Success The degree of education and experience of the people who make up any business is directly proportional to the degree of education and experience of the people who make it up. This reality also applies at the individual level: the more prepared, the more educated you are, the more your income or success increases in direct proportion.

Today, the industry spa, both at home and globally, is facing a big challenge: the difficulty of finding well-qualified people for a top management position.

In a survey conducted by SRI International, 95% of industry leaders said they have problems hiring spa managers/directors who have both the necessary qualifications for such a position and experience in the field. 52% of those surveyed said this problem will persist or worsen in the coming years.

Since there is no well-defined path, a road from point A to point B, that will guarantee a successful career in a management position within the spa industry, most spa managers and directors have a deficit either in soft skills, but most often in hard skills, (lack of business/management/finance knowledge).

We can't blame them, because worldwide, there are at most 64 spa management programs with only about 4000 students per year benefiting from such educational programs. However, over 180,000 spa managers and directors are employed in the market and the number is growing year by year. The demand for spa managers is therefore outstripping the supply.

In Romania, the situation is even more discouraging, first of all, because the need for specialized education is not recognized. And even if there were, there are not yet accredited courses on this specialty, a condition that cannot be fulfilled, as long as jobs such as spa manager/ spa director or spa consultant do not exist in the nomenclature.

What skills and competencies are needed to become a successful spa manager?

Spa management requires a challenging list of specific skills and responsibilities, including both technical skills (finance, budgeting, management, public relations) and soft skills (communication, passion and specific knowledge, team spirit, etc).

What aspects are important when choosing a spa management course/learning program?

Firstly, a good course will ensure a qualitative and quantitative interaction with the spa industry through: 

◊ participation in specialized fairs and conferences;

◊ courses given by lecturers or guests who have worked/work in this field.

◊ a good program will also provide practical experience for students, either by having its own spa, where they can work during their studies, or by providing an internship program after the end of their studies, in partnership with certain hotel chains or spas. 

◊ Last but not least, a good course may also involve work visits to different spas / resorts or involvement and assistance in finding a work placement after graduation.

Here are some examples: 

◊ University of Derby, ranked in the top 5 best UK universities in the field of tourism and hospitality, offers both undergraduate and master's degree programs with SPA & SPA & hospitality specialization. Wellness Management. The University offers students the chance to work while they learn, with their own SPA, serving real clients. This gives you hands-on experience and the chance to understand the industry much better. You can also apply for a work placement, which means that you will get support and assistance in finding a job immediately after completing your studies.

◊ a similar program is offered by the Swiss Hotel Management School (SHMS) I recommend the Hotel, Resort and SPA Management master program, which opens multiple opportunities in both the SPA and hotel fields. The SHMS programs offer something unique though: study modules focused on hotel design or spa design, ideal for those looking for a career in consulting.

◊ if you want to stay in the country or you are already working as a spa manager and want to improve your knowledge in this field, you can apply for an online spa management course. Our proposal: Raison D'etre, a reality-based course, developed by one of the most well-known spa consultancy firms in Europe. The advantages of such a program are the flexibility (you can learn anywhere, anytime) and the low cost of the program. The modules are very interesting, addressing and developing most of the skills a spa manager needs, from specific marketing and PR knowledge, to finance, conflict management, human resources management and even leadership. Also, if you want to develop your skills in just one of the above areas, this course also offers you the possibility to apply for individual modules.

As far as therapist education is concerned, things are even more clear-cut. In most European countries, and all over the world, there are courses with international certifications, which enable the student to work anywhere in the world, because such courses meet the standards. Our country is unfortunately lagging behind here too, despite the fact that we have talented and passionate therapists. We don't yet have such internationally accredited courses, but there are all kinds of schools and courses that promise at least one course approved by the Ministry of Education or the Ministry of Labor, which is enough if you want to practice this beautiful profession in the country. However, if you want an international career, I advise you to apply for schools or courses accredited by CIDESCO, CIBTAC or ITEC.

Why choose an internationally accredited school? 

You're probably wondering what would be the benefits of such an accreditation, which not only entails a rather high cost, but also comes with a more difficult decision: that of leaving the country, with all that such a departure entails.

Spa industry accreditation means that a school meets internationally agreed educational and performance standards. Accreditation is a sign that the school has been objectively and rigorously evaluated by a committee, meeting high quality standards in serving students and the spa industry. By choosing such a course, you increase your chances of finding a job after graduation anywhere in the world, and I dare say you may even enjoy a higher salary than another colleague who has the same skills as you, but has not taken an accredited course.

Employers know that an accredited school ensures an exceptional quality of courses and that safety and hygiene rules are strictly adhered to, so they will often prefer an employee with an accredited education to one who has only minimal training in their own country. In fact, if you are curious enough to look at job advertisements in various parts of the world, you will see that such certifications are expressly required.

The difference between national and accredited courses is that the latter have a much longer duration (sometimes up to 8 hours per study day), spread over periods of several months or even years (depending on the specializations you choose).

A lot of emphasis is put on the practical part and finally, students are subjected to rigorous theoretical and practical exams in order to receive their diploma.

Furthermore, in such a constantly changing profession, it is important to work on your professional development on an ongoing basis, whether you are a therapist or in a management position.

There will always be new techniques, innovative products and state-of-the-art equipment, so it's important to keep up to date and always improve your knowledge. As Warren Buffet said, "the most profitable investment is in yourself", so if you love this field, invest in your education!

Alexandra Iliuta

The article was published in Spa & Wellness Magazine, May 2016 edition.