MAC Demo Interviews - descriptions & questions - Page 8

Re: MAC Demo Interviews - descriptions & questions

I've been a long time lurker, like years. I don't pipe up often too often but I could really do with some advice from you ladies.

I've always been pretty artsy and once I got into Make Up it was naturally just another creative outlet. But the last three years or so I've been aiming to get into the industry. I don't have any solid make up experience other than doing my friends and my own make up - confidence is always something i've had to work hard at. I have taken a course in Beauty and Fashion Make up at the London College of Fashion two years ago though and I'm working on a portfolio seriously this year.

I've got real solid retail experience (sadly not in a cosmetics environment - footwear :-/) but I was Assistant Manager/Temp Manager until I left to become a receptionist/admin in an office. My heart has always been at the MAC store though; when i'm bored at work make up combinations run through my head. I didn't think i'd ever gather up the courage to actually persue anything MU related seriously but when you start dreaming face charts I think it's stupid to try to ignore it any longer.

Reading through your interview experiences has really boosted my confidence to go for it now I know what to expect, thank you for all that posted :-) But, the advice side now, do you think i'm out of my league asking to apply for MAC with no solid MU experience and no portfolio yet? Should I build up my experience a bit first? Or would the fact I used to be an assistant manager make up for that a little? It was a little while ago now. Would the Beauty course I took also help?

Also, I have a mortgage to pay for (boo :-( ) and I need to assure my boyfriend that I can still pay for my half and the bills because he's not quite on board with the idea. Would a UK MAC sales assistant/Make Up Artist position pay enough for me to leave my £17K a year job? I just don't want to get so close to the dream job only to find that I can't afford to take it. I think that would hurt more than someone telling me I had no make up skills.

Sorry its a bit long winded....

Re: MAC Demo Interviews - descriptions & questions

Right! Well, after waiting for 3 weeks after my verbal interview I had my demo. However even though the store I was applying for was in Nottingham, I had to go for the demo interview in Birmingham as the regional trainer couldn't get to Nottingham for some reason or another.

So I got there with my model, Susie, who is so gorgeous - and I'm still very thankful for her coming all the way to Birmingham with me!

We met the regional trainer Tanya - who was lovely, and then she told me she wanted me to do a smokey eye with a matte skin in 20 mins, then I'd get an extra 5 to carry it out into a full look.

So I got a few minutes to collect products. I got studio fix foundation in NW15. The thing is, my model usually wears NC15 - but I couldn't find it anywhere, so I kinda blagged my way through my decision and said I'd chosen it because she'd gotten a little sunburnt...haha...but shh!

When I returned to the station Tanya told me that there were no petri dishes free at the time, so I had to sanitize my hands and then squirt the foundation onto the back of it. She had already sanitized the brushes for me, so we were ready to go!

I started by using primer, applying it with a 190 brush and explaining the benefits of both the product and the brush. My hands were shaking so much by this point, I was worried how the hell I was gonna get the eyes to look good with my hand wobbling all over the place! Haha. After that, I applied the foundation with the 190, as I did this I explained my (on-the-spot) decision to use NW15 instead of NC15, and spoke about how studio fix can give a gorgeous matte finish (which is what she had asked for).

For the eyes I wanted to go for a smokey eye with a dusky pink accent instead of keeping to just browns or blacks. There weren't that many eye brushes in the brush belt I was using (it wasn't full) so I had to use a 217 for every colour/area. So, under the brow I used Sweet lust. Then for all over the lid I used Honey Lust. In the crease I used a tiny bit of espresso, then blended corduroy into it and into the outer corner. I then used typographic in the outer corner and blended it in nicely and underneath the lower lash line. I used eye pencil in ebony and blended it in with a 266 brush.

NOW - I have never been sure on how M.A.C artists apply mascara - I didn't know if lash wands could be dipped back in once used on one eye - so I picked up two wands and applied pro-lash mascara. I very nearly double-dipped, and I'm thankful I didn't just incase I'd been told off if I was wrong! Haha.

So, I had about 5 minutes left. I'd selected honeylove lipstick and applied it to Susie. I was so pleased with how it looked! I applied blush to her cheeks - I *think* it was pinch-o-peach, but I'm not sure...I can't actually remember haha.

I told Tanya I was just going to apply the transparent finishing powder and she allowed me to have an extra minute or so. Susie loved the texture and showed genuine interest in the product.

So, Tanya came over and inspected the make-up - but didn't say anything other than 'right, that's great!'....so by this point I was worrying about whether she thought it was too bad to put into words! Haha.

We went upstairs to complete the 2nd verbal part of the interview - which was more difficult than the first!

There were the typical customer-care questions, and then a couple about colour theory...as well as asking me who my beauty icon was (Marion Cottilard, just in case you wanted to know!) and where I draw my inspiration from (old Hollywood stars, like Joan Crawford/Bette Davis/Jayne Mansfield).

