For many Americans, visiting a beauty store or salon is a weekly occurrence. This leads many to think, “I wonder what it would be like to work in the beauty industry?”
As a growing sector with more and more employers looking for qualified workers who are already knowledgeable—even passionate—for their products, the beauty industry can be a compelling place to work.
Let’s dive into the main reasons you might want to consider starting in or pivoting into the beauty industry. Then we’ll take a deeper dive into what it’s like working for Sephora, one of the largest beauty and skincare companies in the United States.
Beyond the immediate interest you may have in beauty, skincare, and makeup in general, there are several other reasons why you may want to consider starting your career in the beauty industry:
Across the board, the demand for beauty products and services is growing. There’s is high demand across many different types of products, thanks to the increasing focus on personal grooming and well-being. These larger factors can provide job security and stability for those in the industry.
Overall, the beauty industry can be an exciting, creative and rewarding field with a lot of opportunities for personal and professional growth.
While it was founded in France in 1970, Sephora now has over 2,700 stores in 35 countries worldwide—including over 500 stores across North America. And with many stores also positioned within clothing department store JC Penney, Sephora’s footprint stretches far across the United States.
Sephora careers in New York City has long been a part of the company’s American story; the first US store opened in New York’s SoHo neighborhood in 1998. Since then, Forbes has recognized Sephora as one of America’s Best Employers from 2018-2021, making it an attractive place to work for those looking to break into the beauty industry.
In addition, Sephora’s new tagline and manifesto, “We Belong to Something Beautiful,” was released in 2019 to highlight the company’s commitment to inclusion and belonging in it’s stores—and for the retail industry in general. But what do the workers themselves say about working at Sephora?
Overall, employees generally consider Sephora careers and Sephora jobs to be a positive experience. The company is known for its fun and energetic culture, and many employees enjoy this fast-paced work environment. Sephora is also recognized for its strong commitment to training and development, providing many opportunities for employees to learn and grow in their roles.
Of course, that kind of dynamic work environment isn’t for everyone. This is especially true because of the client-facing nature of the work itself. If you don’t like interacting with customers, then this job may not be the best fit for you.
<h2> The Sephora Jobs Verdict </h2>
As expected, Sephora is also considered a great place to work if you are passionate about beauty. The company offers a wide range of products and services, and employees have the opportunity to learn about the latest trends and techniques in the beauty industry.
Additionally, as this Business Insider article points out, Sephora offers a "gratis" program, which allows employees to try out products and samples for free, which can be a great perk for those who are passionate about beauty. Often times, this can even mean testing products before they have been widely released. In fact, looking at Sephora Glassdoor reviews shows that this is one of the major perks of working at the company—even for entry-level positions.
The work schedule can vary depending on the role and location, but many employees have reported that the schedule can be demanding, especially given that many of the roles have you on your feet talking to customers in a store environment all day.
However, many employees also report that the schedule is manageable and that the work is rewarding. If you are interested in or interviewing for a Sephora job, make sure to understand what the shift times and expectations are for the specific position you are applying to.
In general, Sephora is considered to be a great place to work for those who are passionate about beauty, enjoy working in a fast-paced environment, and want to learn and grow in their career. It’s also great for those who love sharing their own “insider tips” about the best beauty products out there. Because Sephora carries all the hottest brands, chances are that your own favorites are there too—and you can share them with customers!
Regardless of whether you end up pursuing a career at Sephora or any other beauty industry company, it’s important to do your research up front to see what the best opportunity is for you.
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