Career as a massage therapist: What do you need to know

Before entering any profession, it’s important to have a genuine interest in what you’re doing. A massage therapist is a healthcare professional with a massage certification that helps relieve stress and tension every day. If you’re interested in a massage therapy career, you should be interested in a hands-on career and the well-being of your patients. The massage therapy program you take should be equipped with resources to help you find a job once you graduate. Robertson College offers a lifetime career service. We help students find meaningful work through our services even after they graduate.  

As far as tools of the trade are concerned, your hands will be one of your most important assets (so remember to take care of yourself while you are taking care of others!). Other than that, you’ll have a massage table — or chair, in some circumstances — and a range of lotions and oils ready to suit your client’s needs.

How to start a career in Massage Therapy

One of the best things about becoming a massage therapist is the ability to work in a variety of workplaces, so if you have an interest in travel, or in changing up your workspace more often than the average person, this might be the right fit for you. Massage therapists are needed in a variety of spaces such as hotels, cruise ships, spas, nursing homes, or you could even work from home if you build up a large enough client base and have the appropriate space to do so.

Here are a few different options you could consider as you begin your career as a licensed massage therapist:

Spas

When someone says the word “massage” the first place most people think of is a spa. Soft, warm lighting; earthy, herbal aromas; lush bathrobes and towels; steam rooms and saunas; the works! Spas are all about relaxation, which is often what people hope to achieve while getting a massage. So if you’re all about helping your clients distress in a welcoming, beautiful environment, a spa job should be at the top of your list.

Rehab clinics and hospitals

In a rehabilitation clinic or hospital, your focus would be on healing injuries and soothing pain. You’ll be working with people who likely have reduced mobility, are relearning physical skills after an accident, who deal with chronic pain or injury-specific pain and those who may be well on their way to full recovery who just need a bit of extra help when it comes to stress reduction and muscle tension.

Cruise ships and hotels

In the same vein as spas, cruise ships and hotels are the ultimate relaxation destination for a lot of people. What better way to round out a beautiful vacation than with a stress-reducing massage overlooking the ocean? Many travelers take the opportunity to splurge on luxury purchases while on vacation, so you’ll likely be working a lot. 

Wellness centers

A wellness center is an establishment that offers services for both the body and the mind; mental and medical healthcare workers (as well as nutritionists, life-coaches and any number of other wellness professionals) provide numerous treatment options that perhaps are less traditional than what one would receive at a hospital or rehab clinic. Natural healing has become quite popular, and massage therapy definitely falls under that category, so a job in a facility such as this would likely look like helping with anything from a tension headache to muscle injuries to symptoms of depression or other mental illness.

Self-employed practice

As mentioned above, a lot of massage therapists are totally self-employed and work for companies on a contract basis. The other option is to work for yourself out of your home or in a small rented space, essentially starting your own massage therapy practice. This is a tough path to take, especially if you don’t already have a blooming client base, but there are lots of benefits, such as choosing your own hours.

Related Article: Is massage therapy a good career?

If you said, “Yes,” to a lot of the massage therapist job descriptions above, becoming a licensed massage therapist will be a good career option for you. After getting you certified with an accredited massage therapy program the job search begins. 

Applying for any job can be a scary and stressful process. If you’ve completed your massage therapy training and are getting ready to interview with some potential employers,here’s a few general interview tips, as well as a few specific things to expect in a massage therapy job interview. 

Preparing for the interview 

Bring your resume

Don’t expect your interviewer to have a copy of your resume on hand; it’s always best to bring a hard copy with you (and a cover letter!) so both you and your interviewer can reference it on the spot. Discuss your training, any past on-the-job experience, the reasons why you wanted to become a massage therapist and why you think you’d be the right fit for the company and that specific position. 

Dress to impress

Even if you’re applying for a job at a spa or somewhere else you may be in scrubs or comfy attire during your work day, make sure you dress smartly when you go in for your interview. We’re not talking about a suit and tie or formal dress, necessarily, but your outfit should be clean and pressed, and definitely no shorts or flip flops. Keep in mind you will likely be asked to give a massage, so make sure you’ll be able to move around in whatever outfit you choose. 

Expect to do a Massage

Most potential employers will want to see how you do in a hands-on audition, so you’ll want to be prepared. Try and keep your nerves at bay, as your client will pick up on that and it will affect the success of your massage. Take a deep breath and remember all of your training and if you’re feeling jittery beforehand, take a minute to collect yourself and stretch before you begin. 

Practice

Before your interview, practice! Rehearse basic answers to questions you know are likely to be asked (such as the amount of clients you see on a daily/weekly basis, your reasons for getting into the profession) and take mental note of your selling points as an employee. The more you practice, the easier your interview will be.

The most important thing is to just be yourself; employers and clients can quickly tell if you aren’t being genuine, so keep calm, present your best self and you’ll be sure to nail it.

Massage Therapist Course

Interested in becoming a massage therapist but don’t know where to begin? Read our article on how to become a massage therapist in Canada. If you know that this is the career that you want, Robertson College offers a 2 year’s massage therapy program for you to become a licensed massage therapist in Canada.