1. Tell me who was the best boss you ever had? Why?
My boss at PetSmart was the best boss I ever had. He gave us ways to develop our product knowledge and encouraged us to take on more responsibility. He was very fair and gave recognition to employees who did something outstanding. He respected the employees and we trusted him to help us if we needed it.
2. Explain what is one thing you like least about this career?
The thing that can tire me the most is living on a schedule, with cuts every half hour. Everyone is busy, and time is important, so I work hard to stay on schedule and be punctual. That's the most draining part of the job, and the only part that can be stressful for me.
3. Tell us how many hours a week do you expect?
She needs to know your expectations. She wants someone with unlimited availability, in a perfect world. Not every salon considers 40 hours to be full time. There are some franchises that consider 30 hours full time. I know of one that doesn't want a stylist on the floor over 7 hours in a shift to keep them from burnout.
If you absolutely need full time let her know this. Or maybe you can make do with 20 hours a week until you can work your way into full time.
4. Tell me what self -marketing tips do you have for cosmetologists?
Always have business cards. When meeting someone new, give them a card. Give those cards to friends and ask them to hand them out too. Another thing: cosmetologists should look beautiful all the time. I was told by my teacher in school that clients should never come in looking better than their stylist. Cosmetologists are providing a service, and the clients want to see the stylist as an example.
5. Tell me how do you build relationships with customers?
I think the best way to build a good relationship with a customer is to really get to know them. Client consultations help in figuring out what kind of look the person is going for and what the DEFINITELY don't want. Also, taking notes never hurts. Personally, I wouldn't want to walk into my hair salon and have my stylist forget my name! So if I have to reread my consultation notes I will.
6. Tell me what is the most challenging part of your job?
It can be tricky when someone comes in who wants something new, but doesn't have any idea what they want. During the consultation, I have to find out what they like and don't like, and feel confident that I can give them what they want. I also have to strike a balance between giving clients what they ask for and suggesting new ideas. Looking at books for examples can help if they don't understand the lingo when we're talking about styles - dimension, shape, and that sort of thing.
7. What is your greatest weakness as Cosmetologist?
Turn a negative into a positive. Don't say anything that will throw up a red flag to the interviewer like, "I have a hard time getting places on time." If a candidate said that to me we would be done with the interview. A salon manager not only needs you at work on time but so do your clients.
Don't choose anything that could adversely affect salon life. Things like being too trusting, or being too guarded with your feelings, or taking on too much responsibility are good ones to use that won't work against you.
8. Tell me how did you find your first job?
I came here from Maine to go to school at Whitman's Academy of Hair Design. When I finished, I went back to work in a salon in the little town I grew up in. That job didn't give me the excitement and creativity that I needed, though, so I scheduled a couple of interviews at salons in Brattleboro. I was at Whitman's salon, getting a haircut from a friend so that I would look beautiful for my interviews. The owner, who was my former teacher, overheard that I was looking for a job, came over to me and said, "Hey, why don't you come work for me?" So I did.
9. Tell me what was the best job you ever had? Why?
She is wanting to know if what you really enjoy doing is something you will enjoy doing in the salon. If you loved being a number cruncher and sitting at a desk all day you probably won't like being a creative, stand on your feet all day hairdresser. In her eyes, maybe you are not the best suited person for her open chair.
However, if you worked at PetSmart and enjoyed running around the store and helping customers with their beloved pets the interviewer could see how those activities could easily translate into beauty career activities.
10. Explain how did you deal with nerves when you first start working on real people?
At the beginning, you're always really nervous, although for me, it was more excitement than anything. I generally felt comfortable and confident because of the education I had. I felt that I could do it, and always knew that I could ask senior employees for advice. That's important -- being able to get help when they need it. I was always comfortable asking questions and finding the answers.
There's a saying we had at my previous salon: "Leave it at the door." In other words, if a stylist is having a bad day, theyr are tired or having problems with the kids at home, they can't bring their problems to work with you. I live by that. Clients don't want to hear about my problems -- they want to be taken care of.
12. Tell me what was the worst job you ever had? Why?
This is similar to the other question about what you liked least. To use the example from the last question, go in the opposite direction of salon activities. Since you will be up and active all day you could choose a job you had where you had to sit all day. Or you could choose one that was boring and didn't engage your interest.
Example: I once worked as a receptionist in a dental office. It was difficult for me to stay put all day because I am much happier in a fast paced environment.
13. How long do you believe you will be styling hair?
I have a passion for it so i dont see myself stopping anytime soon .
14. Did you receive any education regarding cosmetology?
Yes. I am currently enrolled in the cosmetology program at CCTE and I have 1250 hours. I need 1500 to take the State Board Exam.
15. Tell me do you advise cosmetologists to choose a specialty right away?
I think that partly depends on whether one wants to work for a large or small salon. In larger salons, it's more common to specialize -- sometimes clients may get color processing from one stylist, a cut from another, and a style from even another! Even if a cosmetologist want to work in a smaller salon, it's a good idea to choose a specialty early, because they get established in what you do. It's hard to go from hair to nails to waxing, for example, and to be considered an expert in all of those.
16. Tell me how dependent are you?
I'm a pretty independent person. I like to figure things out on my own but I am not afraid to ask questions or ask for help if needed.
17. What other techniques do you enjoy while styling hair?
I love completely enhancing the entire look, the hair color, cut and style.
