MAC Interviews & Hiring Process

[xStarryEyedX]

This is insane guys... okay so, I had my 3rd interview last week and it went REALLY well- aside from the fact that my availability is awful (after 5:00+ weekends)... So, I spoke with the DM today, basically they really like me (woohoo) but they can't figure out where to put me, it's gonna take at least 3 weeks to figure out but she said once they do they def. want me working for them part time. : )... In the mean time, my freelance paperwork STILL hasn't gone through, oy!

 

[QueenBam]

From application to starting date - my experience trying to work for MAC

Hey guys! I wanted to talk about this because I felt that my experience was worth talking about, and it might solve a lot of questions that people applying for MAC might have. I warn you, this is a really long post.

It all started either November or December 2009. I went into EVERY COUNTER in my city. Most said they weren't hiring, so I just asked for a manager and showed them my portfolio (just a scrapbook binder, all black, with professional photos and 3 snapshots) and then they seemed more interested, and had me either fill out an app, or leave my name. I went when they weren't busy, but it was really hard to get their attention. I ever had a store manager ask me if i needed help, and when i asked her if she had time to look at my port while I filled out an application, she changed her mind and said "i'm with a customer."

I only heard back from 1 place. We'll call this place COUNTER 1

The same day I applied, the girl told me to come in, all dressed in black and that I would have an interview with a specific manager. She had complimented in my outfit, makeup AND portfolio, so I thought I already had points for that. This was already into spring 2010... maybe April. I arrived to the interview 10 minutes early, and was told by a sales associate that the manager I had my interview with was on vacation and wouldn't be in town until the week after... I felt like the girl who was there (alone) when I applied had played a joke on me. It wasn't funny. long story short, a few hrs later I had my dad call and ask when the hiring manager was in, and the girl said "(the name of the lady who was suposed to be on vacation) will be back tomorrow".
..............great...............

After that I didn't hear from anyone for a while. About a month after, I decided to call ALL the counters and ask them if they had any open positions. A guy gave me the regional recruiter's name and email, and told me to email her my resume. I emailed her my resume, a link to my online portfolio, AND a cover letter... a few weeks later she emailed me about setting up an interview! I was ecstatic. I met her in May and she asked me to come back for a demo!




My demo was a nightmare...

Copied from an old thread:

I had my demo at MAC today... my interview was AMAZING! Ammmmaaaazinnng. I rocked it. It was on a thursday I think? And my demo was today, tuesday.
It was at 2pm... I got there at like 1:52 with my model.
Went to the counter, introduced myself, said HEY i'm here for my demo! (all poppy and smiley what not) and they were like "what? demo? hmm. whose demo, you? thats weird. who interviewed you? oh thats nice, she didn't tell us we had an interview. oh well. i guess you can take a seat right there."

So I stand around... the store mgr shows me my area blah blah, gives me a belt brush and my customer is going to be "a lawyer who has 15 mins to get ready"..... ok
i went with plums, as my model was a WOC with *beautiful* radiant, flawless skin
her foundation was badass
her blush was badass
her eyeshadow was badass
her lips... i got a little weird with pro-longwear, but we talked about what I would've done to fix and i gave a pretty impressive answer
and i didnt fill in the brows, just used a little bit of brow get (hers were dark and thick, yet very defined)

i got done right on time (was spraying the fix+ as she said time was up)

here's the thing... nobody was near me when I was talking to my "customer", applying the makeup... anything. They didn't hear me talk about the powder finishes, brush numbers/uses, non-synthetic fibers being humanely gathered, Viva glam, B2M; she didn't see me disinfect ANYTHING! (ugh), she didn't see my technique, she didn't hear me describe every single brush and skincare product...etc... and well when it was my turn to receive constructive criticism I took it well (agreed), answered their questions EXTREMELY WELL... not to mention my outfit and face were ROCKIN.

The entire time I was applying makeup they were standing by the register. While I was picking out my colors, the MA had an argument with a customer and they were being pretty weird to each other, and at one point the MA asked the customer "sooo what did you come in here for then?" (in my head i was like GUUUUUUURRRLLLLLL! ) So the entire time I was doing my demo, they were maybe 20-30 ft away talking crap on the other side of the counter about this lady. I felt awful... i studied my ass off for DAYS, both on here and maccosmetics.com, just to get ignored and then when i'm done with the face they were just like yeah whatever. I literally spoke to them 1 minute before my demo, and 2 minutes after. i guess I expected her to come see my progress, ask me about why I chose what I did etc etc, and all i got was "why did u chose to mix 2 foundations?" (because one was too orange, and the other was too dark... NW45-NW50).

