Specktra.Net - Working for Cosmetics Retailers

Freelancing for MAC & Pro Card?

lyttleravyn — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:31:45 GMT

Hey guys, I asked in another thread, but no one answered; I also tried searching and couldn't find a specific answer either.

One of the threads said if you freelance for MAC you can't freelance other places since its a conflict of interest. I have my first shift at a MAC counter (as freelance) this weekend, besides that I've only done a few girl's makeup for proms and high school plays, nothing professional. Would freelancing for MAC qualify me for their Pro Card? (Maybe including a pay stub after I get paid, and the girls at the counter really like me I might be able to swing a letter from the counter manager). But is that enough for a card or will I have to do more professional things first? Thanks in advance!

<3 Lynn

Anyone Work for Clinique?

JGunnar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:58:41 GMT

I bought a face cream over a month ago that makes my skin feel like rubber and dries it out horribly. I've been very busy and haven't had time to travel back up there and return it so the 30 day return period has passed. I called and the counter girl was kinda confusing. She said "You can always return it just bring it back and the computer will tell us if it's been 30 days or not and whether you get a refund or credit"

So does that mean I can return it within in 60 days and still get my $40 back just in credit to buy something else from there? Or will I not be able to return it at all? I just hate to drive all the way up there and look stupid with something way past the return date!

New Counter Manager no experience

ccc — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:27:52 GMT

Please help,I am a new counter manager.I do not have experience in cosmetic or retail sales.My work history is in ouside sales and managerment in Dental and pharmaceutical sales.I am very excited to be working in cosmetics.This is something I have always wanted to do.I really do not have a lot of guidance.The only instruction I have is from the 2 girls that work at my counter.I know that one girl wanted this postion.I feel very overwhelmed.I am so freaked out I am having trouble remembering everything.Oh and by the company is Chanel. I live in the southeast in a medium sized town My DM will be coming by for a day in 3 weeks.Help I really want to keep this job and make Chanel soar Thanks to anyone that has advice.CCC

Interview for mac pro London soho store! HELP!!!!

macdolly — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 11:45:19 GMT

Heeey!
Well Iv been thrown in the deep end with an interview for the prestigous soho store in London. Sorry to admit it but this truely is a case of who you know paying off....I currently work for Estee Luder in one of the top doors in London as a counter manager though sadly my maternity cover contact is coming to an end on 30th Nov!!! Of course i have an assistant manager position to go back to but sod that?!?!?! haha soooooo my area manager (who used to be Mac Pro herself in the soho store....!!!) has had a word with a couple of her influencial 'friends' throughout mac and has set up an interview up for me! My worry is, that i havent worked for mac let alone mac pro despite having a love for their products and a kit full of them! I need some advise and to what i should be expecting next week at my interview, what it should entail and of course, my chances?!?!

Any help would be greatly appreciated! Much love to everyone xxxxx

looking for an internship

alix — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 09:58:34 GMT

Hello everyone!

I am a French student at EMLyon Business School and I am currently looking for a 6-month internship abroad, starting in July 2010. As I really like cosmetics and hairdressing, I am trying to find a cosmetics company to work for.

Has anyone got tips for me? Ideally, I would like to work in the marketing department, either in Asia or in South America.

I would be grateful for any advice you can give me!

Thanks a million!

Alix

MAC Necklaces

magicinthemakup — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:00:10 GMT

Hey everybody!

I'm a new freelancer for MAC.

Where can I get a MAC necklace???

I just got Hired at MAC!!!

metro_qt — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:34:38 GMT

YAY!!!

I got a call from a local MAC store and was offered employment this morning!
i'm so excited. I've wanted this forever!

I went to a group interview about 2 weeks ago,
I was so eager, that I spent all weekend pouring over spektra discussions on how to nail my interview. (i've applied twice before and not gotten it)

The regional manager wrote me and told me what store would be calling me for a second interview.
I went into that store before they called, to see if i could pick up some tips about what they thought made a great employee. They then booked my interview for the next day.

