Volunteering ... why's it so hard?

[LadyNyx]

I'm currently doing my level 3 [got 12 weeks left] and am thinking of volunteering somewhere one day a week for these last few weeks to get in some crucial experience. I've volunteered before and worked in a salon as a junior for a little while, but mostly done shop work because lots of salons want level 3 qualified hairdressers.

I left my shop job recently as between working 27 hours there, doing 18 hours in college, working 8 hours in a bar and commuting an hour a day to college/work on the bus, I was pretty shattered, and wanted to concentrate on college more.

Now that i've had a little time to myself though, i'm starting to get restless to get back into working a bit more.

I realise that since i'm in college on days that are a pain in the ass for salons it is unrealistic to expect to get a paying job that fits around my schedual [i'm still looking though] ... so have been looking to volunteer somewhere.

I'm having real trouble finding somewhere willing to take a volunteer though. I'm not really bothered if i'm just making tea and brushing up, because you can learn loads from even just watching other stylists ... but everywhere i've asked has said they don't need anyone, or it's not covered by their insurance etc.

I always make sure I look presentable when i'm going to ask about volunteering, and still give them a copy of my CV [with a letter explaining that I only want to volunteer] so that they know that I work hard and am trustworthy but still no joy.

Just wondering if anyone can shed some light on this for me. Is there something I could be doing to make myself more attractive to a salon owner? Are any of you [in warrington/wigan/widnes or blackpool] open to considering a volunteer?

 

[persianista]

I have offered to help volunteers in the past and they have turned up for a few days then stopped. Generally speaking if you can only do the quiet days a lot of salon owners feel it wouldn't be worth your while.

Try and offer help on a Fri and Sat if you can, that is far more attractive.

 

[LadyNyx]

I do offer to do fridays and saturdays, that what puzzles me. I can only do from 12.30 on a friday due to college, but I still say i'm available from then onwards on a friday and all day saturday.

I've volunteered in salons before, and both my mum and stepmum work for charity shops where i've volunteered for each of them respectively for a year each at various points, and I have that written on my cover letter :/



Thankyou for the input though, I really value it!

 

[lauren89]

I do offer to do fridays and saturdays, that what puzzles me. I can only do from 12.30 on a friday due to college, but I still say i'm available from then onwards on a friday and all day saturday.

I've volunteered in salons before, and both my mum and stepmum work for charity shops where i've volunteered for each of them respectively for a year each at various points, and I have that written on my cover letter :/



Thankyou for the input though, I really value it!

I know exactly how you feel. I've been trying since December until today, and no one was willing to take me on.
I just kept going round salons every couple of weeks until someone said yes.
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