I was genuinely excited to apply to Yellowstone Club for a spa leadership role. With a background in luxury hospitality, wellness, and high-end beauty—including runway, editorial, and red-carpet makeup—I approached this opportunity with professionalism, passion, and the hope of joining a team that values guest experience and creativity.
Unfortunately, my interview experience was the most disheartening I’ve ever had.
It began with the HR rep stating flatly, “I ask everyone the same questions, so don’t take it personally.” This immediately set a cold, impersonal tone. For a luxury brand built on creating elite guest experiences, this introduction was jarring and disconnected.
From there, the questions were minimal:
What do you know about the job?
What do you know about Yellowstone Club?
What’s your hourly asking rate?
There were no questions about my experience, no curiosity about my portfolio (which I included in my application), and no effort to build rapport. When I brought up my makeup artistry background and how it could enhance guest services and revenue, I was abruptly told, “We already have a makeup artist. She’s a cosmetologist, actually, and she’s pretty good.”
As someone who has spent years honing a craft at the highest levels of beauty—including assisting for major fashion houses—this comment felt dismissive and uninformed. Most cosmetology programs offer limited makeup training, with their primary focus being on hair. The implication that a license alone holds more value than hands-on artistry experience spoke volumes.
At a certain point in the interview, it became clear that there was no genuine interest in who I was or what I uniquely brought to the table. The interaction felt transactional, not relational—more like checking boxes than building a connection. I chose to end the interview early, realizing we were not aligned in values or vision.
From this experience, it’s evident that employees may be viewed more as interchangeable parts of a system than as individuals with unique strengths and contributions. The overall energy suggested that staff are expected to fit into predefined roles rather than bring creative value or innovation to the team.
To future applicants: If you’re someone who values thoughtful collaboration, creativity, and mutual respect, I would advise approaching with caution. This may not be the nurturing or intentional environment it appears to be from the outside.
