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| Working for Cosmetics Retailers Work for or want to apply to a cosmetics counter or store? Questions about what to expect at your interview? Curious if a counter position or freelance is right for you? This is the place to talk about it all! From the MAC counter to Sephora to Cosmetics R&D, it's all here. |
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MAC makeup artist
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From Freelance to Permanent employee
So i was hired as a freelance/on-call make-up artist a month ago, and today my manager tells me that they want to hire me as a permanent part time employee! I am excited, but I have to interview with the district manager at our local pro store tomorrow at 2pm! Does anyone know what they would ask me?? My manager said it would be a verbal interview. Perhaps more sales based questions? Any input is greatly appriciated! TIA!
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hi, well this isnt a response to your question but rather a question for you since ou are a freelance, i was asked if i wanted to applay as a freelance, but i was wondering if you could me more about the responsibilities as well as some of the benefits. THX
ROXY!
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MAC makeup artist
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Originally Posted by midgetfury74
hi, well this isnt a response to your question but rather a question for you since ou are a freelance, i was asked if i wanted to applay as a freelance, but i was wondering if you could me more about the responsibilities as well as some of the benefits. THX
ROXY!
definitly apply for a freelance/on call position. it is the best way to get your foot in the door. where I live, they do not hire permanent partime employees, everyone starts off as freelance/on call. Once you're hired as a freelancer, you are put into the system so that all MAC locations know that you are available to work. They call and ask if you are avaiable to work on a certain day, week, etc. for a certain amount of hours. So you are basically on call. There are only 2-3 times a year that you will be working as "freelancer". Freelancers do make-up all day back to back for big MAC events which only happen 2 to 3 times a year. During the rest of the year, you are considered "on call". When you are on call you are doing everything that a regular make-up artist does such as ringing up customers, doing eye demos, helping customers w/ certain needs, questions etc.
the benefits of being a freelancer is that you don't have to work if they call you in. and your hours are more flexible. but if they call you to work and you always say you can't, chances are they wont call you back to work ever. You also get 30% off MAC products. NOt that great IMO because you can apply for a pro card as a freelance artist not affiliated with MAC and get 40% off!
anyway, i hope this answers your questions!
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thanks for the info, i will have to put some more thought into it before i make a desicion
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Originally Posted by angela
definitly apply for a freelance/on call position. it is the best way to get your foot in the door. where I live, they do not hire permanent partime employees, everyone starts off as freelance/on call. Once you're hired as a freelancer, you are put into the system so that all MAC locations know that you are available to work. They call and ask if you are avaiable to work on a certain day, week, etc. for a certain amount of hours. So you are basically on call. There are only 2-3 times a year that you will be working as "freelancer". Freelancers do make-up all day back to back for big MAC events which only happen 2 to 3 times a year. During the rest of the year, you are considered "on call". When you are on call you are doing everything that a regular make-up artist does such as ringing up customers, doing eye demos, helping customers w/ certain needs, questions etc.
the benefits of being a freelancer is that you don't have to work if they call you in. and your hours are more flexible. but if they call you to work and you always say you can't, chances are they wont call you back to work ever. You also get 30% off MAC products. NOt that great IMO because you can apply for a pro card as a freelance artist not affiliated with MAC and get 40% off!
anyway, i hope this answers your questions!

PBI but . . . Wow, that is completely different than in LA, unless they have changed the rules since I freelanced a few years ago. Here, freelancers/on-call MA's do NOT ring up, and there is no discount. So midgetfury74, you might want to check out the details in your area. HTH 
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oh ok, THX
ROXY!
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That MakeUp Girl
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The interview that I had with the regional was more sales. Just like what would I do if I wasn't making my goal? How do I like working with people? Questions about my past/current job? Etc.
