Looking for your first employer as an LMT? Consider these tips…

You’ve completed your massage therapy training, and after hundreds of hours of hands-on experience and class room instruction, you are reading to begin a rewarding career as a Licensed Massage Therapist. But where do you start? Here are some tips to get you job hunt moving.

Perhaps the most important thing to consider before starting your search is to decide what type of business or organization you want to work for, and what kind of clients and bodywork you would like to focus on. Massage therapists can generally find employment at massage therapy franchises, spas, hotels, fitness centers, and medical practices. Finding the right fit for your personality and interests is key to being happy in your job.

Once you’ve decided on the direction you would prefer to go, the next step is to start looking at online job banks, professional association sites and forums, social media, online classified sites, and visiting local job fairs. You can also directly contact places that employee massage therapists and inquire about openings they might have. The good news is the field of massage therapy is growing exponentially, so finding a job may not be as difficult as you might think.

Since you are new to the field, it can be invaluable to gain insight from other industry professionals. Find out what environment they work in and what they like/dislike about it. Ask about the work place culture and management style. Gain an understanding of the types of clients that visit. Find out if they are required to sell products and other services. And yes, ask about pay and bonuses. Good advice and guidance from those who’ve been practicing for years can help you make important decisions about where you want to work.

Finding a niche in the field of massage therapy is a perfect way to get yourself noticed in your new career. By specializing in a certain modality or technique that has clients requesting your service will give you an opportunity to shine and start your career out on the right path.

Of course, when you are looking for that first job, it might not be everything you’re looking for in a career, but look at every new beginning as a stepping stone and an opportunity.