Struggling with a major career crossroads: Keeping my solo booth vs. taking a structured W2 job that doesn't offer my favorite service?
Hey everyone! I’m currently at a massive crossroads in my esthetics career and my brain is completely fried from overthinking. I would love some perspective from anyone who has been through this or has advice on which route to take.
I graduated school a little while ago. While I was in school, I completely fixated on facials and skincare. It is my absolute passion, I love the relaxation aspect, and I'm very comfortable with it. Right now, I'm doing a commission split layout in a salon space rather than paying flat monthly booth rent, but it is still a major financial grind when you're working to build up a steady clientele out of pocket and paying for all product. To stay afloat, I've had to pick up part-time corporate or hourly jobs just to guarantee stable income while I hustle for clients.
On Monday, I had an interview at a salon for a permanent, W2 position. It hasn't been offered to me yet, but I am trying to figure out what to do in case they do extend an offer. The owner seems genuinely cool, the environment is highly professional, and they want to heavily invest in their employees. She offered to pay for my license renewals every two years, pay for my scrubs, and provide deep, hands-on training.
Here’s the catch, they specialize in lashes, brows, and body waxing. If I take this job, I would have to give up doing facials entirely for the foreseeable future.
On one hand, I feel like I would be walking away from my absolute passion, which is facials. On the other hand, I know that lashes, brows, and speed waxing are the exact areas where I am the weakest and desperately need mentorship and speed training. I feel like it’s a double-edged sword because it is not what I'm most passionate about, but it is a massive opportunity to get paid to fill my skill gaps under a great mentor, lose the stress of struggling on a commission split, and become a highly well-rounded esthetician.
If they do end up offering me the job, I'm torn between two completely different directions. I could choose to keep my solo space and stay independent so I can continue doing the facials I love, while dealing with the slow client build and supplementing my income with a low-stress part-time barista job for guaranteed hourly money. Alternatively, I could go all-in with the W2 salon job, give up facials for now, and accept their mentorship to master lashes, waxing, and brows while getting my licenses and scrubs paid for to build real financial stability.
Has anyone given up their favorite service early on to build stability and learn new skills? Is it worth pausing my passion for facials to become a master at waxing and lashes, or will I regret walking away from the independent route?
Thank you so much in advance for your help!