After this I was SURE that they wouldn't hire me. I woke up the next day to an email from the recruiter saying she wanted me to be part of their team! After this things went smoothly for a while. She asked me if I wanted a full time, part time or FL/on call position. I said permanent part time and she already had something open, at Nordstrom.

As some of you know, when you work at MAC@Nordies, you are a NORDSTROM employee. You go by THEIR rules, for the most part.
I then interviewed with...
HR person #1 (phone) - May
HR person #2 (person) - June
Director of cosmetics - June
Store manager of an unrelated MAC store
Counter manager - 2 weeks ago

The interview with the CM was really what I thought would get me the job. But I have to say, overall it was an extremely unpleasant experience. First of all, the CM stood me up almost THREE times. I live an hour away, so I was not pleased. Both times it was her bad too, I didn't have the dates/times wrong or anything... she was like 1 hr late the first time, so I interviewed with someone else, and the 2nd time she had the date wrong. The 3rd time, she actually changed the date on me because she said HR was closed. Not sure why she couldn't interview me outside by the cafe or something, since we didn't need HR for anything while the interview was going on anyway.

However during the interview she said things like "im so excited! you'll get the chance to try things on so many different people", "you are gonna learn a ton", "you're gonna love it!" not to mention, she said she would call me that same night.

Of course, I didn't hear back from her for about another week. So I called the Director of Cosmetics, who informed me that they had chosen another candidate, then hung up on me. Yeah, just like that. I felt played! it had been over 7 months that we had been playing this game and no one seemed to have their shit together. I called the CM back and asked her this
"Is there anything you think I need to improve on? my job search is still on, and i'd like to know what i have to work on."
her answer was this.
"weeeelll...... i am confident in your sales skills.......... customer service experience.........you're friendly and professional........ and your artistry is fantastic............... but........... i think.............. i think the other candidate would have better dynamics with my team."

uh, ok. what does that even mean! I will admit, her MUAs were a little bit older than me, a little older than the average people at MAC, but wtf? that's just weird. We hadn't exchanged any words on getting along or problems in the workplace or anything. i'm not sure that at this point the hiring decision was up to her, but i thought that reason was bullshit.

So i emailed the MAC recruiter EVERYTHING that happened and the NEXT day, I had an answer. The NEXT day, i had a date. and today, the NEXT day from that day, I did new hire paperwork

!!!! I am going to be on call while she finds me a PERM spot. I start at the end of the month. I was so excited. July makes it 8ish months since I applied. I was so ready to give up. I felt so mistreated by Nordstrom people. I was already looking for jobs on like CL, I went to an employment agency, and all these awful places i would HATE to work at! I told people that if it wasn't for the fact that I am passionate about MAC, i would've already given up the search, and put a complaint to HR.


I wanted to share this story cause I know a lot of you get frustrated when you don't get calls back, get a no, etc.... my search was so tiring that 50% of the time i thought MAC just hired people and left them in lingo forever. my process took almost 3/4th of a YEAR! and that wasn't even the first round of applications I completed! Don't give up... Get good with the people at your closest counter and be friendly to the MAs. A week after any contact (interview, demo, etc) call back! make sure you haven't been forgotten in a pile of paperwork! But most of all, be polite, and just tell the company all the great things you are bringing to them and BELIEVE ME.... you'll need patience!

 

[Candee Sparks]

So I'm kind of in a slump right now and I don't really know what to do. I don't believe I've gone through the process like other people have. I turned in my application before mid-June and got asked if I could schedule a demo right on the spot. The demo went excellent which was on June 15th and afterwards I had a one-on-one talk with the manager and she basically told me that the job was mine by July-August (she said she wanted me to start working then). And so after the demo went well, she told me that it may be a few weeks until I hear from a woman in Ohio whom I would have an over the phone interview with.

Well, I had my interview with her last Monday at 11 am and I think it went pretty well. I told her flat-out I was a bit nervous since I wasn't really told what to expect from the interview and that I'd be optimistic and give it my all - which I believe I made an impression. At the end of the interview she said that she would get in touch with the manager at my location and she should call me before the end of the week. Waited the rest of the week, the weekend and up til Monday/Tuesday when I decided it was time to give them a call so I did. One of the girls picked up, I asked for the manager and she said she wasn't available so I just left my name, number and a quick message. Feeling a little discouraged at the moment because she hasn't returned my phone call. It dawned on me that they might be busy considering In The Groove and Alice + Olivia launching so close together but I talked to other people who are MAC employees at different locations and they said that something is a bit screwy.

