SPA VIBE

Twenty-year-old AMY BRADY has landed her dream job working in Kilronan Castle Hotel & Spa in Roscommon. She reveals why spa therapy is the perfect role for her.

Amy Brady.jpg — **Name:** Amy Brady
**Job:** Therapist
**Works:** Kilronan Castle Hotel & Spa
**Courses:** Beauty Therapy at Templemichael College, Longford

Why did you choose a career in beauty and wellness?

This is the only role that suited me really. I always had a knack for beauty and makeup and I never saw myself working in an office. This seemed like a different kind of job and if I’m honest, it’s not a job to me. I love it.

What course did you take to get started?

I did the Level 5 and Level 6 course in Beauty Therapy in Templemichael College in Longford. It’s a full-time course run over two years; the first covers beauty therapy and in second year you go into more detail, learning about massage, laser, electrical epilation and so on. You don’t have to do the two years and after year one you are qualified to work in a beauty salon but if, like me, you want to work in a spa then you need the Level 6 massage qualification under your belt.

What attracted you to working in a spa?

I need to be kept busy and the slow pace of a beauty salon didn’t suit me. I love the variety you get when you work in a spa; you get to meet so many interesting clients from across Ireland and around the world, and you do a different combination of treatments every day. Even if you do three massages in a row, each client will have different requests so it will be three very different experiences.

Was it easy to get a job in the industry?

Yes, you have to get work experience as part of the course and I was lucky to get a spot here in Kilronan Castle. It is a great place to work, the facilities in the spa are excellent, the atmosphere is lovely and the grounds surrounding the castle are stunning. We have a great team working in the spa and everyone loves what they do. It makes for a very happy working environment.

What are the hours like?

We work an eight-hour day from 10am–6pm with an hour break for lunch. The day flies as you are always busy. You do have to work weekends but you can request some time off. I’m used to working weekends as I was previously in retail so it doesn’t bother me.

What are your career ambitions?

I plan to work in spas for as long as I can then I’d like to go back to college to train to teach beauty therapy. I have learned so much so far in my career and I’d love to be able to share that knowledge with others.

What kind of person suits your role?

You should be open-minded, hard working; and be punctual as you need to work within a specific timeframe for each treatment. It’s a very caring role so you also need to be kind and good-hearted. You need to be able to read people and understand what they want. Do they want to relax in peace and quiet or would they prefer to chat? You need to adapt to the signals they give you.

Have you any tips for getting ahead?

Be willing to put the work in. There are always new techniques to learn and treatments to train in. You have to stay up to date with how the industry is progressing and it’s very important that you enjoy what your doing. If you don’t, your clients will see it.

Would you recommend your role to others?

Absolutely! For me, this is a very enjoyable job. Being able to help people relax, change their energy and make them happy is so rewarding. I couldn’t see myself doing anything else.