Last week, makeup artist Jamie Smith started sharing her top tips for landing top makeup counter job. Read her first five tips to refresh your memory—then take a look at five more amazing pointers for getting the gig!
6. Have a portfolio
When applying to a company that is specifically focused on beauty & makeup, it’s always a good backup to have a portfolio with some of the makeup you’ve applied to yourself or others. And a portfolio also gives you that little something extra that may remind the interviewer of you when they’re making their decision later.
If you’re able, take pictures of makeup you’ve done and print off photos. It doesn’t have to be 11x14s in a huge professional portfolio. As long as you have any prints in a photo album, it shows you’re proud of your work and makes you stand out! If you can’t afford to print photos or don’t have a camera, you can do face charts for some looks you’ve done, or even upload those onto a website! Many free sites are available that you can make a place to showcase your talents.
7. Research your company
If you’ve followed the tips above, you will have already researched some elements of the company you’re applying to. However, it’s always nice to have a brief history of the company so you know what you’re getting into. A quick Google search usually tells you all you need to know about where you’re applying!
It’s also a good idea to check out previous employees’ experiences with the company. Of course, everyone has different views of their time at a job, and not all things posted online are truthful, but it’s nice to get a general idea of how employees are treated at the company.
Along with that, you can also research what kind of values, goals and objectives the company has and if you’re willing to align yourself with them. You can also check out who the prospective clients are so you can prepare yourself for any makeup related questions your interviewers may have for you pertaining to clientele. Just make sure you have a well rounded idea of who you’ll be working for and what they’re looking for in you!
8. Have a great attitude
It goes without saying, but I’m going to say it anyway! Always go into your interview in a great mood that will resonate with everyone you come in contact with. Make sure you greet everyone with a warm smile and a firm handshake. You never know who could be conducting your interview, and a good first impression is always a plus!
In your interview, make sure to not seem too over-confident (keep things professional and modest), but at the other end of the spectrum, don’t seem too desperate. If you start your day off in a great mood, you’ll get everything done on time and you can be out the door early. Showing up 10-15 minutes early to an interview allows you to find where you’ll be interviewed and shows that you are excited and prepared for it!
9. Communicate
Communication is so essential during an interview, and long after. Your interview involves some of the most important communication you’ll conduct in your quest to work at a makeup counter.
The first part of communication is listening. Listen carefully to what your interviewer is asking, and try to match their style and pace so you can relate more closely to what they’re looking for in an employee. In addition to listening carefully, keep steady eye contact with the interviewer and try not to get distracted by anything else in the room.
While speaking, always use professional language to convey your answers—it’ll let the interviewer know you are able to communicate with clients professionally in the workplace. As one last tip, try to keep your answers strictly work related. Try not to stray into financial or personal talk.
10. Ask questions
During your interview, pay close attention to what the interviewer is asking. You should be forming questions in your head that you can ask at the end of the interview. This not only shows that you are genuinely interested in the job but also allows you to find out if the job suits you and gives you a chance to find out more about the company.
Not only can you ask questions during the hiring process, there’s always that chance to follow up if you haven’t heard back in a while. Calling back to check on your application just shows another level of interest! And if by some chance they don’t hire you, be sure to ask what went wrong in the interview so you can correct it next time!
