makeup artist

artist

retail assistant manager

retail sales associate

assistant manager

MAC Cosmetics

I worked as a stock associate...the title is misleading...because I pretty much supervised all the duties and responsibilities for the stock room. It gets pretty boring in the back because theres really no one to talk to and theres no radio at the back...they dont allow it....pretty ridiculous. 

The job itself is the less stressful position. Your not required to make sales or interact with customers at all. They actually prefer that you dont. You simply have to keep the stock and sales floor stocked and orgranized. This position isnt avaliable in all stores just the ones with more traffic and higher volume/sales. Eg: Yorkdale & Eaton Centre.




You will not advance in this company unless you are friends with management.
You will not be given more hours unless its holiday season. 
You have to fit into the culture or else...working there will make your work life difficult socially with mgmt.

Your value to the company is how well you sell. Not your work ethics, or skills. Believe it or not this can be difficult to attain because Mac isnt selling like they used to...theres so much competition that customers are buying from online merchants at a cheaper rate. This is how Mac is losing money. Now its quantity over quality.


Bonus:

60% off. Amazing for makeup artist. You can build your collection at an afforable rate. Stock up...stock up.

Gratis: Stock up. And save the items...you can resell them for great a better value once you've stopped working there. Alot of the items you receive are from limited collections that sell out quickly. So alot of mac collectors are willing to pay top dollar. Might as well because this company doesnt value its staff. 

Makeup certifications: This by far is the best opportunity. It teaches how to be a better artist. Soak up as much information as you can.

It was a great place to start out. Pay is above average and benefits are better than any other retail I've worked. Discount is best I've ever encountered and lots of free makeup/skincare.
There is a point where there are diminishing returns, mine was around year 2. Raises start to be just above COL, bonuses that were promised never materialize and you don't really learn anything new unless you make a point to do so on your own time. As with all retail you will be called to come in or change your shift at a moments notice (literally.)

There is a bit of a "buy in" that is present with any brand that has such an established corporate culture. You are expected to prepare for work and look a particular way on your own time. That includes full hair and makeup daily. Your required uniform is fully purchased by you, but they will change the parameters of this often so things you have recently purchased are no longer acceptable.
I learned some skills but that's completely reliant on the person you work with be willing to share. I have worked with people in this company that are a wealth of knowledge and those that keep their methods to themselves.
The hardest part was the constantly moving goal-posts. At some point MAC decided to change performance metrics to predominantly $ based. They still talk about customer service but you could do most anything as long as you were meeting goals. This caused a shift to a more competitive environment which was ironic because we still made the same $ no matter what. (No commission was ever offered for sales during my time.)
The most enjoyable part is the people you meet and you get to talk about makeup. We used to apply makeup and that would have been the most enjoyable part but I didn't feel like an actual artist for the last 2 years I was there.

I've been working at MAC Cosmetics for 3 years. Starting in 2013 till now. I had a contract of 32 hours a week for 2 years. Once my contract ended, I feel back to my permanent position which is 17 hours a week.   

A typical day at the store is fun. Getting to know new people, people that wants to try something new and even people that never worn makeup in their life. It's a new conversation of being friendly and heart warming. Giving the best you can and making someone feel happy and confident.

I learned a lot of things working at MAC. Improving myself with new techniques, to showing and teaching clients, being better at customer service and the knowledge that goes with the products.

Management, I do have a good management team. They listen to your need and helps you to get better. But I really hope that they actually be more on the floor to see exactly how we work. Not judging us from what they hear about us. It's not how it's suppose to be.

My co-workers are not only my team, but they're my friends and family. I find having a positive team makes you want to be better at your job. Building a great team is the key.

The hardest part of this job, is of course leaving it. Working there was more than fun to me. But I need to work harder on myself and try to see what's best for me out there.

The most enjoyable part of this job, is all the memories I built with my co-workers and clients. It reminds me every day, that I love what I do.

A typical day at work would consist of tending to multiple customers at a time with the use of verbal contracts. 
I asess each customers features and provide them with products that are suited for their skin type, eye colour etc.while teaching them the proper techniques of application. 
After each customer I walk them to the cash and ring up my sale. 

While also helping customers I will also be stocking products to eliminate the need to constantly check the back room while helping customers. 

I will continue this for the entire day, and if I have a closing shift I will be assigned to cleaning duties which consists of schematizing colours, sweeping and mopping floors, taking down garbages, and making sure that the store is appropriate for the next day. 

The most important value I have learnt at Mac is that customer service is everything. I have learnt to be very social and warm up to customers, and to my surprise I have made many loyal returning customers that only come into the store to see me, which makes me very happy that I was such an influence to them. 

