Giving free massage during interview

[michaelsinghhen]

Hello all, I was just wondering if anyone has ever had to give a free massage as part of an interview. I had an interview yesterday, and she asked me to give her a half hour massage after the questions were done. I was totally okay with it, and it must have been good because I got the job! I asked some friends from school, and they said they've never had an interview like that. Does this happen a lot? I only graduated last year. Maybe she just wanted a free massage : I couldn't find anything in the search, so I thought I'd ask! thanks!

 

[Jenna K]

re: Giving free massage during interview

It would surprise me if I was interviewing for a massage therapist position, and the person responsible for hiring me didn't ask for a demo. It's perfectly normal. You want to be able to recommend someone before you hire them.

I've known many therapists who pride themselves on the number of hours of schooling they have, but their hands are lethal weapons. :shock: And I've known others who hadn't even finished their first class and their hands intuitively knew exactly what to do.

Congratulations on your new job!

-Melody

 

[Probie]

thanks Melody!

 

[Ross M]

I have had some jobs that I gave a demo massage for and others that I got on reputation alone.

One job was with my school, and the owner admitted she just wanted a massage and apologized for taking up my time.

The 2 spa jobs that I had, I got off reputation.

For, the DC job I did a massage interview.

Guess it is just up to the person hiring you.

 

[Dick Tator]

I have usually given a massage as part of the hiring process. Two times, I didn't have too because the owners trusted my demeanor. However; I expect it as part of the interview process.

This is an interesting topic to me because I read an article several months back in a massage mag about how therapists shouldn't have to give free massages to prospective employers because as they put it 'do physicians have to prove themselves?'

At first thought, I agreed but after thinking upon the subject a little more, I think it IS important to give a massage to prospective employer as part of interview. Personally, I wouldn't want to hire anyone based on their education because that doesn't necessarily mean too much especially since massage education isn't regulated so who knows what people are being taught.

So after a debate in my mind, I am back at the conclusion massage should be a part of the interview process. There are obviously many who disagree (from reading the article in the magazine) and I'd be interested in knowing what their thoughts were on this subject.

 

[The Goomba of Hope]

At our clinic (I've worked there for over 13 yrs) giving a demo is a required part of the interview process. We have a reputation for being the place to go for an excellent massage and we want to keep that reputation. We have interviewed many therapists over the years who were very nice and had all the credentials but gave horrible massages.

We have anywhere between 10-12 therapists working at our clinic. The vast majority of our clients prefer deep tissue massage. If we have one or two therapists who only do light work, we can usually keep them busy but any more than that and we end up booking clients with them who want deep work and the therapist ends up being frustrated and the client ends up being disappointed. So when we are hiring we need to know if they can do deep work or not.

The way we do it is that the owner does the actual interview and then they give the demo massage to one of us "Old-Timers". That way 2 people have talked to the potential new employee and have gotten to know them.

We have never had anyone complain about having to give the demo. We only ask that they do 20-30 minutes. I think it's pretty routine around here.

 

[Pompal 09.]

It's not uncommon to asked to give a sample massage. I would definitely limit it to 20-30 minutes though. That should be sufficient time for the interviewer to get a feel for your strokes, your demeaner, etc.

 

[msdixie]

15- 30 minutes seems appropriate for a demonstration. however, there are a few prospective employers who want a whole hour. i have mixed feelings on doing an hour.

 

[ariellee.]

My feelings are not mixed about doing a full hour.......I won't do them! I think a potential employer ought to know what they are looking for and get a good feel for it in 30 minutes. If something specific is important to them, then they should ask the potential employee to be sure to demonstrate deep tissue techniques, or work on the feet, or whatever it is. I've had people tell me they want to see how the therapist goes about turning the client over and whether privacy is maintained.....okay then, just ask for a few techniques supine and then the rest prone.

Massage is so different from one person to the next anyway. Of course, a potential employer has a level of standard they would like to maintain, but I don't think it takes a full hour to figure that out.

 

[AMPhoto]

I guess it depends on the person hiring you. If I were an employer, I would want to know what the MT's different styles and pressures were like. Thanks everyone for your input!

 

[essentiallysolo]

Just thought I'd chime in and say the interview I liked the most was the one where there was a trade involved. I actually was asked to give two hour long massages but each of those therapists also gave me one. That certainly works for me!

 

[Lempster]

I had to do a 30 min massage during my interview.

I just interviewed 2 potential therapists last week for a sister location and part of their interview process was giving me a sample massage. I wouldn't want to hire anyone if I didn't know how their technique was.