Aaaanyway....we went back downstairs and she told me I'd hear from them within a week.

One week later and still nothing, so I went into the Nottingham store and spoke to the assistant manager who told me that they had to wait for the main manager, Ruth, to get back off holiday in a couple of weeks time!

I walked out of the shop relieved knowing that there was a reason I hadn't heard anything, but also a little disappointed that I had to wait even longer!

Fast forward to 2 and a half weeks later, and my phone started to ring...I answered, and it was Ruth. She told me I had interviewed really well and that my make-up was fantastic - and that there was a 3 day position if I wanted it! I was so over the moon, I told her how grateful I was and I accepted!

So now I'm just waiting to hear when my first shifts are! Aaagh! So excited!

Re: MAC Demo Interviews - descriptions & questions

I totally think that you should apply. I do not work for MAC, but am trying to get a job with them as a freelance artist. I've already had my phone interview and my demo interview is in 2 days from now. I have ZERO makeup experience. I am like you - I do my makeup and friends' makeup, and daydream about it during the day at my job. I have a great deal of customer service experience which I think is almost more valuable to them than makeup artistry experience. The one thing I have learned is that they definitely value how well you can SELL and interact with the customer than how well you can put makeup on someone. I think your retail experience will be very helpful for you. The fact that you sold shoes and not cosmetics will not matter that much because you know the basic concept of how to investigate and make and close a sale.

Put together a portfolio and resume and turn it into the manager at your MAC store. He/she will get it to the regional recruiter who will call you if they want to interview you. If you do not get it right away, keep trying and make friends with the MUA's at your MAC store - I know that this has helped me get the phone interview. Also keep in mind that they are not always hiring, so you may have to be patient. the process can be slow with MAC, so do not give up. Just keep trying, and do all you can to get experience and learn. Attend style sessions or Girls nights out at your MAC store (if they offer them). Take classes whenever you can and pick up any books you can find about makeup application.

Also - read as much as you can here on Specktra. I have and I swear it helped me so much for my phone interview. Also, MAC teaches the "FABCE" sales approach. I talked about it in my phone interview and I know it got me huge points!
F - Describe one feature of a product
A - One advantage
B - One benefit
C - One complimentary item
E - "E-layer" or a reason that you are emotionally tied to the product.
Example - The 187 brush has both synthetic and natural hairs (feature). This allows you to use it for both liquid and powder products (Advantage). So you only have to buy this one brush instead of multiple brushes (Benefit). I recommend using our brush cleaner to protect your investment and keep your brushes sanitized and conditioned, (Complimentary item). I love this brush, it is the very first MAC brush I ever bought and I simply cannot live without it (E-layer).

Good luck to you! If you want it bad enough, you will achieve it with enough determination and hard work! Keep us posted on how it goes!

Re: MAC Demo Interviews - descriptions & questions

Thank you so much, I'm definitely gonna do it now. You've made me feel much better that they value the sales experience over the MU as I can make a sale no sweat, it's the confidence in the make up application I really need to build up. I'm jotting the FABCE down, I ain't forgetting that one :-) Thank you for that bit of advice.

Specktra has been a GOLDMINE of knowledge on the subject and I've got a pretty good idea of what's going to happen which has put me at such ease. I'm getting all the girls down to mine this sunday for a make over day for extra practise :-) I'm going to do my professional portfolio in August when my photographer friend can come down so I'm aiming to get into MAC by christmas, vacancies willing. Will definitely let you know how it goes!

Good luck with your interview, please let us know how that goes. I hope for the best for ya.

Re: MAC Demo Interviews - descriptions & questions

I had my phone interview yesterday and got through, just waiting for the call to book in for a demo and face to face interview.
I have been practising on myself for years, but only recently started practising on other people. I did a short course on beauty make up at London College of fashion which has given me a boost, but I still don't think my skills are upto scratch, but as my mum said, if I don't try I won't get anywhere and the worst they can do is turn me away.
I am hoping because it is for a christmas temp position they will be a bit more leniant, but I will be practising every day on different people as I would love the job.
Hopefully my retail experiance will get me somewhere, I have been a receptionist at a beauty salon and also 2 years working for a skin and hair care brand, so I know about the link sale

Re: MAC Demo Interviews - descriptions & questions

Sorry if this has been asked before, I understand you can't use your fingers to apply products, but can you use your hand on thier face? My friend who I am taking tends to drop her head so i just have to gently reposition her, and also when using pencils on the eye I tend to hold the skin taunt as I find it creates to much drag other wise? Any help much appreciated1

Re: MAC Demo Interviews - descriptions & questions

If you need to reposition your model for anything, I would just tell them. For example: "Would you mind moving your head just a little bit so your looking straight forward so I can make sure I get the blush evenly on both cheeks?"

