Annoyed & Disappointed

[user79]

I recently moved from Canada to Switzerland and since I don't have a job here, I thought I would seize the opportunity to apply for MAC. I mean, why not? I'm unemployed, I love MAC, I know a lot about the products, and I think I'm pretty good with applying it...

So I called up the MAC central store here in Switzerland and talked to the hiring manager, and she told me that here in Europe, they pretty much only hire licensed make-up artists. I always thought the MAC policy for not only hiring trained MAs was pretty much universal to the Estee Lauder policy, but forget it! I have like NO chance here since I never went to a Beauty school.

Sucks and I think it's really unfair. Why does MAC not have the same policies in Europe as it does in North America?? I think it's a load of BS to be honest and really LAME!!!

My dream to apply to MAC is forever shattered.

 

[Vicky88]

That really sucks. I hate the way you need to get into MAC in Europe too (I'm in the UK).

Most of the girls n here are miles better than the majority of those who are "trained" to be honest, and I think experience counts for a lot more than some stupid certificate.

 

[coachkitten]

Geez! They just need to see you apply make-up and realize that you are amazing and talented!

Hope you are enjoying Switzerland!

 

[lara]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MissChievous So I called up the MAC central store here in Switzerland and talked to the hiring manager, and she told me that here in Europe, they pretty much only hire licensed make-up artists. I always thought the MAC policy for not only hiring trained MAs was pretty much universal to the Estee Lauder policy, but forget it! I have like NO chance here since I never went to a Beauty school.

That policy is pretty far-reaching (it certainly applies down here in Australia & New Zealand), and as more focus comes onto health and safety practices in cosmetic retail, I think that policy will start to apply in the US and Canada as well.
It's also a cost-saving excercise - a diploma or certificate is their assurance that you know the routines and regulations of H&S and have a basic knoweldge of product application, meaning they don't have to train you up beyond learning brand product knowledge and MAC-specific H&S standards.

Quote:

they pretty much only hire licensed make-up artists

On the positive side, if she phrased it that way, that sounds like there's a little bit of lee-way in their hiring practices. Get your face known in the store and ask if there are any non-cosmetic jobs going. Even if you only man the cash register, it shows willingness and dedication to the store and makes you a likely candidate should she consider taking in new cosmetic staff.

Focus and fight for that job - stubborness and a refusal to take no for an answer got me through the door of design agencies when I didn't have a degree or a professional portfolio to my name. I swept floors, delivered mail and made coffee at the agency until someone took me seriously and offered me a job.

 

[user79]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lara That policy is pretty far-reaching (it certainly applies down here in Australia & New Zealand), and as more focus comes onto health and safety practices in cosmetic retail, I think that policy will start to apply in the US and Canada as well. It's also a cost-saving excercise - a diploma or certificate is their assurance that you know the routines and regulations of H&S and have a basic knoweldge of product application, meaning they don't have to train you up beyond learning brand product knowledge and MAC-specific H&S standards. On the positive side, if she phrased it that way, that sounds like there's a little bit of lee-way in their hiring practices. Get your face known in the store and ask if there are any non-cosmetic jobs going. Even if you only man the cash register, it shows willingness and dedication to the store and makes you a likely candidate should she consider taking in new cosmetic staff. Focus and fight for that job - stubborness and a refusal to take no for an answer got me through the door of design agencies when I didn't have a degree or a professional portfolio to my name. I swept floors, delivered mail and made coffee at the agency until someone took me seriously and offered me a job.

Yeah I guess I could try, but Switzerland doesn't have a lot of MAC locations (not a single free-standing store, only a few counters) so the positions are really slim picking. I think there isn't much chance if I'm up against loads of other girls with a certification or professional schooling if there's only a few jobs available. There aren't any cashier jobs as such in Switzerland at MAC, the stores are too small for that. The store that is closest to me, it's very small and usually only 2 MAs work at the counter.

Plus, right now there is only 1 position available as a MAC MA in all of Switzerland, and that's in a town that's far away from where I live and I'm not willing to commute that far every day.

Just seems pretty hopeless.

 

[LineausBH58]

i'm so upset for you.... YOU are awesome with appl. and you seem to have the know how..... what about another brand??? smashbox... or el.... maybe you could move from gen. el to MAC good luck....

 

[Pushpa]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MissChievous Yeah I guess I could try, but Switzerland doesn't have a lot of MAC locations (not a single free-standing store, only a few counters) so the positions are really slim picking. I think there isn't much chance if I'm up against loads of other girls with a certification or professional schooling if there's only a few jobs available. There aren't any cashier jobs as such in Switzerland at MAC, the stores are too small for that. The store that is closest to me, it's very small and usually only 2 MAs work at the counter. Plus, right now there is only 1 position available as a MAC MA in all of Switzerland, and that's in a town that's far away from where I live and I'm not willing to commute that far every day. Just seems pretty hopeless.

i can honestly say in my group interview everyone but me had major experience and were graduates of mu schools but what really matters is enthusiasm i am not saying skill level doesn't matter but mac is a sale oriented company they want ppl who know about the product believe in the product and all that jazz so still apply i got hired and i was up against 12 other ppl that had more qualifications

 

[Isis]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lara That policy is pretty far-reaching (it certainly applies down here in Australia & New Zealand), and as more focus comes onto health and safety practices in cosmetic retail, I think that policy will start to apply in the US and Canada as well. It's also a cost-saving excercise - a diploma or certificate is their assurance that you know the routines and regulations of H&S and have a basic knoweldge of product application, meaning they don't have to train you up beyond learning brand product knowledge and MAC-specific H&S standards.

That's exactly what I was going to say as well. Plus it's how large companies are starting to function more and more. It's how they sheild themselves.

 

[hyperRealGurl]

Quote:

Originally Posted by LineausBH58 i'm so upset for you.... YOU are awesome with appl. and you seem to have the know how..... what about another brand??? smashbox... or el.... maybe you could move from gen. el to MAC good luck....

I 2nd that!!!!!! Although i hope u get to work for MAC b/c ur MU appl and looks are AWSOME!!! GOOD LUCK GURL

 

[roxybc]

Aww that sucks. Are there any nice department stores that you could work at instead? What about a Sephora?

What made you move from Montreal to Switzerland?

 

[LineausBH58]

Quote:

Originally Posted by roxybc Aww that sucks. Are there any nice department stores that you could work at instead? What about a Sephora? What made you move from Montreal to Switzerland?

yeah why the move..... and sephora is a good way maybe.... it's Mac's lost

 

[user79]

I moved to Switzerland because of various reasons, one includes my boyfriend who is Swiss. I am dual cititizen, Swiss and Canadian, so I can live here without any problems as I have a Swiss passport. It was too hard for my boyfriend to get a visa in Canada so it's just easier instead of getting married.

Anyway, we don't have Sephora in Switzerland yet. I think it's only in France so far? But most of the make-up counters here in Switzerland seem to have the same policy, they only hire trained make-up artists.

Also, most of the counters have the same policy. But the other thing is, do people send a portfolio with make-up pictures to MAC when they are applying? Because if I just send a resume, they won't know if I'm any good, especially since I don't have any beauty schooling.

Also, I don't have that much experience applying make-up on other people. I am ok with putting in on myself, but is it that much of a step applying it on someone else? I'm aware of the hygiene factors, like using new tools for every product to apply. The problem is, since I just moved here I don't really know a lot of people and have no friends to practice on.