I honestly have no clue what's going on because no one will tell me. When I went in for my demo the girls there expressed that they wanted me there because all the people who apply at that location didn't know a thing about makeup, they praised me on my skill and said that they wanted a guy who was extremely makeup-savvy to balance out the team since there was already 7 girls there. I was told there was a wait but the manager told me that as soon as my interview was over she'd get back to me immediately to let me know the results be they good or bad.

 

[ImMACnificent]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Candee Sparks So I'm kind of in a slump right now and I don't really know what to do. I don't believe I've gone through the process like other people have. I turned in my application before mid-June and got asked if I could schedule a demo right on the spot. The demo went excellent which was on June 15th and afterwards I had a one-on-one talk with the manager and she basically told me that the job was mine by July-August (she said she wanted me to start working then). And so after the demo went well, she told me that it may be a few weeks until I hear from a woman in Ohio whom I would have an over the phone interview with. Well, I had my interview with her last Monday at 11 am and I think it went pretty well. I told her flat-out I was a bit nervous since I wasn't really told what to expect from the interview and that I'd be optimistic and give it my all - which I believe I made an impression. At the end of the interview she said that she would get in touch with the manager at my location and she should call me before the end of the week. Waited the rest of the week, the weekend and up til Monday/Tuesday when I decided it was time to give them a call so I did. One of the girls picked up, I asked for the manager and she said she wasn't available so I just left my name, number and a quick message. Feeling a little discouraged at the moment because she hasn't returned my phone call. It dawned on me that they might be busy considering In The Groove and Alice + Olivia launching so close together but I talked to other people who are MAC employees at different locations and they said that something is a bit screwy. I honestly have no clue what's going on because no one will tell me. When I went in for my demo the girls there expressed that they wanted me there because all the people who apply at that location didn't know a thing about makeup, they praised me on my skill and said that they wanted a guy who was extremely makeup-savvy to balance out the team since there was already 7 girls there. I was told there was a wait but the manager told me that as soon as my interview was over she'd get back to me immediately to let me know the results be they good or bad.

You had another interview AFTER the demo? Was this for perm or freelance? I got hired freelance right after the demo.

 

[Candee Sparks]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ImMACnificent You had another interview AFTER the demo? Was this for perm or freelance? I got hired freelance right after the demo.

I actually never had a formal interview. It was just small talk before and after my demo with the manager but the demo was set up just a few days after I turned my application in. This is for perm and my first and only interview was over the phone and that was just last week. The woman told me the manager would call me before the end of last week but even after calling the store myself, still nothing.

 

[ImMACnificent]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Candee Sparks I actually never had a formal interview. It was just small talk before and after my demo with the manager but the demo was set up just a few days after I turned my application in. This is for perm and my first and only interview was over the phone and that was just last week. The woman told me the manager would call me before the end of last week but even after calling the store myself, still nothing.

Honestly, If ya don't hear anything in the next few days, I'd call them. Some things get lost in translation. It's cool to call as long as we don't bug them

Did you already have a freelance job with them?

 

[Candee Sparks]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ImMACnificent Honestly, If ya don't hear anything in the next few days, I'd call them. Some things get lost in translation. It's cool to call as long as we don't bug them Did you already have a freelance job with them?

Never worked for them before and never had a job previous to this. Originally was aiming for a freelance position since there was a freelance and part-time position open but they told me they'd rather have me there on the actual team. I'll probably call again on Monday or Tuesday but odds are that's going to be the last time I call.

 

[ImMACnificent]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Candee Sparks Never worked for them before and never had a job previous to this. Originally was aiming for a freelance position since there was a freelance and part-time position open but they told me they'd rather have me there on the actual team. I'll probably call again on Monday or Tuesday but odds are that's going to be the last time I call.

Wow, that's rare... Congrats for being considered for the team! Most people have to do freelance first.

Let us know how it goes

 

[Makeupologist]

Hi everybody Im new to this and I must say it has been very helpful. Everything I wanted to ask has been answered. But one thing I didnt see that I would like to know is when going on an interview how should my makeup be? Should it be nice and settled kind of day look, or should it be a trendy out going look or something like that. I just dont want to over do it. The interview is at Macys for a makeup counter. Plzzz help!

