Comments on: Practical Plotting

By: Anna Diaz

Anna Diaz — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 03:52:49 +0000

If you're applying for a clerical position, its common to have a typing test administered. So, why would you not expect a practical to demonstrate your massage skills.

Massage is not just about the stroke, it is about your skill to communicate to a client, being perceptive of their comfort, and of course, proper stroke and draping.

Whether the owner is getting a "free" massage is inconsequential. It is the therapist responsibilty to prove their abilities to a potential employer--especially if they claim to be competent in anything other than Swedish.

By: Sue Peterson

Sue Peterson — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 08:15:31 +0000

Lynna: You got me on this one….I’ve had to do practicals for job interviews in the past and I’ve always been happy to do them…but when I became an employer I went to a 20-minute back massage, mostly because schools were cranking out clueless people who had no idea they sucked so bad. I felt bad cutting them short, so I fixed it by gritting my teeth for 20 mins. Trust me, you can tell when someone is clueless pretty quick. My fave is the lady who thought deep tissue meant grinding my back’s soft tissue into the short rib tips. Egads!

By: Lynna Dunn

Lynna Dunn — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 04:32:30 +0000

As someone who requests practicals for the purpose of actually hiring, there’s no way I’d want a 20-30 minute massage. For one thing, I can’t get an idea of what they’d do for a “standard” full-body in that amount of time. For another, many therapists are nervous, and it takes them 10-15 minutes to settle in; therefore if I judged them on 20 minutes, I could be missing a good hire.
As to credentials, I’ve seen plenty of therapists with “good” credentials do poor or mediocre work or even work that just doesn’t fit with what I asked for and what I need to round out my team. So in my mind, a 50-60 practical is needed before hiring. As to paying someone for that time, well perhaps. However, I’ve been the one on the “doing” end, and never took it personally. It’s only 50-60 minutes, and if I have a good feeling about the place, I have no problem not being paid for doing a simple job test.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 19:44:50 +0000

I have run into this where people advertise and will want a full body or a 30 min massage. When asked to do this I walk out the door. My feeling is that my credentials speak for themself, my time is valuable if they want a 30 min or a full body then they should compensate me for my time as to the hiring pay per session. The last person I have worked for just spoke to me and hired me on the spot and I was with the DC for several yrs. Another person just wanted me to give a 5-10 min on an arm, leg or back my choice. This is fair and enough time to know a persons touch. It’s disgusting and insulting for people to try and take advantage of our profession for free massages or low balling on the pay scale of $15 or there abouts per hour. Yes, it happens more than you would think. Ok, I’m getting off the soap box.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 19:41:19 +0000

hello there,
All massage therapists in the bay area know about MILL VALLEY MASSAGE in Marin County the owner likes to get “free massages” as he always post hiring ads on Craigslist and get therapists to give him massages and he always pretends he is hiring staff but never get any of them on board…since the ad remains on Craigslist forever…This one is abusing it, big time!! So therapists, don’t waste your time with them…that is a warning!

By: Elaine

Elaine — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 21:34:05 +0000

Not sure if there are companies using interview time for “free” massage. But the best way to avoid the whole matter on both ends is to have no more then a 20-30 minute practical. Everyone is busy and I really feel like that amount of time is plenty enough to get a feel of what someones touch is like. Longer then that and I do think it is taking a bit of advantage.