I was so surprised, because who I thought was to interview me, didn't.
My interview was super hard... I actually perspired a little during the interview...:sneaky:

I thought I was applying for a seasonal part time position,

instead I got a permanent on-call position.
Either way, i'm happy.
I'm in makeup heaven...
I'll be going to sign the paperwork later on this afternoon.

What make up for a MAC DEMO?

emilyUK — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:45:13 GMT

hey.. i have my mac demo at the end of the month.. passed my telephone and second interview.... im really hoping this is the last stage!!

sorry if some of this has been covered in other threads.. in my second interview they were asking me a lot about current trends, and talking about creativity.. does anyone have any idea what sort of make up they will expect me to do? should i just go for something really high fashion?

from what a few girls said in the store on the day of my second interview i think there were a lot of women going for the job that had much more experience than me (professionally anyway).. does anyone have any ideas of what i can do to impress them as i reeeaaally want this job!!!

Mac Freelancers in UTAH?

Miss_Jackie — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:50:18 GMT

Hey everyone!

I was wondering if there are any more MAC freelancers/ counter employees here on specktra? I am a freelancer and with there only being 3 counters in Utah I have only worked at the counters 3 times since I have been a freelancer (9 months now). I was wondering if everyone is getting no hours or if I need to start making some phone calls. I am very interested in seeing what everyone else thinks about the situation here in utah.

thanks!

Got a Job at LUSH!

nebbish — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:09:04 GMT

... At the Florida Mall in Orlando.

Sometime at the end of September, I wandered around the mall asking anyone and everyone for applications. I went into LUSH & they had me e-mail in a resume.
( I applied at MAC and made sure my makeup was FLAWLESS when I turned in the app, but the lady was mean & I think she threw out my app... ANYWAY)
I got a call maybe a week or so later to come in for a group interview on that Sunday. We were to dress up as fairy tale chars. I chose Little Red Riding hood & I had this amazing outfit. ANYWAY .... We were split into groups & did demos on each other to see if we were comfortable touching strangers, etc.
I didn't actually think I had done too well, and had had another interview at a place I wasn't particularly interested in before the manager finally called me and asked me in for a second interview. I felt it went really well and was told to call back in about a week or so, which I did.
I went in for paperwork & we just started training on the 8th. My first day was the 7th.
It's really kind of overwhelming, because you really do have to know a lot about the products in the store. I.E. ingredients, uses, etc. Skin and haircare are hardest, but I think they're my favorite just because they're so complex. I've also never actually had to sell people things before, but I'm having a lot of fun & I think I'm getting the hang of it!
I'm only seasonal right now, but I'm totally plottin' on that core staff position.

I just got a job at MAC :-)

ladynomoregaga — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:54:19 GMT

Hey everyone! I'm new and this is actually my first post, but I see many threads concerning getting a job at MAC so I thought I'd share my story.

About a month and a half ago, I went out to a bar with several friends. One girl brought someone I'd never met, and as we small-talked, I found out she worked at the MAC store in my local mall. I immediately began gushing about how jealous I was, how that was something of a dream for me, etc and she told me they were in the process of hiring two part-time positions and encouraged me to apply. I'm currently a student and I technically have three other jobs (but very, very mini-jobs, two of them take a few hours a week and then my other is at a bar one or two nights a week). I'm a senior in college and have been needing a long-term part time job to give me some stability after graduation, so I consulted my schedule and determined working at MAC is something I could totally do.

So I dressed fierce, did the best makeup I could possibly do at this point in my life and went in to fill out an application.

And then I waited. After about a few weeks, I figured I didn't get the callback and started searching for other jobs. But after a MONTH I got a call asking if I was still interested in the job, and I was scheduled to do a makeup interview and told to wear all black, full face of makeup (as if I wouldn't) and to bring a model to my interview--I was SO excited!! That day I had interviewed for a low-paying job I wasn't so enthusiastic about so I was excited to have the opportunity to interview for MAC.

