Righto, so now were being told NVQ is the only way? jesus christ.
ive got my NVQ level 2, and it was THE worst time of my life, i went into it knowing nothing, just loving hair. the course is 2 years yes? not for me! the lady who ran the academy was also my boss in salon, so she decided it would make her look brilliant if i passed in a year. so instead of having time to practise and get things right before moving on to the next section i got told it was perfect first time and had to carry on, i had many of the sections removed from my course and replaced with pointless things such as team building. oh and the added pressure of "if you dont pass in your time given your out of a job". so after 11 months of major agro i finally passed..to then get told 11 months wasnt good enough, and lost my job anyway. you'd of thought my contract would cover me..nope. every loop hole coverd, the lot. so after 11 months of utter crap im left unable to provide a propper quality service, jobless and no confidence to even attempt to get back into it.
oh and i wont even get onto the teachers because half of them couldnt even make a sentance. the reason they are now teachers is because no one would pay them any money to get a haircut anyway.
so i thought i know, ill do some courses get my skills back up, maybe get my confidence back and i stumbled upon COBRA, obviously being a country boy a big city is intimidating and i thought about the whole scam side of it but i just went for it. invested in every course, 4 weeks with Sid has literally changed my life. Granted there was alot i knew from NVQ but there was also a hell of alot i didnt, the way Sid runs his course is intense, but it needs to be. the weeks and courses flew by, there was no time for the insecurities to sneak up in the back of my mind, and after every course my ego and confidence got bigger. since i left ive got all my confidence back, im happy being in this industry, i feel confident in every move i make doing someones hair, where as before id be grabbing the closest person to me asking for help after every snip of the scissors.
the way NVQ courses CAN be run is worthless, im not sayin pointless. But im definatly on COBRA's side here. and ive learnt your only as good as your last cut, and that one could be perfect. but DO BETTER, strive to do your best with every client, its not just "fast track, cheers for your money, do this, cya later" its changed me as a person. rather than the attitude of NVQ that is "yeah i guess thatll do"
Obviously saying you learn everything in the 5 days is rediculas, but it sets you up, gives you the confidence and sends you on your way to be one of the greatest, if it wasnt for this course id be working in a co-op in some crappy uniform dealing with miserable customers, rather than wearing a flash shirt and tie, fancy shoes, looking professional and now doing what i love doing.
and the fact that people are getting slammed about giving there opinions and expieriances on a course thats genuinely brilliant is exactly what i hate about the buisness, let people have there say and grow up.
