An inside look at what it’s like to work at Josephine’s
We sat down with our artistic director, Dzung Nguyen, to pick his brain about why he loves working at Josephine’s—and why you would, too. DZ, who attended the Aveda Institute in Baton Rouge, joined our team in 2004. An educator for Aveda, he’s patient and thorough and has won numerous awards for his work. We couldn’t imagine our salon family without him.
It just so happens that we’re looking for the next salon team member that makes us say: “What did we ever do without you?” Below, read our Q&A about what it’s like to work at Josephine’s.
Q: What do you like about working at Josephine’s?
A: I’ve been there 13 years, and it’s very much a family atmosphere. We all know each other, and I love that I have a sense of belonging. That being said, we welcome everyone from the very beginning. Everyone helps each other and no task is too big or too small. Working at Josephine’s also allows me to perfect my work/life balance. We are recognized for our efforts throughout the year and are offered incentives to succeed. And did I mention our awesome Christmas parties?
Q: Let’s talk about some of the less-fun (but oh, so important!) things, like benefits.
A: The benefits can’t be beat. At Josephine’s, full time employees are eligible for medical, dental, vision and life insurance as well as paid vacation. We also have constant continuing education and flexible working hours. Not only that, but Josephine’s won awards in 7 categories for 2017 per Salon Today magazine—and one of them was compensation and benefits.
Q: What is the training like at Josephine’s?
A: The training is intense, but it’s exactly what you need to succeed. It starts with going back to the basics to really perfect those techniques. Once you’ve mastered those, you can then produce a ton of new and creative styles of haircutting. Just like any art form, you have to practice and master the basics first before you can move on. We’ll help you do so.
Source: @dzdoezit on Instagram
Q: Josephine’s doesn’t just train in the salon, though.
A: That’s right. We do education training outside the salon, too. We recently had a class with Susan Ford who taught us androgyny techniques. We also recently went to Bombshell Blondes at the Aveda Institute of Austin. I even got to train with Ian Michael Black. It was just as amazing as you’d imagine.
[Ed. Note: Ian Michael Black is the Aveda Global Artistic Director for Hair Color. We highly recommend following him on Instagram (@ianmichaelblack) for serious color inspiration.]
Q: How important is giving back to the community at Josephine’s?
A: It’s very important, just like in the Aveda mission. We strive to care for the world we live in from the products to the ways in which we give back. We’ve very much adopted it as part of our mission at Josephine’s, too. Aveda is also all about environmental leadership and responsibility. That mission has helped changed my lifestyle. I’ve become more environmentally responsible. I really focus on how I can make a difference personally to protect the planet. And as a salon, we are very much involved in the community. We’ve worked with the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Toys for Tots, Night to Shine and many more.
[Ed. Note: All of our employees are involved from their very first day. Giving back isn’t just something we do as a salon, but something we expect of each of our employees to take part in, too.]
Source: @dzdoezit on Instagram
Q: Here at Josephine’s, we’re an Aveda salon. What do you like about Aveda?
A: Their products are made with nature in mind and our guests appreciate that. Oftentimes, after using Aveda color you can immediately see the results of the hair becoming healthier. (Check out the above photo for an A+ example.) Aveda color is up to 99% naturally derived and I know my guests appreciate that.
[Ed. Note: Josephine’s is a member of the Green Circle Salon directory. We were the first salon in Houston to join! Being a part of this organization means that we recycle and repurpose everything from hair to foils to papers and plastics. We’re consciously making an effort to put the environment at the forefront of our business—just like Aveda does with their products.]
Q: What are some of your favorite Aveda products?
A: Phomollient, Men’s Grooming Clay, Smooth Infusion Style Prep, Brilliant Damage Control and Control Force.
Q: What advice would you give to those graduating, just starting their careers?
A: Find a mentor. It’s the easiest and best way to learn and grow. You learn so much from assisting someone and being of value. That’s what grows you in the end. The beginning will be tough, but powering through the beginning, getting acclimated with the industry and recognizing the fact that you’re not going to be a superstar right away is key. Never stop learning, challenge yourself, have an open mind and heart and you’ll be a superstar in no time.
Thanks for chatting with us, DZ!
Our Mission at Josephine’s Day Spa & Salon is to enhance the natural beauty within our guests, inside and out, by working together and generating a culture of creativity. We’re a team-based environment with a friendly and easy going staff. We believe in helping each other in any way possible. We’re looking for our next superstars. Is that you? Apply today.
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