While working at Mac I have also perfected my artistry and teaching skills, I am very confident with my abilities to create a look that the customer wants, as well as teach them how to do it.

The team you work with is what will make you or break you.
The company itself is very strong, and has great goals. They strive to have the best product, and the most comprehensive, polite staff at all of their locations to ensure customers are well taken care of. Unfortunately, they cannot see or hear of everything that exists within these stores. I have worked with the best and the worst managers. When I began with the company, I worked with amazing women who understood the definition of "team". They would help and educate in any way they could, providing tons of guidance for new employees. Over the years I made the mistake of switching locations. Suddenly I found myself working with lazy, childish, selfish coworkers (including management), that had a serious attitude problem. If I was honest about how I felt, it was used against me. There was zero support, lack of understanding, and it doesn't take much for you to be singled out and used as a scapegoat or punching bag. I used to think this was the best job/career that happened to me, and it became a scar that I can't get rid of.
I still love this brand as a makeup brand, but be careful who you work for.

working for MAC is fun, the staff is wonderful the energy is very much alive and upbeat. you work servicing customers and handling stock orders and making sure the store is as clean and professional as the MAC standard required it to be.

MAC teaches you to grow as a person and as an artist, you learn how to communicate very efficiently, and what it means to be part of a team. Your co-workers become your friends and your mentors. 

The hardest part of the job is when you're starting out, theres absolutely zero stability, you begin as a "freelancer" which is an On Call position, advancement in the company can be very slow going or you may be promoted rather quickly. The issue is that you never know when your next shift may be and that is always a challenge.

The best part of the job is definitely the artistry and the freedom to express yourself through your art MAC embraces the individual artist and applauds the work ethic and dedication and above all the creativity all the artists have to offer.

- Typical day at works starts before work hours where we spend time applying the products we sell at work on ourselves in order to be able to sell and maintain a professional image.
- It's a great environment to learn time management skills, people skills, listening skills to provide a welcoming and personalized experience for each individual. The goal is not just to sell, its to form a bond with each client making them want to come back to such a welcoming environment.
- Co-workers are very helpful and support one another
- hardest part of the job would be when doing makeup applications to provide a flawless application within a limited time frame.
- The most enjoyable part of the job is forming a bond with a client and seeing their positive reaction with your work or what products you recommended for them. A lot of the time we have clients who come back to the store just to thank us for our help, it's a rewarding feeling.

It's a job if you're a makeup artist and in need of an extra paycheck. There is no real management support, youre just a sales number. The favoritism is ridiculous, not to mention gossip and bullying. Their favor and your sales is what will get you to move up, even if you work hard and are an amazing makeup artist. The hours are ridiculously cut where you sometimes get 8-14 hour shift weeks. Its never consistent with hours unless you are a "part- time or full-time" permanent artist. There are rarely any full time opportunities and even if you are "full time" hours are cut down to 25-29.5 hours.. (.5 a literal joke). You can have a degree and often it's overlooked, they will still pay you low and you get no benefit out of it unless your sales are good. It's an okay job if you want to learn makeup application and interpersonal connection with customers, but you won't make enough to live. 

Pros: 60 % discount off retail price 

Cons: No work life balance, no good incentives, high stress to achieve goals, no rewards, conflict of interest in work culture with management. 

I've been working at this job for two and a half years. No advancement, their pay is garbage and not a livable wage. They value numbers over integrity, genuine artistry and customer service. They are entirely numbers driven now because the brand is a dying star. 

Every year they rip you apart with a performance review even though you are the top performer in your location, and offer you only a 20-50 cent increase to your wage every year. 

The work life balance is also something that is not a part of the work cultures if you have a disability, good luck at the job. This job doesn't offer or give their employees much support. You are expected to work terrible shifts in the middle of the day, and have odd weeks off.

I love product knowledge, and this company owns over a thousand products in each counter, constantly giving me new things to learn about whether it is a new product launch or just a new technique of using the same product that has been around for years.

Cosmetics is the one place where customer service is crucial to your career because you become so close with your customers. By giving excellent service, we allow them to return as loyal customers and be taken care of. Co-workers come from all different areas, but my favourite part is how everyone's personality stands out. 

On the other hand, politics are wherever you go. So it is inevitable when working with majority women, as a female it can still be intimidating trying to do good at your job. Be confident and actually have a passion for cosmetics and this job will never make you feel like another typical work day.

Top Job Titles	Average salary
Makeup artist 4 salaries reported	$19.75 per hour
Artist 3 salaries reported	$19.00 per hour
Retail assistant manager 5 salaries reported	$19.85 per hour
Retail sales associate 3 salaries reported	$21.67 per hour
Assistant manager 3 salaries reported	$40,000 per year

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