How to Get Your First Injecting Job in Aesthetics

In a break from our more clinical advice, today we’re exploring how to get your first injecting job in aesthetics.

Not all new aesthetic practitioners decide to start their own practice. As such, many of you will be looking for employment within an existing clinic set up.

Whilst we wish we could employ all of our graduates here at Harley Academy and The Academy Clinic, obviously this isn’t possible. However, we’ve put together some honest, practical advice to get you started on your job-seeking journey...

WRITE AN AESTHETICS CV

Really think about what someone who runs a successful aesthetics business will be looking for from a candidate at your level.

The conundrum of how you can get experience when every injecting job listing requires you to have experience already is a common concern. Make sure you include all relevant experience, even if you don’t think it’s that significant. It may just give you the edge over other applicants!

Read our article Aesthetics Clinic Job Interview Advice for some great insights from Dr Jaymi Lad, who runs Javivo Clinic in Manchester. In this she sets out what she looks for when recruiting for her practice so you can reflect this in your CV and cover letters.

You can also find pertinent advice in our article How to Write a CV for Aesthetics Jobs.

One tip that, as employers, we can’t stress enough is to save your CV with a file name that includes your full name. Many people title their file as just “CV” which, when you’re an employer receiving a number of applications, is not helpful and may mean your CV gets lost.

Lastly, if there’s someone you really want to impress, don’t be afraid to get creative to make yourself stand out!

MAKE CONTACT WITH CLINICS OR INDIVIDUALS YOU'D LIKE TO WORK FOR

Don’t be afraid to contact clinics or individuals you’d like to work for.

Determine the best approach in each instance, eg email, a phone call – even via their social media channels. Popping by in person may work in some instances, for example if you’re looking for a job at a clinic chain. Just drop in your cover letter and CV letter. However, if you’re approaching busy injectors individually, it’s not advisable to just turn up!

Ensure you personalise your approach to the person or business you’re contacting and be clear in what you’re looking for and what you can offer in return.

If spelling and/or grammar aren’t your strong points, type your messages into a document first so you can run checks on these.

Where speaking on the phone or in person makes you nervous, practice with a friend or colleague until your confidence improves.

If you’re great at social media, consider making a video to send them to really show off your skills. This is a great way to stand out from the crowd.

As injecting jobs in existing aesthetics businesses are often highly sought after, they’re likely to attract a lot of responses. Therefore, the more your approach stands out – in a good way – the more likely you are to get a reply.

However you approach people, as the saying goes, you only get one chance to make a first impression, so make yours count!

ADVERTISE YOUR SKILLS TO POTENTIAL EMPLOYERS ON PROFESSIONAL NETWORKING SITES

Use industry networking sites, such as Comma and LinkedIn, to advertise your skills. If you want to catch people’s attention, you need to make sure you do it properly. 

Simply posting that you’re based in London and are looking for a job isn’t enough. It’s a common mistake that lots of new injectors make when looking for a new position. However, employers are unlikely to contact you based on these types of posts.

Tough love: these posts look lazy and give the impression you expect employers to come to you.

Remember, you’re trying to catch the attention of busy people; you want to stop them in their tracks. You want to impress them enough to get an interview.

You don’t need to post your full CV – especially on LinkedIn where your profile is easily visible. However, you do need to give a certain amount of information and also inject some personality into your posts.

Information to include in injecting job-seeking posts

Your professional background

The aesthetics qualifications you’ve achieved so far and any others that are relevant. Remember that if you’ve successfully completed your Level 7 Diploma in Botox & Dermal Fillers course, this is a widely respected qualification that many employers will look for, so be sure to shout about it! If you haven’t completed it yet, it’s still worth mentioning that you’re in progress. List what it entails – mentored clinical practice, for example. You can also note the treatments you’ve completed and the botox or filler products you’re familiar with.

• What type of work you’re looking for
• Your location and availability (both from and whether you’re looking for full or part time work)
• What interested you about aesthetic medicine and why you made the move
• Your skills as an injector. This should be specifically about which treatments you can do and your skill levels for each
• Relevant aesthetic skills outside the technical. For example, if you’re particularly good with nervous patients, or are great at social media, these are valuable talents. Show them off!

NETWORK IN PERSON

Never underestimate the benefits of getting to know others in your field. Not only can you learn a lot from how other people practise and how they approach the business of aesthetics. They may also help you when it comes to finding opportunities!

There are a number of ways you can network in person, without it feeling awkward – or at least it should feel less awkward! For example, attending:

• Conferences and events, such as CCR, ACE and Aesthetic Medicine Live
• Group training sessions and talks
• Clinic openings and product launches

Sign up for mailing lists for companies you’re interested in and keep an eye on their events news.

Although aesthetic medicine can be a lonely business day-to-day, it’s actually a pretty sociable industry! As such, never be afraid to attend events, even if you go along on your own, and build your network.

Just be yourself and take an interest in your peers. Remember, it’s not about asking for a job – or at least not just that. It’s about making connections and building relationships that you’ll appreciate throughout your career.

When you do this, as long as you have the skills to back it up, employment opportunities should be easier to come by.

THREE QUICK TASKS FOR YOU...

Now you’ve read our advice, we hope you’re feeling inspired. A positive mindset is crucial for aesthetic practitioners seeking employment, after all!

To capitalise on this, we have three quick tasks for you to complete right now. These will help you to move closer towards getting your first job in aesthetics...

1. Make a list of 10 aesthetic clinics or individuals you’d like to work for and locate their contact details.

2. Find out about 5 industry events that are happening in the next 2 months and commit to attending at least 3 of these.

3. Read our recommended articles listed above then update your aesthetics CV whilst this information is fresh in your mind.

Once you’ve completed these tasks, you are all set to start reaching out and begin your injecting job search in earnest.

You’re going to face a lot of rejection – we all do at first! Be prepared for that. But remember, it only takes one “yes” to get your career started.

Good luck and let us know how you get on!

All information correct at the time of publication