Good luck! :-P
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Makeup Hoochie
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Originally Posted by Makeupluvr
PBI but . . . Wow, that is completely different than in LA, unless they have changed the rules since I freelanced a few years ago. Here, freelancers/on-call MA's do NOT ring up, and there is no discount. So midgetfury74, you might want to check out the details in your area. HTH 
Same here in South Florida...
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angela, are freelancers responsible for providing their own brushes? do they get the same training as counter sales MAs?
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MAC makeup artist
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Originally Posted by d_flawless
angela, are freelancers responsible for providing their own brushes? do they get the same training as counter sales MAs?
it depends- i was hired to work on call at a certain location (downtown SF) exclusively. They didn't put my name on a roster to be available to other locations. So they provided me with a brush belt and all. My friend was hired as freelance/on call and they told her that she had to provide her own brushes because she will be working at several MAC counters/stores.
As for training, freelancer/oncall do not go through basic training. You are pretty much on your own. But if you've done make-up for a long time and are very familiar with MAC products you shouldn't have any trouble at all. You'll only get to go to basic training if you are hired permanently, and basic training happens only 2-3 times a year. SO for example if you are hired as a freelance/on call and are later on hired as permanent, you dont go to basic right away-you'd have to wait for the next basic training session.
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MAC makeup artist
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Originally Posted by Makeupluvr
PBI but . . . Wow, that is completely different than in LA, unless they have changed the rules since I freelanced a few years ago. Here, freelancers/on-call MA's do NOT ring up, and there is no discount. So midgetfury74, you might want to check out the details in your area. HTH 
Yea, i guess it is different in certain areas. I do ring up, but I ring up my sales under each employee that is working that day- I rotate my sales under a different permanent artist for each transaction. But I do have to write down my AUS/IPT under my own name. Does that make sense? As for the discount, we have to go to a freestanding store or at a pro store to get my discount (I work at a MAC counter at Macy's). I just have to show my most current pay stub that is less than 30days old.
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Mac Princess :)
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Im in the north east region and freelancers get no discount and are not allowed to ring...
Sort of at the bottom of the totem pole...
However they don't really have touch bases which is so less stressfull
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I was just hired on as a freelancer; no discount and I was told I could use my own brushes but would need a brush belt. If I used my own brushes, they would have to be marked. Otherwise they would furnish me a belt and brushes, but they would have to stay in the store, I wouldn't be able to bring them home.
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#1 as far as the questions I got on that interview (going from freelance to perm) it was more about sales and customer service - I really wowed her with my knowledge of MAC she LOVED that. She could tell that I was a really big fan and I knew so much about the company.
#2 Freelancing rules vary from region to region and location to location. The Bay Area offers the 30% discount to freelancers with a valid id and a pay stub valid within 30 days. but some of our freelancers have gone to other areas and they do not allow it.
Also most of the Macy's locations allow freelancers to ring their own sales in my region but the Nordstrom and MAC stores do not allow freelancers to ring. Most locations attempt to provide freelancers with brushes but that can be a joke. I would show up at certain locations and all they would have was an old 224 and maybe a 190. Some locations would be so low on supplies that they would have no lip glass or laquer wands, spatulas or anything else. SO I started bringing ALL my own stuff, clearly marked so no one could take them and claim them as their own.
SO I typed all that to say, rules vary from location to location greatly - you never know til you are there ;-)
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Hey Angela!
I just got hired as freelance/on-call today! (finished my paperwork & all) i was all bummed that the discount was onlee 30% .. but i guess that beats not having one at all!
anyways...did u have a problem scoring hours and stuff at first? when i went to the paperwork signing and stuff today -- where they pretty much broke everything down -- they made it seem like there wasnt much of a chance i would get a call unless i made myself 'known' ... but i dunno how to make myself known ... unless they call me in. errrr...
also...
how was ur overall experience being freelance/on-call? im kinda nervous. i have no idea what to expect ... cuz u kno, all my friends were hired as perms right off the back. PM me giiiirl...we gots ta talk! 
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