 

[Candee Sparks]

Two weeks of waiting and I called again to find out I didn't get the job. Wouldn't even let me go for freelance which is what I originally applied for but she decided she wanted me for the team instead. Didn't get the job because of how my interview over the phone went since I lack retail experience. It's so upsetting because I was told that my demo was what counted and that the interview over the phone was just to check where you stand with wanting to work for the company and I answered my questions fluently and accurately. She said try again later this year when I obtain more retail experience but that just can't happen with where I live. I've tried and tried to get other jobs but I've never gotten a callback or an interest in hiring me anywhere else but with MAC. Sorry I'm just ranting, I'm just pretty upset and I don't know what else to do at this point.

 

[paparazziboy]

so here is my story i applied a few months ago and herd nothing left messages to check on my app with the store manager never heard anything. the manager and the trainer both looked at my portfolio and said stuff about freelancing and doing a demo and an interview but it wouldn't be for a while. so about 4 months have passed. the store manager came into the bar i worked out and i recognized her talked with her and i even bought her a drink. and she asked if the trainer ever got back to me i said no. she told me to come back in and talk with her so i did she told me to redo an app and put attn.( her name) on the top and make sure i give it to her. so i went in yesterday and i just had my hair dont my make up was very natural light contour defined brows and very neutral eye make up i looked like a boy but very clean and flawless. she talked with me and told me they have a lot doing on right now the big wigs were coming in tomorrow. she said she will put my app were her stuff she said it would be till the end of the month to the middle of august to set something up with me but for me to keep pushing and to get to know the counter people. so i did that i talked to one of the mua about the new collections and she asked me what products i liked and why. we talked about stereo rose and they hype about it i told it is so pretty on the skin and has sort of a metallic look to it. i asked to purchase a brush and she asked me why i wanted the 222 instead of the 217 i said i had the 217 and i love it for placing color in a big bigger area and blending. i said i like the 222 for doing color just in the crease i told her its great for just that like to place the brush in the corner of the eye and then open the eye and apply the color it give us a clean line while still blending she was like oh i have to try that. she seemed impressed so i hope i made a good impression and didn't come of like a know it all.

so i hope i get a call to come in what do u guys think do i keep trying

 

[xStarryEyedX]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Candee Sparks Two weeks of waiting and I called again to find out I didn't get the job. Wouldn't even let me go for freelance which is what I originally applied for but she decided she wanted me for the team instead. Didn't get the job because of how my interview over the phone went since I lack retail experience. It's so upsetting because I was told that my demo was what counted and that the interview over the phone was just to check where you stand with wanting to work for the company and I answered my questions fluently and accurately. She said try again later this year when I obtain more retail experience but that just can't happen with where I live. I've tried and tried to get other jobs but I've never gotten a callback or an interest in hiring me anywhere else but with MAC. Sorry I'm just ranting, I'm just pretty upset and I don't know what else to do at this point.

That does really suck, I'm sorry... You should try to build your retail experience though. Get something that is related to skincare and/or makeup in SOME way... You could be the best makeup artist ever, but if you don't know how to sell (which I'm not saying is the case, I'm just saying it's rare unless you have experience) they can't have you there... MAC is VERY goal oriented from what I hear, so it would be really hard to work there without the experience.
Don't give up!

 

[GorgeousJocey]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Candee Sparks Two weeks of waiting and I called again to find out I didn't get the job. Wouldn't even let me go for freelance which is what I originally applied for but she decided she wanted me for the team instead. Didn't get the job because of how my interview over the phone went since I lack retail experience. It's so upsetting because I was told that my demo was what counted and that the interview over the phone was just to check where you stand with wanting to work for the company and I answered my questions fluently and accurately. She said try again later this year when I obtain more retail experience but that just can't happen with where I live. I've tried and tried to get other jobs but I've never gotten a callback or an interest in hiring me anywhere else but with MAC. Sorry I'm just ranting, I'm just pretty upset and I don't know what else to do at this point.

I know exactly how you feel, but I'm really hoping that you do try out later this year and you can officially call yourself a MAC makeup artist, I do think you should try again later this year, because honestly you never know, I'm still rooting for you.