My makeup interview could have been better. I brought in my friend who's redheaded and very pale and freckled (gorgeous girl) and I really let my nerves get the best of me and I really chose colors that were so wrong for her! I was mortified that I'd blown my chance to work for MAC, but the manager was exceptionally patient and helped me out and let me try again. I think I handled myself well accepting constructive criticism and did a good job recreating what she came up with. I think this impressed her since it showed trainability and the fact that I didn't freak out about being corrected probably helped. Anyways, I was still kind of surprised when they wanted to do a verbal interview with me.

So I met with the store manager and the district manager and gave what I think is surely one of the best interviews I've even given. I really have no retail experience but I'm a student ambassador (I give tours, host open houses, etc) at my school and I kind of used that as a selling point because of the marketing nature of the job. They asked me what my favorite (tinted lip conditioner) and least favorite (mascaras) products were, how I would sell the product I didn't like, and many other general questions about selling products I've seen on other posts. I left the interview feeling really good about it, they had asked for my school schedule so they could plan basic training in January (SO EXCITED) so I took that as a great sign.

Then finally I got the call yesterday that I had a job offer, six days after the interview. I was started to get really nervous, thinking that I'd mis-interpreted my interview! I am now so thrilled, I'm to fill out some paperwork later this week and to start in the next week or two. In fact, my first day might be black friday! Might as well throw me in there, right?

I'm so excited. Thanks for reading my long rambly story!

Interview at clinique! Help pls..

mhtinkerbell — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:38:33 GMT

So thursday I have an interview for a position as beauty advisor at Macy's clinique counter...now im scurred. I love makeup and have been really heavily getting into mac and makeup application in general...I also plan on starting cosmetology school in Jan. Of course my first choice wouldve been MAC but they never called :) Not to say I dont like Clinique I do I love their skincare/mascara...however I really dont have retail/cosmetice experience...my last job was as a office assistant. I held that job for 9yrs as I went to school for my bachelors in education(90+hrs), so I have some smarts about me lol ;)
However I just moved to Hawaii bc my husband is stationed here. Moving to Hawaii has really put a damper on my bachelor in teaching plans bc the Uof H requirements would cause me to go to school for at least 2 more years basically retaking half of my credits again plus my student teaching...I only have a semester of classes left in Texas so im putting it off til we return... hence the going to cosmetology school (always wanted to anyways)! Im really nervous about what to expect in the interview... Anyone have any experience or tips?

Got hired at MAC! This is my story VERY LONG!!!