I understand what you mean with the liner since i do the same thing. make sure your hands are sanitized, ask your model's permission ex: "Now is it ok if I just rest my hand right here so I can make a nice thin line with your liner?" place a tissue between your hand and your model's skin and continue.

Don't panic if you make a mistake with sanitation or forget. You can even say, "I'm so sorry I completely forgot to sanitize my hands after grabbing all of our fabulous colours, I'm going to go ahead and do that now if that's all right".

Re: MAC Demo Interviews - descriptions & questions

Thank you so much, it was something I was kind of stressing over lol. I always keep anti bac hand gel on the side because I'm a bit funny about my hands having to be clean. Touching pennies makes me feel sick, not good when I used to have to cash up.
Sorry to ask a million questions but would you tend to apply lipstick from the tube or use a brush? Just whenever I have visited a mac store they sanitize it and hand it to you to apply out of the tube.

Re: MAC Demo Interviews - descriptions & questions

Don't apologize for asking questions. I LOVE helping people with makeup and I really love being able to be resource for other make up artists to be. Anyhow, I would use a brush for your demo. If you really want to go all out, do part of the lip with the brush, then hand the brush to your "client". Then say something like, "Why don't you try finishing the lip so you can get a feel for how to apply lipstick with the brush?". Show and teach is another huge MAC thing.

Demo for freelancers

Iʻm a freelancer, been so for about a year now, and was recently told about a perm position opening up. I was wondering, if your already a freelancer, do you have to do a demo interview again, or is it just questions about sales? I hated the demo during my freelancing interview. I remember I was shaking so bad. Ahhh! Please lmk! Thanks guys!

Re: Demo for freelancers

It depends. I know in my area they do. I was asked to do a seperate makeup interview before becoming permanent. But my friend freelanced in a different region and she didn't have to do another demo interview when she became permanent. If you end up having to do a demo, I wouldn't worry too much. Use the opportunity to get ideas from the trainer so you can be successful as a permanent employee.

Re: Demo for freelancers

I freelanced for 2 months and the got a call asking if I was interested in a perm position. I went in for the interview with my resume and portfolio. I was not asked to to do a demo. It was a pretty standard Q&A interview
Good Luck!

Re: MAC Demo Interviews - descriptions & questions

Thank you so much guys, do you recall what kinds of questions you were asked?

Re: MAC Demo Interviews - descriptions & questions

A lot of the questions will likely be similar to your first interview. They will probably ask you to critique the makeup you did on your model though. Be confident in your work, but be fair. If you know that you messed up the eyeliner, say "I loved everything except the liner".

Great info everyone. Very helpful.

hello everyone i have a job fair for mac tomorrow and i am highly nervous.. i believe i am ready however, i wanted some advice on this little problem i am having,

since i am a freelance makeup artist i tend to use professional makeup artist brands for foundation like rcma, yaby, etc.. full coverage cream foundations.

so my model i am bringing, she has a bit of acne on her checks, and blemishes. my RCMA foundation covers it very well, so my question is what foundations

to you guys think i should use? i was thinking studio tech or fix fluid? would studio powder foudation work as well? or msf? help anyone lol

 

 

Diana

I KNOW ITS A LITTLE LATE BUT HOW DID IT GO?? IVE NEVER HEARD OF A JOB FAIR FOR MAC.. BUTI DO HAVE SOME ADVICE FOR YOU!

 

REALLY KNOW THE PRODUCTS YOUR USING..MAKE SURE YOU USE THE APPRPRIATE SKINCARE AND FOUNDATION FOR HER SKIN TYPE!!

IS YOUR MODELS SKIN DRY OR OILY?? IF ITS OILY STUDIO FIX FLUID IS AMAZING BECAUSE IT ABSORDS OIL AND GIVES A MATTE FINISH!! SET IT WITH A MINERAL POWDER OR THE TRANSPARENT POWDER FOR A FLAWLESS LOOK... IF YOU WANT TO REALLY SCOR EPOINTS... THE CAREBLEND POWDERS ARE  NEW AND WOULD BLOW THEM AWAY TO USE NEW PRODUCTS!!! DRY SKIN CAN BE TRICKY!! DEFINITELY ALWAYS USE A MOISTURIZER... COMPLETE CONFORT CREME IS GREAT... FOR THE FOUNDATION I WOULD USE SATINFINIISH MINERAL LIQUID OR EVEN STUDIO SCULPY((COVERS A LITTLE BETER ))

 

MAC IS A RETAIL COMPANY AND AT THE END OF THE DAY SALES ARE EVERYTHING... SO REALLY EXPLAIN WHAT YOUR USING AND WHY! ... SHOW AND TEACH...  HAND OVER THE BRUSH AND ASK THEM TO TRY WHAT YOU JUST DID AS A TECHNIQUE...

