What the Fork? Career paths, questions, and making tough decisions.

When you come to a fork in the road…find something good to eat!

So you’ve come to that proverbial fork in road, and, just like Dorothy, you’ll have to make your choice.  Today, however, it seems like our forks have so many more tines than they did in the past.

If you are reading this, the assumption is you have chosen to fill your future with the world of health, wellness, and beauty. But now you realize there is a veritable buffet of career options to choose from: Therapeutic Body Massage, Skin Care Treatments, Spa Therapies, Makeup Artistry, Holistic and Clinical Studies, Waxing Specialties…and the list goes on and on.

“What’s right for me,” you ask?

We are here to help you determine the answer for yourself. But before that becomes clearer, there are more questions to pose and more answers to give.

Question #1: What ignited your passion for the health, wellness, and beauty industry?

There are as many answers to this question as there are fingerprints of the persons answering it. For some people, it seems to be in their genetic design. Many others have a life-changing experience where a professional in the industry was there to help them recover from an injury, heal their skin problem, or make them feel beautiful on an ordinary day or extraordinary occasion. Regardless of your reason, it is helpful to identify that moment and any other contributing factors that inspired you.

Question #2: Where do you envision putting your passions to work?

Massage therapy, esthetics, or makeup artistry: choose one or choose all 3!

Massage and skin care have, and continue to become, respected areas within health care. There are holistic, clinical, and blended applications of these science-based arts and many environments to practice them. Determining where you might see yourself (warning: this may likely change as you learn more and more in your programs of study) can provide you direction as to whether obtaining a single license in esthetics or massage therapy or pursuit of a dual license and/or advanced training will help you meet your goals.

Question #3: Have you done your career-path homework?

It’s important to do your research when considering what’s next for your career. Have a massage, have a facial, and ask questions. Check out earning potential for estheticians at http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes395094.htm and for massage therapists at http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes319011.htm . Consider the earning potential for dual-licensed (massage and esthetics) professionals. Speak with practicing estheticians and massage therapists and ask them what they wish they new about the industry before going to school.

Your education is a commitment of time and resources that has the potential to change your life. One of the most gratifying parts of the massage and esthetics fields is that you have the skills to make people feel better. Your clients feel better both physically and mentally when they experience stress relief and the boost of confidence that comes with feeling beautiful and cared for.

Still struggling to find your right path? Call us at 781-960-0123 or email admissions@elizabethgrady.com to set up an appointment to discuss your options, meet instructors, and discover all this industry has to offer.