Turning my training into a career.

[lauren89]

Hiya everyone,
I hope i have put this in the right place.

I am currently doing my level 3 hairdressing. I have six months left until I qualify. I am starting to think (and worry) about short term goals and what to do when I qualify which is work in a salon.

On the course that I am on we do not need a placement and with my current situation do not have a free day to volunteer my time to a salon.

So in your opinion would any salon take me on straight out of college?

What steps would you take to gain employment?

Would you have me working on the shop floor as a stylist or still more as a junior for a time?

Oh i should also mention that I have 3 and a half years of salon experience.

Thanx in advance for any advice.

xx

 

[capacape]

Hi Lauren

I have had the same quandary , I am currently coming to the end of my NVQ 2 after two years of evening classes. I have been lucky enough to have a brand new salon at the college which is very popular with the general public and we get a lot of training experience from this.

However I did feel I needed more .. So after sending out countless C.V's I have currently just volunteered at a local salon for a saturday morning and a few hours one evening on their late-night opening. They give me training in return to support my NVQ work. . It helps build my confidence and also the salon owner has said 'its a foot in the door ' for when I do qualify as they need part time/full time stylists next year. It does mean that when I do qualify I would be used to the salon, its staff and products . For me I will then stay for a while until I feel confident enough to move on to pastures new. I know she will pay me the going rate as a junior but my work rate would be slower so commission would be less. But I need to walk before I can run and I hope this will help me do that..

Good luck Lauren you are a lot further down the track than me also with your salon experience . I am sure after a few months back you'll be fine :wink2:

 

[bronzebrunette]

im doing level 3 too and there are girls who are working as stylists with their own columns, some are renting chairs, 1 girl has the lease to her own shop and then there are others who do work junior roles. i think it all comes down to how confident you are in your abilities and if your worrying that after level 3 your still not quiet there then you could always take on additional courses like hair extensions, shiatsu scalp massage, brasilian blowdry, barbering etc that will make you more employable and set you apart from everyone else. ive been working in a salon 1 day a week placement and i do training with them too and theyve asked me to work extra mostly junior work but with some promo blowdries - im hoping it will come to a ft job when i finish but if not im definately going to take on extra courses

 

[lauren89]

Thanx for the replies.

I'm not fully confident at the moment but I've got five months left to work on that before I qualify. I know I definatly won't be confident enough to rent a chair or go mobile, so I definatly want to work in a salon.

I know the best way to do this is to do some voluntary work, but like I say just don't have a spare day.

Do you think it might be worth approaching a salon for a couple of hours?
Or wait until I'm qualified and then do some voluntary?
I'm so confused, lol.