How can we gain experience if no one is willing to give us a chance?

[kay.ledger@hotmail.co.uk]

For me and many other newly qualified Beauty Therapists. We are finding it very hard to become employed. I have top grades in all areas of beauty, yet just because i don't have the experience no one will even give me a thought.

This is so frustrating. I won't give up on this career as it's what i want to do. I am currently undertaking a course in Nail Technology to make me stand out even more, but i'm wondering if this will even make a differance.

I just ask all employers that we were all once in this situation - newly qualified. We need to be give the chance to prove our selves, to be given the oppertunity to become a successful therapist within the industry.

How can we gain the experience if no one is willing to give us a chance?

Thank you,

Kay

[heynes123@hotmail.co.uk]

hi kay,
i just want to say im in the same boat as you and i totally agree with you on what you say about getting employed i think its unfair and employers should realise that everyone needs to be given a chance.
anyway goodbye
leanne

[Gem_bo36]

hi guys

I qualified about 3 years ago now,and i had the same trouble as you did,and to this day i have only ever worked in TWO SALONS! I found that the environment wasnt what everyone told me it was! ok so i was doing the job i loved but it wasnt for me. And i got fed up of being rejected becasue i didnt have enough experience.I slowly started to build up my own clientel and here i am now working mobile!

DONT GIVE UP! x

[Becky XxX]

Hi Kay,

I've had the same problem. It is annoying when you are so eager to start your career and are newly qualified. I suspect that the salons/employees you have written to have not got any vacancies available at the moment. Have you applied to many salons around your area, and actually gone in person? U will find that if the salon manager can see you (ie your appearance, the way you present yourself etc) then they can see how eager you are, and the more chance they will want to employ you, rather than just looking at a sheet of paper and visualising who you are.

Another option, is have you considered going mobile and starting up by yourself? This is a good option, as some people cannot get out and about easily, or would prefer to have treatments in their own home. it is also more convenient for people in some situations.

Good luck!

[claire77]

Hi Kay,
I 've just joined this site, was just looking at the vacancies out of interest , and i'm worried about the same thing myself once i am qualified, I finish my level 2 in july and want to do NVQ level 3 Beauty but there are not many salons that appoear to take on nwely qualfied staff, so how are you meant to get a job. I know one women said said about going mobile but i don't drive so thats not a option for me at the moment, i would suggest going in salons yourself tho, as this will make a more lasting impression on the employer rather than just sending in your C.V.

[hannief]

i no how u all feel, i qualified in 2005 and i had a job but that was for only 3months then the woman went bankcrupt so wen i applyed for jobs they still sed i didnt hav enuff experience! i just feel so let down because ive had to just take a job in tesco! how **** is that!

[pinkywinkyx@hotmail.co.uk]

hi girls!! i no how u all feel! im 22 and have been doin beauty since i was 17. it was difficult at first but u just have to keep trying and as someone has said, it might be worth turning up to places so that they can see what u look like. and obviously personality plays a huge part. i live in the west mids and my first job was at Eden day spa at hoar cross hall which isnt a bad place to work and they take on a lot of newly qualified girls and u can also live in for only 40 a wk. the grounds are beautiful and the girls r gr8. otha than that how about doing a few seasons? its short term (which i love!) and is gr8 experiance and employers seem to love it. ive just fin a ski season and it was fab!! hope this helps u and gives u some hope! just dnt give up, its worth it in the end.

[moonwhisper_3@hotmail.co.uk]

I know the feeling, Last year i did 2 level 3 courses one in Massage the other in Reflexology, this year i did Beauty Level 3. I have just finished this course 3 months early, i passed 6 out of 9 units with a distinction. Can i get a job??? Can i heck! I have now been told after 2 years study that i need to be able to do waxing and manicure and pedicure. So the future is bleak for me until i go and do those and when i have done that i really dont fancy my chances of getting a job!

[paula66]

Hi

Im new here and just looked at your thread.

I know how hard it is to get employment after you qualify.

My experience.#

Went to collage and did Aromatherapy, then went onto do Reflexology and Reiki 1. then decided to do Beauty Therapy. I was working as a mobile therapist b4 doing beauty as i still had one child that was,nt yet a school, so when she started school September last yr I decided id like to try and work in a salon.

Went for an interview showed them my CV got good feedback from them both, said your what we are looking for but as you have been mobile for 4 yrs we think if we took you on there would be a possibility that I could take away clients within 6 months.

That is why i did,nt get the job, she also mentioned about work experience i then replied well noone will as ive been mobile for 4 yrs. catch 22

BUT now I rent above a hairdressers and im lovin it, my last laugh is, if the salon i went for an interview with finds out heheheeheh she will go belistic LOL

Try going mobile then or work from home?

[mel4muz<3*]

Hi,

i read your blog and i am interested to know whether you have finally found work as i am in the exact same situation as that. I am Lvl 2 qualified and im currently stuyding Lvl3 and still have not yet gained experience in a salon. any advice you can give me will be greatly appreciated.

Melissa, coventry

[lisa.jo@hotmail.co.uk]

I am having problems getting a job in the beauty industry. I have worked in salons before, but its been only when they have needed me and nothing that can be classed as permanant. I decided to a foundation degree in beauty believing it would give me more options, and that salons would love to employ people with higher education qualifications. I ahve applied to several places, and nearly all of them said that I was OVER qualified. The places where I am not over qualified are too far away for me to travel. Just thought I share my experience

Lisa

[Spa_Gem]

I am having problems getting a job in the beauty industry. I have worked in salons before, but its been only when they have needed me and nothing that can be classed as permanant. I decided to a foundation degree in beauty believing it would give me more options, and that salons would love to employ people with higher education qualifications. I ahve applied to several places, and nearly all of them said that I was OVER qualified. The places where I am not over qualified are too far away for me to travel. Just thought I share my experience

Lisa

Sorry to hear that, It sounds like the people were probably a bit intimidated by your knowledge!

I think for a really niche role you have to be willing to travel, but I agree it is unfair to not let you have a chance to start off at a lower level to gain experience. Salons don't like people doing this because they are afraid they will train you up and then you will leave, which invariably happens because thats the nature of the industry.

All you can do is make sure you try larger salons and get through to the actual owner rather than the jealous salon supervisor who may feel threatened by you (this happened to me!).

Just keep on trying and don't lose heart, most of the UK Spas would jump at the chance to recruit you as a trainee spa manager your similiar.

Hope this helps!

[tiggeruk25@hotmail.com]

Hey, im in the same boat to and when you go for a job and they ask about experience and then say sorry looking for someone with experience how do they think that we are going to get experience if they are all the same and no one will take us on.