Quote:

Originally Posted by paparazziboy so here is my story i applied a few months ago and herd nothing left messages to check on my app with the store manager never heard anything. the manager and the trainer both looked at my portfolio and said stuff about freelancing and doing a demo and an interview but it wouldn't be for a while. so about 4 months have passed. the store manager came into the bar i worked out and i recognized her talked with her and i even bought her a drink. and she asked if the trainer ever got back to me i said no. she told me to come back in and talk with her so i did she told me to redo an app and put attn.( her name) on the top and make sure i give it to her. so i went in yesterday and i just had my hair dont my make up was very natural light contour defined brows and very neutral eye make up i looked like a boy but very clean and flawless. she talked with me and told me they have a lot doing on right now the big wigs were coming in tomorrow. she said she will put my app were her stuff she said it would be till the end of the month to the middle of august to set something up with me but for me to keep pushing and to get to know the counter people. so i did that i talked to one of the mua about the new collections and she asked me what products i liked and why. we talked about stereo rose and they hype about it i told it is so pretty on the skin and has sort of a metallic look to it. i asked to purchase a brush and she asked me why i wanted the 222 instead of the 217 i said i had the 217 and i love it for placing color in a big bigger area and blending. i said i like the 222 for doing color just in the crease i told her its great for just that like to place the brush in the corner of the eye and then open the eye and apply the color it give us a clean line while still blending she was like oh i have to try that. she seemed impressed so i hope i made a good impression and didn't come of like a know it all. so i hope i get a call to come in what do u guys think do i keep trying

if you really want i think you should, you seem like you would be for

MAC, you seem to really love makeup and like you know your stuff, so i definitely think you should and i'm sure you'll get it

 

[SarahC0612]

Re: From application to starting date - my experience trying to work for MAC

Quote:

Originally Posted by QueenBam I wanted to share this story cause I know a lot of you get frustrated when you don't get calls back, get a no, etc.... my search was so tiring that 50% of the time i thought MAC just hired people and left them in lingo forever. my process took almost 3/4th of a YEAR! and that wasn't even the first round of applications I completed! Don't give up... Get good with the people at your closest counter and be friendly to the MAs. A week after any contact (interview, demo, etc) call back! make sure you haven't been forgotten in a pile of paperwork! But most of all, be polite, and just tell the company all the great things you are bringing to them and BELIEVE ME.... you'll need patience!

OMG, this is an amazing story. Good job for hanging in there! You are a trooper and I am SO glad to hear that you were hired. You definitely deserve it!

 

[paparazziboy]

if you really want i think you should, you seem like you would be for

MAC, you seem to really love makeup and like you know your stuff, so i definitely think you should and i'm sure you'll get it

[/quote]

ur link didnt work love i want to work for mac so bad u have no idea

 

[GorgeousJocey]

Quote:

Originally Posted by paparazziboy if you really want i think you should, you seem like you would be for MAC, you seem to really love makeup and like you know your stuff, so i definitely think you should and i'm sure you'll get it

ur link didnt work love i want to work for mac so bad u have no idea[/quote]

that's so weird where it looks like it should be a link really i meant to put you seem like you would be great for MAC

 

[paparazziboy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GorgeousJocey ur link didnt work love i want to work for mac so bad u have no idea

that's so weird where it looks like it should be a link really i meant to put you seem like you would be great for MAC[/quote]



awe thank you love. i do hope i can get in if not im gonna try for sephora i got offered a job there during halloween, but i turned it down. i should have taken it i didnt even fill out the app i just had my makeup done and went in for some mufe stuff and i was dressed in all black and some one asked me about mufe and i told them about it and color matched them and the manager over heard me and listened and after the woman checked out the manager approached me about a job. i said sorry i wasnt looking for anything right now. i will try back if i dont get into mac it can only help me

 

[GorgeousJocey]

Quote:

Originally Posted by paparazziboy that's so weird where it looks like it should be a link really i meant to put you seem like you would be great for MAC

Quote:

awe thank you love. i do hope i can get in if not im gonna try for sephora i got offered a job there during halloween, but i turned it down. i should have taken it i didnt even fill out the app i just had my makeup done and went in for some mufe stuff and i was dressed in all black and some one asked me about mufe and i told them about it and color matched them and the manager over heard me and listened and after the woman checked out the manager approached me about a job. i said sorry i wasnt looking for anything right now. i will try back if i dont get into mac it can only help me

i so agree

 

[Caderas]

I have a few questions to start off for you guys!

First off, this sounds ridiculous.. but do you think it's better to call beforehand and let them know I'm coming in to apply, or better to show up with my portfolio on hand? Now, I know calling beforehand would be the obvious answer.. but I'm afraid they'd tell me "they aren't hiring" right off the bat without looking at my portfolio/resume, etc.!

 

[xStarryEyedX]

I got it I got it I got it!!! Perm. 12 hours! Omg so excited!!!

After trying for LITERALLY five years, I'm so happy!!