 

[spaztastic]

I've been thinking about this, and I have to say that I would like to have a full hour massage from people that I was seriously considering bringing aboard. Here's my reasoning: I not only want to know about their pressure, creativity & style, but I want to know how their draping is done and if they can stay on the clock, if they are informative, intuitive, can change things up when the original plan gets foiled, etc. If someone were to tell me that they were not comfortable with that, I would listen & see if that changes my mind. I do, however, doubt that it would. I would probably just wish them luck.

Twice when I have taken a massage interview, I offered a massage in return - only because I was seriously sold on the person & wanted them to know my work in exchange. It was a very good way to begin both of those professional relationships.

Just my two cents.

Jill/Sagetherapist

 

[wolfgang s]

I LOVE the idea of an exchange! It allows the employer to get a good feel for how the potential employee handles a session, but also gives the potential employee a feel for how the employer works. It seems like a good way to develop mutual respect, and there's much less question of the employee feeling taken advaneforum.xxxe of. (note to self for future reference...)

 

[Bollox]

I am for it and againest it. I went for an interview awhile back in Baton Rouge, I was going to be moving there. Talked to the manager for the first one he knew I lived an hour and a half away...set up a second interview with the owner who also knew where I lived and that I was going to be relocating there. On the second interview I gave the owner a full 1 hour DT massage. The second she got out she complemented on my technique but said she was looking for someone that already had a client base in the city. At that second I wanted to strangle her! She had wasted my entire day ...she already knew before I ever even got there that day everything about me. She just was looking for a few free massages. Had she made the comment to me prior to me massaging her I never would have touched her..
My present employer I massaged her prior to me working there.While she was getting massaged she hired me.
I ask more question myself during interviews now because of the first incident.

 

[robertoalinexs]

I have been hired in the past - before, after and without giving a "free massage".

The interview "without" giving and "before" giving, both seemed a bit odd to me. I wouldn't hire someone without knowing the kind of work they do. I don't care how confident they were. But, I guess sometimes people just know what type of person they are looking for and figure the massage will be good.

But, I think you should always get an idea of what the person can do. Possibly even on 2 seperate occasions before the actual "hire".

And I really like what Jill said about giving back to the hire-ee. That is nice.

 

[Davycrop]

The practice in which I joined I did not have to give a massage... however I have a different situation. One of the other therapists was my instructor! I did my hands on practical with her. She recommened me to join the group.

I think that was one of the best compliments I've received. t040

However I love the idea of an exchange! I think that would be the best for everyone involved.

Jenn

 

[maxmom]

I am for it and againest it. I went for an interview awhile back in Baton Rouge, I was going to be moving there. Talked to the manager for the first one he knew I lived an hour and a half away...set up a second interview with the owner who also knew where I lived and that I was going to be relocating there. On the second interview I gave the owner a full 1 hour DT massage. The second she got out she complemented on my technique but said she was looking for someone that already had a client base in the city. At that second I wanted to strangle her! She had wasted my entire day ...she already knew before I ever even got there that day everything about me. She just was looking for a few free massages. Had she made the comment to me prior to me massaging her I never would have touched her..

Wouldn't she have been surprised if you had billed her for your time?! Something along the lines of:
"Dear Owner, It is apparent by your comments after our session that you had no intention of hiring me to work in your business but rather scheduled yourself a "free" service in the guise of an interview demonstration of my skills. While I have no problems offering a demonstration when involved in serious contention for a position. I do mind being manipulated, used and taken advaneforum.xxxe of because you are to cheap to pay for massage therapy. Please remit payment of [insert your hourly fee plus travel time] within the week. Thank you. Have a nice day!"

While you most likely wouldn't have gotten paid...maybe it would have caused her to rethink doing that to another practitioner. :twisted:

 

[jwthoughts]

That is both funny AND something to seriously think about doing! I love it.
Jill/Sagetherapist

 

[joliesoleil]

Wouldn't she have been surprised if you had billed her for your time?! Something along the lines of:
"Dear Owner, It is apparent by your comments after our session that you had no intention of hiring me to work in your business but rather scheduled yourself a "free" service in the guise of an interview demonstration of my skills. While I have no problems offering a demonstration when involved in serious contention for a position. I do mind being manipulated, used and taken advaneforum.xxxe of because you are to cheap to pay for massage therapy. Please remit payment of [insert your hourly fee plus travel time] within the week. Thank you. Have a nice day!"

I had actually thought of doing that. She did cost me a whole day of work for that one session. Next time if that does happen to me again I will do it.