 

NEVER DOUBLE DIP... GRAB WANDS FOR ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING...

 

AND DONT GRAB A MILLION EYESHADOWS... TRY TO KEEP IT TO 3-4 ... IT WILL HELP WITH TIMING SINCE IM SURE THAT YOU WILL BE TIMED ON A MAKEUP DEMO

 

TRY NOT TO SURE YOUR NRVOUS... BE CONFIDENT AND SHOW IT ... NOT COCKY... CONFIDENT... IN WHAT YOUR DOING AND HOW YOUR EXPLAINING WHAT YOUR DOING

 

OTHER THAN THAT JUST MAKE SURE YOU WEAR ALL BLACK AND YOUR HAIR AND MAKEUP IN ON POINT!!!!

 

GOOD LUCK AND I HOPE YU GET IT!!!

thanks so much for your response however, i let my nerves get the best of me :-( i did well in the verbal interview however, you did notice how nervous i was, but the artist that interviewed me was so sweet, and felt i should be working for MAC. for the demo i was given a  look that consisted of a rep lip look, liner, foundation concealer shadows in 20MINS!!!!! i mean 30- 40 mins would of been great smh.. so i already was nervous and my model had a little bit of acne and i just wanted a flawless canvas, i tried to sanitized everything accordingly,  however, i forget to wipe my shadows but with everything else i used alcohol. i tried to explain everything but i was just nervous, and i messed up on the liner and lips. they mentioned i did a very good job in the foundation and concealer, but i could of spoken much more to my model... i'll guess 3 times a charm lol i'll try again.

Thanks guys for all your help. I have my interview in the Deer Park store (Illinois) on Sunday!! I hope I get it..I'll post my story here..any quick tips?

good luck jonathan its a great company to work for!!! this site helped me land my permanent position with the company. just do what everyone says if u have any questions i would be happy to help email me at EloyGuerraMua@gmail.com or find me on facebook eloy guerra. im sure u will rock just stay calm and breathe and study and know this history and the products and why you are doing what you are doing show and teach if you can 

thanks for that info unfortunately responding 40 minutes to the callback EMail wasn't quick enough so all the slots for the 2nd interview were filled before she responded to me. Anyone else have this problem?

we have had a job fair i guess u could call it. 2 weeks ago i walked into the counter to see my assistant regional manager  here with with people doing makeup demos it was crazy all day so many people doing demos. when u get that email or call u need to respond right away mac doesn't play its so hard to get into  the company so if you want it u have to jump at any chance you get 

Didn't know that, thanks for the advice. I will make sure I am checking my emails at all times then...unfortunately that's not very fair to someone w/o a smart phone and instant email access.  Seems like MAC might be able to do a better job with this, make improvements etc.

hi erin thats wonderful congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i have a few questions. i actually have my 2nd m.a.c interview TODAY at 4:30pm and a bit nervous. I just came out of beauty school about 2wks ago and still havnt experienced much on applying  application other faces besides mine. Im not to familiar with m.a.c cosmetics products. i really do want this job for many reasons and to expand my experiences and learn as much as i can within the company and grow!. How can i ACE my interview ???? any tips for me ??? thanks :)

Hey everyone! I have a quick question!

I have my make up demo next thursday, however the recruiter told me I need to bring my own clean make up brushes, but didn't say it had to be MAC brushes I have pretty much just the basic MAC brushes but I don't know if i should take the ones that are not mac? Helpppppp!!!

use only mac brushes u only really need 3 brushes a 217 266 for sure and for the face a 188 187 or 130 is all you really need 

Thank you soooooo much Paparazziboy

Another question, if I take one 224 brush and use it for eye shadow but also want to use it to blend the concealer, should I wipe it off with tissue then reuse, ugh am stressing out to much I want this job so bad :/
Thanks!!

yes you can that is what i do for the face brushes to show case how versatile the brushes can be only use 3 brushes in your application if you can. if u have a 217 then use that over the 224 because u can place your product and blend them out with it. as a MAC artist is its our go to brush for doing makeup.

 

hello everybody! i am new here so bare with me! but anyways my local mac counter is hirning & i applied & might have a demo comming up! i am sooo nervous! any tips for me? i have little retail expierience but do have makeup expierience, do you think that will ruin my chances of getting in? also please feel free to look in my ablum of work and CRITICE my work! i appretiate honesty:)

Hello everyone!

 

I had my demo three weeks ago....the manager said i did good and she loved it, and that now I have to wait for Homa to call me about locations. But I haven't heard from her. Idk what I should do or not do..lol...has anybody ever experienced this before? I'm a lil confused...lol