the heart, run it through spellcheck and hit send! We want the authentic you and most of the time it takes more than a basic paragraph!
What part of the industry they wanted to focus their career on. Why they want to work here and what drew them to apply. What they could bring to the team Their experience with clients/product range/ treatments that will be of benefit to the role. What they love to do outside of work, what they are passionate about.
Not sure what to write? Some of my favorite rule breakers have covered topics like:
If I get a glimpse into who you are, in your cover letter, you can guarantee I’ll be picking up the phone and inviting you to an interview before I even look at your resume qualifications.
What drew them to the beauty industry and how they came to enroll in a beauty diploma.