aninhabr85 — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 02:45:38 GMT

Hi girls!!! First of all I wanted to thank everyone that has posted their stories. You all really motivated to apply keep my hopes up with MAC. :bigthumb:
I first apply for MAC back in June. After replying a craig list ad I got a call back asking me to come in for a interview in about two weeks. I of course said yes right away and started to get nervous. On the interview I went dress all black(with a skirt and nice blouse) and fierce makeup. She asked me several questions about me, work experience, where I would like to work, my favorite products, why I loved MAC. I did ok in that interview, but I let my nerves get the best of me. I was so nervous I could barely smile or have a real interaction with the lady interviewing me. She looked fierce and it was really nice, but she had something intimidating about her. I felt like I gave average answers but didn't really wow her. The whole thing took about 20 min. I waited anxiously for a call back for a demo. 1, 2, 3 weeks passed. Never came. :down: I was so upset and frustrated with myself. I knew I could do much better than that. I sent follow up emails and everything but heard nothing back. On mid-september I saw another ad on craigslist and decided to re-apply. I figure:" Why not? The worst is gonna happen is that they won't call me back!" Well... but they did. They ask me to come in for a interview. I knew it was gonna be with the same lady who interview the first time back in June but I wasn't sure if she remembered me or not.
Well... I went dress all black again(pants and blouse) fierce makeup. When I sat down she asked me to tell her about me. 1 minute after I started talking she interrupted me saying: " Have I met you before?" I told her yes, and that she interviewed back in June. She then ask me to tell her my favorite product. I told her 187 brush. She asked me why and told me to show the brush to her on the brush belt. I did. She then asked me" Sell me this brush" I did. After talking and talking she said " That's good. You sold it to me" I then sat down again and she asked me why she didn't asked me to come in for a demo interview the first time she interviewed me. I told her I didn't know. She looked confused and said " maybe you didn't have enough experience back then" I said "maybe not...". She asked me what store/counter I would like to work for. She then asked me what I was going to do on november 3rd(3 weeks from that day!) and I said I wasn't gonna do anything. She then asked me to go to the Mac Store in a certain location to do a demo with the MRO. I said " Of course". This time around I was completely myself, smiling and relaxed because I knew what to expect. Funny thing was... those were the only questions she asked me this time. Took less than 10 minutes!
When the demo interview came I was completely ready for it. Thanks to specktra I knew exactly whay to do :specktrarocks:
Last week I had my demo...
I took my sister as my model. My trainer was really nice! She gave a scenario and ask me to choose a look from some magazine's pages they had. Now check this out if you think you heard everything you need to know about demos..... she asked me to do EYES AND LIPS only and gave me 20 min. I thought " SWEET!". I sanitized everything and then I layed my products(which they selected themselves, I couldn't choose) on a tissues. She let me choose my own L/S, L/G AND L/L. I started talking to my sister like she was a real customer and explaining everything I was doing and why I was doing. How the colors complemented her skin, naming the brushes, explaining why the brushes were good, how she could the same brush for different purposes,... EVERYTHING! The trainer seem really happy and asked if I had done makeup before and we started talking about my experience(I have my own bridal business and I used to work at a salon and I also went to makeup school few years ago)then I asked to trainer if I could have a mirror cause I wanted to show my customer what I was doing so she could reproduce at home. She seemed impressed that I remember that :train:
I informed my trainer I was done. And she said " already?! You still have 6 minutes.... you were my fastest demo today!" :naughty:
She analyzed my sister and said it looked great. Asked me what I did and to rate my makeup skills. I then offered her to clean everything and put the lip stuff back in the shelfs. She said it wasn't needed, but I told her I didn't want to leave a mess for the next person. She said " OMG... that is so nice of you! you need to come work at our store!" lol
After that she told me I need to go downstairs and meet with the MRO. My sister went shopping! lol My trainer introduced me to the MRO and before she left I noticed she gave him two thumbs up. :yahoo:
I had to wait a little bit cause they were interviewing A LOT of girls... apparently it was a day with demos booked all day. I felt a little intimidaded by that but I didn't let my nervous get the best of me :shocked:
When it was my turn I was completely honesty and truly answered what I believed. He asked a lot of retail questions, sales experience, how I would meet my goals, customer service, what I did I think working for MAC was.... it took about 35-40 min. Very long but fun.. I truly connected to him... and felt really positive. He was really nice as well! When he asked me If I had questions I asked him a million things I wanted to know and we were just talking like old friends! =)
After I was finished, I made sure to ask what were to next steps. He told me they were still interviewing people that day and the day after, but I should hear something whitin the couple of weeks.
So today... exactly 6 days after my demo I got a called from the same lady from the first interview offering me the job!!!:yahoo:
I was so happy I wanted to scream... but I couldn't cause I was at work.
Sorry for the long post. I just wanted to tell my whole experience.
My tips for you guys would be.... Be persistent. If they don't call you back, give them a call. See what's going on. If doesn't work out.... give 3 months and then try again! Be honest... be yourself. Don't try to be someone you're not. Give real answers. Don't be afraid to ask questions.... you're not expected to know everything right away. They know you are a human after all!!! and ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS FOLLOW UP. Thank them for their time.... even if they don't reply back.
I hope this helps all of you!!!! Good luck =)

MAC Nordstrom rules

serenity87 — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:13:18 GMT

Anyone know if its okay for tattoos to be visible at Nordstrom MACs. I know that their rules are stricter, as far as not showing underarms and how your suppose to dress, but what about tattoos?