Education & Training: New Employee Orientation (The Big 'O': New Employee Orientation)

Almost everything in your salon business depends upon the competency of your employees; therefore, the way in which you train them is critical to your success. After hiring, break the employee in slowly. Start out by giving employees a packet of literature from the manufacturer or manufacturers of your tanning units and lotions. They also should be given copies of your ads, fliers, customer cards, daily record sheets and any other forms they will be expected to fill out. Review each form step by step and have them spend the day studying them, preferably in the salon so they can ask you questions at any time. You also can have them read trade journals for background information on the industry.

Allow them to listen, on an extension, to customers that you speak with on the phone. Remember, there is no better way to teach than through hands-on experience. Don’t expect them to get the hang of it right away—you probably didn’t even do that. Role-play the phone procedure with them for the first few days. Practice makes perfect and builds confidence.

Supply the new employee with a list of commonly asked questions and the answers, along with a detailed explanation of why the questions should be answered that way. You may want to give them a quiz at the end of their training period, to ensure they are capable of being left on their own in the salon.

Cleaning duties can be a touchy subject, so be sure to specify your expectations in the very beginning. Also be sure to emphasize that they always should clean equipment thoroughly after each use. The cleaning may sound simple, but you must stress that it needs to be done carefully and properly. Explain why it is necessary and what the possible consequences are if it is done improperly. Then, go through the procedure with them a few times and have them demonstrate while you’re watching.

Let your employees know that you expect them to keep the reception desk as tidy as possible since this usually is the first thing clients see when they enter the salon. If it is messy or dirty, the client automatically will jump to the conclusion that the rest of the salon is the same way.

Be sure to stress to your employees the importance of enforcing the salon’s rules. Tell them they are never to extend tanning times or to allow clients to tan without protective eyewear. Make sure they understand why, and are able to explain the dangers of such practices to your clients.

The dress code for the salon is up to the individual salon owner. You may want to set certain guidelines, like khaki shorts and pastel-colored shirts, just to keep the general image the same, but it’s not usually necessary. Also, tell employees that their clothing should be loose and comfortable enough to allow ease of movement when cleaning equipment.

If you find a good employee who you feel will stay with the salon for some time, consider taking the employee to one of the trade associations’ training programs. If you can’t justify the travel expenses, a correspondence training course might be a better option. Either way, the course, as well as the training manual, will be an asset to your in-salon training program.