18. Tell me do you have any thoughts on building clientele?
If you are a brand new stylist starting your beauty career the manager does not expect you to come with a clientele. However, if you are in a private salon you will be responsible for building your clientele. I hope you knew this already.
Finding out what my client likes/dislikes and remember faces and names. Listen, listen and listen some more. I rephrase what they want so we are clear on our plan.
20. Where do you gain your inspiration for trying new trends, styles?
No it doesn't it really depends in what salon your working at and how many hours you work.
21. When did you decide to become a cosmetologist?
I decided that I wanted to be a cosmetologist about 5 years ago. I was working in a hair salon and I enjoyed it so much that I decided that I wanted to do it for the rest of my life.
22. What is your favorite hair style to work on, when you are just at home?
Well my favorite hair style to work on at home is to wash and straight in the hair.
23. How many years experience do you have coloring hair?
I have colored my hair every color under the sun. So I've been coloring since my teen years.
24. Tell me do you have any problems working weekends?
No.
You are now a professional stylist and starting your beauty career. You know good and well you now work on weekends. Don't even try it.
25. Tell me what do you like most about being a cosmetologist?
I love to make people beautiful. And I love my clients. I enjoy being social with them, and being creative in my work.
My favorite product is Paul Mitchell Super Sculpt Glaze and Fast Drying Sculpting Spray. They also make a dry wax I like to use -- it to gives the hair texture. I use these products on my clients all the time, and on myself, too.
27. Have you worked on anyone hair before a big event, such as a wedding?
Yes I have and I have two more wedding I will be working on I am very exited to be working it and make them look beautiful.
28. What did you like least about your last job as Cosmetologist?
Oh, this is a tricky one. It's a setup. It is very easy to fall into this snare. People just wait for an opening to vent. But you now know ahead of time NOT TO DO THIS.
Instead of coming back with, "OH, I really hated my boss. He was such a pig!" you want to go to a task that is harmless to what you are trying to achieve. If you worked at Starbucks you had to clean, you had very busy times, it could be stressful, people complained, you may have had a bad co-worker, etc. But if you point any of this out in your interview it will look like a negative for YOU.
29. Describe a difficult work situation and how you handled it in past?
A toddler got sick in the aisle of PetSmart. The child was throwing up and crying and the mother was flustered. The mother was concerned for her child but embarrassed by the situation. I ran and got a lot of paper towels to immediately cover up the mess. I also brought a clean, damp towel for the mom to clean the baby. I stayed with them and helped mom get her child and her bag to the car easily. I then cleaned up the mess as quickly as possible. She later called the store and told my manager that she appreciated how I had helped her to her car with her sick baby and that she posted it on Facebook so others would know we had great customer service at our store.
30. Tell me how do you deal with troublesome clients?
I rarely have difficult clients! When I do, honesty is the key to working it out. If someone doesn't like what I've done, I ask them to tell me what didn't work. On occasion, when someone has been repeatedly unhappy, I've told them that I obviously can't give them what they want, and recommend another stylist. But the response is always, "Oh, it's not you!" Usually those people are just unhappy with their hair -- they hate the wave or straightness, not what I did. I think, generally, that it works to troubleshoot problems together, and I think of it as a positive thing. I also always welcome my clients to come back at the end of the day if they're not happy with the style or have any challenges.
My advice would be to be punctual, always come to work ready to go, and when someone walks in, be ready and willing to give them a haircut, and not grumble about wanting a cigarette break! For at least the first three months after I started working, anytime a senior stylist needed help, I would jump in. I always kept busy, always introduced myself as a new stylist, and just tried to get my name out there. Stylists should make sure they advertise who are.
As for what I wish I knew now, I've never done hair extensions, and that would be neat to look into. I wish I knew even more about color, but I try to keep myself educated. At this salon, we get education classes about once a month, and also do a New York hair show, where we sit in classes in coloring and cutting. That always makes cosmtologists realize how much they know, and boosts their confidence. If you can learn one new little trick or technique or idea, it's been a good day.
32. Explain what hair styles do you prefer to work on?
I like working on all hair styles. Each style is a learning experience and to work on it over and over again would enhance my skills.
33. Why should we hire you as Cosmetologist?
Because I have a strong work ethic, I'm great at time management, I understand the importance of superior customer service and I am willing to do everything I can to help the salon and myself grow.
34. What hours are you available as Cosmetologist?
Know the hours of the salon before you go for the interview. The best answer is always...ANYTIME.
However, life sometimes gets in the way. My advice is to work out your issues to the best of your ability before interviewing. This can be a deal breaker.
You should know by now that you will most likely be working some nights and weekends. This is a beauty career, not a bank job.
If you have a lot of restraints on your availability it will hurt your chances of getting the job a great deal. Be as flexible as possible.
35. Explain what is your typical workday like?
I like to show up about half an hour before my first appointment. This gives me time to check my schedule and see who is getting chemical services, in order to have the products ready for when my clients come in. I make sure the salon is set up, turn on the coffee pot, turn on the music and have everything ready to go.
During the day, I'm mostly cutting hair and doing chemical processing, making people look beautiful. My appointments are often back-to-back, so my work tends to be fast-paced, and I'm on my feet all day. It takes an hour and a half to two hours for a chemical process and half an hour for haircuts, so on a day when I'm just cutting hair, I see a lot of people!
