Pros
The best reason to work for Mary Kay is the simple! There are too many reasons why it's awesome, but as a Director, I loved that when I was reading the 1-5 "how happy are you..." questions that they made me laugh! Take a day off when I need it...check! Opportunity for advancement...check! Etc. Etc. They need to put a question on there about having the opportunity to earn a brand new car!! That's completely paid for and insurance and sales tax is covered too! Check! I love what I do because I was able to do it as a full time State Employee/Social Worker and now I do it full time! It fits into your schedule whether one night a week or as many days and nights as you want! The best part is the instant cash! Through direct customer sales or through commission we are paid VERY well for what we do! When you think you can work a party on Friday and another one on Sunday (totaling 5 hours of work) and make $1100...that's pretty exciting if you ask me! And I've done that on several occasions! Think of this...you're 23, fresh out of college and you're already working that "dream job" that you've always wanted! Just on the weekends, you're working your business and you bring home $2100 from the State each month, then your MK commission check comes and it's $4500 and you have your sales to add on top of that totaling about $1500 for the month (it was a slow month). That is over $8,000 that you've just brought home this month...and MK was 75% of it! I love having my college degree but I love the quick and great money you can make! Also, the room for advancement is amazing! Just by finding other women that want to do what we do, you can earn a free car, earn commission and advance in the company! It's your pace, fast or slow! You don't even have to build a team if you don't want to! You won't be penalized for choosing not to recruit, make a sale this week, or hit a deadline! The boss won't be breathing down your neck and when you do succeed you have the most amazing support system you could ask for! The best thing is that we are in business for ourselves, but not by ourselves! Some of the other perks about my job are the tax benefits! We can claim our rent (home based business), utilities, cell and home phone, internet, miles traveled, maintenance, gas, office supplies, EVERYTHING! The fun part about it...since we are in the beauty business, we can even claim our wardrobe, hair, nails, gym membership, tanning...it makes me giggle to think we are so lucky! Also, there are no territories in this business, meaning that we can sell and recruit to whomever, wherever! The company teaches us the Golden Rule way of thought in our sales, customer service, and when we interact with our consultants. Our priorities are faith, family, then career! They actually ask us to put our families first! No calling the boss asking for a day off because the little one is sick! Oh no...family emergency! We don't have to worry about taking off with or without pay because we are our own bosses! And when we feel like "calling in sick" and actually having a fun day...don't worry! The boss won't care! ;) In closing, I love what I do because I have the opportunity to raise a family and show them what a good work ethic and making and reaching a goal look like! It makes me feel like a better friend, wife, and overall person because of the personal growth that I've seen in myself. If a friend or family member is going through a crisis, I can be there for them at the drop of a hat because I've chosen to be the master of my own destiny! And I'm choosing now freedom, flexibility and stability in this rocky economy! I'm choosing a life that I'm proud to have and proud to tell everyone I meet about! I'm choosing MK!
Cons
The only downsides to doing this are the jitters you may feel in the beginning! Trust me, you will get over them quickly! You can learn very quickly and easily how to sell, book, and treat it like a business! There aren't many downsides, but the only ones that I've had to face are the skeptical thoughts of my family and friends when I decided to become a consultant then a director. Trust me, they arent' skeptical now...and many of my family and friends have decided to do what I do as well! Another downside might be that a lot of people have pre-conceived notions about what it is that we do, or about the skincare and color, etc. We have three skin care lines, with over 6 different combinations of specific customized skin care...so even if something didn't work for you, we can find something else that does! Mary Kay is only used by 10% of America's women; however, most everyone has heard of it! It's always fun though, to go a group of women's house and introduce them to the skin care and color and they fall in love with it and are hooked for life! :) I love it! Another downside might be the negative words that former consultants might say to their friends and family. The company knows that the number one thing that holds women back is fear, so because of that, they have a great 90% buy back program. If at any point within your first year you decide that being a consultant isn't for you, for whatever reason, you have the opportunity to be reimbursed for 90% of what you've invested! That's amazing if you ask me! No other personal business would be that way! But, even though we have that program, there are still some disgruntled former consultants. Whether it was their recruiter or their director that they didn't like, they equate it with the company! So, we have that to contend with...but when people hear complaints then they see the facts that I can show them, they can make their own decision!