When it comes to your role as a massage therapist, one of the most challenging aspects of your new career will be finding a position. Sometimes you will fall into a position once you have your degree, perhaps by finding an ad in the local paper at the right time or knowing someone in a clinic that hears of an opening. If these don’t happen to you, consider these tips to find a job once you are done with your training at North Carolina Massage School.
Choose Your Target
Where do you want to be employed? What types of clinics and companies in your area employ massage therapists? The first step in finding employment is knowing where to look. Identify a list of target employers, and start there.
Who should be on the list? Consider places like:
- Chiropractors
- Fitness centers
- Spas
- Resorts
- Independent massage therapy businesses
- Physical therapy clinics
Each of these may be able to hire a new massage therapist. Also, remember that you may not land a job at your favorite spot when you are first starting out. Use what you can find to give you the experience you need, then move up.
Compare the Options
Once you know who your potential employers are, take some time to compare your options. Learn who is responsible for hiring, how long the company has been in business, what the company’s reputation is in the business and what type of clientele they cater to. If you get to have a choice in which company to apply to or accept a job offer from, you can use this information to make a wise choice. Also, watch for high employee turnover, which could indicate a less than positive work environment.
Turn Past Work Experience into Skills
One of the challenges facing new massage therapists is the lack of massage therapy experience. While you may have gotten experience in school, you haven’t worked for months on your craft. So, you must take past work experience and translate it into skills that apply for your new position.
Consider a job as a retail sales clerk. This job gained you experience with customer relationship skills and organizational skills. Use those terms on your resume, with specific examples of how you improved productivity or customer satisfaction. Showcase your skills in a way that reflects the work you will be doing to improve your chances of getting a positive response to your application.
