The Blowout Vol 6

Hey, you 👋

Let's talk about one of the hardest questions to answer in an interview… “Tell me about yourself.” That's what we're getting into this issue.

Also, we were at LIBS recently and we picked up a few things we want to pass along. Plus, a feature on the platform you might not be using to its full potential. And jobs, obviously.

Let's get into it.

3 things you need to nail "tell me about yourself"

“Okay… so, tell me about yourself.” This question isn't small talk. It's the first impression, the vibe check, the moment the owner decides whether they want to keep listening. Most people fumble it because they either over-rehearse (and sound robotic) or wing it completely (and ramble). Neither works.

1. Start with now, not the beginning

Don't open with "I grew up loving hair" or walk them through your whole life story. Start with where you are right now. One sentence on what you do or what you're trained in, one sentence about why you’‘re doing it, and one sentence on what you're looking for. That's it. The goal is to give them a hook, not a biography.

2. Make it specific to them

Before any interview, look at the business’s Instagram. Read their listing again. Notice one thing they seem to care about (education, injectables, a specific vibe…) and fold that into your answer. "I'm really drawn to salons that invest in continued education, which is actually why I wanted to come in" hits way different than a generic pitch. It shows you did your homework without being weird about it.

3. End with a bridge, not a full stop

The best "tell me about yourself" answers end with a natural handoff, something that invites the conversation forward instead of just landing flat. Try something like "...and I'd love to learn more about what that looks like here." It keeps the energy going and puts the ball back in their court without making it awkward.

Practice it out loud. (yeah, seriously). It sounds different when you actually say it versus when it's just in your head.

We went to LIBS, and we're not gatekeeping what we shared

A few days ago we visited Long Island Beauty School and helped a group of students build resumes that actually get attention from salon owners, and that actually feel like them.

We're not gatekeeping it.

Here's what we covered:

1. Quality > Quantity, always. Hiring managers get tons of spam applications. Pick a few salons you’re excited about, and put a few extra minutes into those applications.
2. Follow up. Ghosting is happening all the time, and it’s often by accident. Right after you apply to a job, send an email with your resume & reiterating your interest. It’s surprising how far this can get you!
3. Perfect your resume. Your resume is your first impression. Even if you have zero work experience, the fact that you’re at LIBS means you have plenty to put on a resume. If you feel stuck, try our Resume Builder (our prompts will guide you through every step).

You can flex these skills on SalonJobs, where we have hundreds of jobs at salons & spas in New York.

The filters are doing more than you think

A lot of people jump on SalonJobs and just scroll. Which is, fair. But if you haven't touched the filters yet, you're leaving a lot on the table.

You can filter by: 

• Role (Hair Stylist, Esthetician, Barber, Front Desk, and 10 more)
• Pay structure (hourly, commission, booth rental, salary), 
• Schedule (flexible, part-time, nights, weekends), 
• Benefits (including things like in-house continued education, apprentice training programs, 401k, and paid time off.)

There's also a requirements filter:. "no experience required" and "no license required" are real options if you're early in your career and not sure what you qualify for yet.

The specificity is kind of the whole point. You're not looking for any job. You're looking for yours.