Changing Discrimination Against Recent Esthy Graduates One Esthetician at a Time

As you approach graduation you will be most likely be excited to jump into your esthetics career. Why wouldn't you? You've studied like a mad man, you've worked hard and you vigorously send out resumes only to find that no employers are calling you back, or the ones that do call you back only tell you that you don't have enough experience. Not enough experience? What do you mean "not enough experience?"

What do these employers think you did all day at school? What do they think you did when you were on the clinic floor? Do they think you worked on mannequins the entire time? Don't they realize you touched live human beings throughout your schooling? Isn't an esthetics license proof that you are qualified?

Having a few years behind me now myself, it is one of the saddest moments for me when I hear recent graduates tell me what a hard time they are having getting an esthetician job. I was there not too long ago and it feels like  massive discrimination. The employer's won't give you a chance no matter what because they have red-flagged you. It is frustrating to say the least, and I have found some of the best estheticians are fresh out of school because their passion for the industry is still on fire and they aim to please clients. Nonetheless employers red-flag these students which is a shame because they are missing out on some terrific talent--I would know because I  network with so many recent graduates that are extremely talented yet doors are slammed in their faces.

In this industry, I think much of the responsibility should lie with the esthetician schools. I think most esthetician schools could do a much better job networking with employers--NOT JUST A JOB BOARD--but really networking and helping estheticians get internships while in school and help them secure something when they graduate. Instructors know who the prized students are and at least these students should be referred out to hot spas.

The fact is in every industry we all have to start at the bottom and work our way up, but in no other industry that I know of are graduates openly discriminated against simply for being a "recent graduate." 

All of us esthys, as we advance in our own careers, have to work together to change the misguided notion that recent graduates are not skilled or worthy enough for these jobs. Unequivocally,  some of the best estheticians are students or recent graduates, and it is unfortunate that employers are missing out on this fine talent.

If you are reading this blog and you work as an instructor or for an esthetics school please help be the voice that changes this ridiculous discrimination. You have the power to change this unfair discrimination.