How to get started

[Snowfire]

I've just gotten finished with my massage training. Actually I have one more co-requesite course to go, (A&P 2), however being that I'm in PA, (Pittsburgh area), I don't neccesarily have to have my credentials b/f practicing,..........although after my A&P ends in early Aug,..I plan on taking the exam.

My question is, I'm not exactly sure how to get started. The classified section has offers that are very few and far between and usually end up being on the opposite end of the city.........50 min. away excluding traffic.........including you're looking at 1.5 hours easy.

Therefore I'm not sure if I should just start cold calling chiro's, spa's and health clubs? We did have a business class but it was more marketing based. I'm also in school for Physical Therapy Assisant, (currently on summer break), so I'm looking for full time summer work, and part time during the school year,.... mid Aug- early May. I'd rather not be an independant contractor at this point in my life,.........I'm dead broke,..........i had to quit my old job a while ago due to being in dual programs,........and I have a lot of debt to pay back from my previous undergrad days in exc. science.

I also wanted to mention that I'm a male, which makes my situation more difficult. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[Jeski]

I am sure it seems overwhelming for you to know where to begin. I am still in school so can't offer much advice. But I am wondering if you have any practice clients you have been giving free massage? Now is the time to contact them and thank them for the help they gave you in your training and letting them know you are now practicing. Hand your cards out to them and ask them to pass along. And yes I would start cold calling clinics you think you may want to work at. Sounds like you have a wide ranging education. You'll do fine and be working soon. As for being male, I know for myself and lots of others we don't care bout that. Just give a good massage. I am sure you will run into some who don't feel that way, but theres lots more like myself running around too.
Best of luck

 

[Dazcouz]

Dear smeyers,
Cold calling is not a bad idea. I have initially been contacted by each & every practitioner that I have contracted work to. I responded best to those that were confident and prepared to discuss what would be a good situation for them. Two of the many contacts were so shy and meek that I couldn't pull a conversation out of them, and one was coming on so strong that I balked. It helps me (as a business owner) to imagine how they'll handle their clients, etc, when I see how prepared (with copies of whatever you might need) to go they are, and how willing they are to talk about their work styles, what areas they excell, etc.
Good luck to you!
Jill/sagetherapist

 

[cantcu]

Thanks for the info. guys. Unfortunately the people that I've done my hours on lived in my home town, 1.5 hours away from Pittsburgh. However my school and apartment is in Pittsburgh.

Long story short, I used to have a part time job in my home town and due to the flexibility of the job, I kept it, but gas prices have gone up enough that it's pointless to go there anymore. Also, Western PA is definatly not a hot bed for acceptance as far non mainstream healing modalities are concerned.....which is what massage is still considered here.

The one aspect of our program that has helped students in the past is that they require a binder of all the work that was done during school. Therefore it makes it much easier for the potential employer. I'm also fairly decent when expressing my self and working with people......I was in Hotel Restearaunt Mgmt b/f I changed to exc. science when I did my undergrad. and had logged in 500 hours of hospitality work, which definatly helps when working with people.

I will keep my fingers crossed that I can get my foot in the door, that has always been my biggest problem in the past when obtaining a job. Western PA is much harder to obtain jobs in the fields that I'm educated in thus far, (which is why I'm also going back for PT assistant)........many times in many jobs I've been choosen over by young attractive females that don't have the experience or education that I have, but female clients feel confortable with them, and male clients obvsiously like them. Not that I'm like the crypt keeper or something, lol. I feel I'm fairly good looking and I'm 26, and have always been complimented on practice/pro bono work that I've done in personal training and massage,........but I just can't seem to get that foot in the door.