A trade or a profession?

[geeg]

Into which category do you think being a nail technician falls? please discuss and list your reasons Why?

 

[Jo's Nails]

Not sure really, I would have thought both? Trade as in technical skills and retail, costumer service. Also profession because anatomy, health and safety, contra indications, structure of nail and skin, diseases and disorders, chemistry, it's more in depth. The more I am researching the more I need to know. It will be interesting to find out other answers.xx

 

[Rinn]

you can learn a trade but i think in order for you to be any good at it you need to want to do it - that makes it a profession.

 

[Fake it...]

I agree Jo, my parents always told me to learn a trade, I learnt nails and then went on to do session hair and make up and fashion styling. During this recession there have been times when my trade has been invaluable and the clients that have kept coming back over the years well, I could kiss the ground they walk on.
I suppose it depends on the nail tech maybe? If you know how to apply a set of enhancements for example, have a returning clientele but have never had the correct training then is it a trade? If you've checked all of the above but also know your stuff when it comes to anatomy and nail health etc then I'd say you were a professional.
I'm also a bit rubbish at explaining myself but hope this makes sense!
x

 

[Fake it...]

Ps, I fall into the latter. I pride myself on understanding the science behind what I do, by using the correct terminology and being able to advise correctly. I'm also quite alright at enhancements lol!
I feel that to be able to answer, inform and educate people when it comes to nails is one of the things that sets me apart from some of the salons in my area. If someone that I paid to carry out a service answered my question regarding that service with "I don't know" I would feel that was very unprofessional.

 

[RebeccaQ]

Hi, I am starting my CND complete May 29th and feel that I am learning a trade/skill that will then become my profession - I am a very late starter but I guess at 42 I still have a lot of years left in me. Does anyone know of other people who have started late on, I am so nervous but a happy nervous...if that makes sense!!

 

[Fake it...]

RebeccaQ, you are never too "old".
I had a similar conversation in another thread. When I've recruited new staff I've always found that the youngsters (not all of them) have had less staying power than a more mature tech/therapist etc.
Also, the clients that make up the majority of my client base are more mature, they are more secure financially and this enables them to treat nails as a necessity and not a luxury, something that some of my younger clients sadly can't do yet.
My clients, whatever their ages love to chat about all kinds of things and from past experience I've always found a more mature tech/therapist can chat back with ease, I suppose this comes from life experience.
I wish you luck on your new path and well done for choosing CND. you can't go wrong with them. x

Ps, Geeg, is there an answer to your question or are you just curious as to what we think? x

 

[RebeccaQ]

Thank you for that, do worry sometimes...how old is too old!! haha.

Would also like to know the answer. Also what about vocation, is a vocation something you have early on and are destined to do or can a profession become a vocation?!!

 

[Rhiannon1408]

I don't know why but when I think of a trade, to me it means something that involves manual labour. For example a plumber, a bricklayer, a carpenter etc. These are of course skilled jobs.

When I think of a profession, I think of doing something that involves a specialised education, something which you can have a life long career in and progress as the years go on.

So I guess I would say being a nail tech is a profession. Although having said that a plumber has to have a specialised education...
Rhiannon x

 

[RebeccaQ]

Trade can also mean buy and sell or operate a business so whether nail tech or builder, both will be doing those. personally I think it's both and difficult to define between them.
I think most people can learn a trade, but then if you stick with it, it becomes your profession!! xx

 

[geeg]

ALL GOOD POINTS.

HOW ABOUT THIS FOR A DEFINITION?

Here is a definition I like: For the difference between a trade and a profession.

A trade is an occupation requiring manual or mechanical skill.

A profession is vocational, a calling requiring specialized knowledge and often long and intensive academic preparation.

I think the bold type distinguishes between the two and is where the difference lies.

Every job whether it is in a trade or in a profession requires academic preparation and skill, the difference is in how much IMO. This is why I refer to some as non-professionals in our business because they have not had the required fundamental knowledge or academic preparation NOR ON-GOING education to even be involved in the business of working on people.

 

[Calminginfluenc]

The way I look at it, I am learning a trade but will not be a professional till I have either done as many courses as I can or have the years of experience that people like Geeg have behind them.
Qualifications don't make a professional, years of experience and a good amount of clients that are willing to come back to you, make you a professional, I won't class myself as a professional for a good few years yet! 😊 x

 

[Adamantine]

I am going to throw in another term there. To me becoming a nail tech will be my career. It is something I will train in, continue to train in and improve in and I will do this till retirement and beyond if I can. I want to start mobile then maybe to into a salon then start my own salon once I have a good solid client base therefor starting at the bottom of the career ladder and working up.

 

[RebeccaQ]

That makes sense.
I am completely new to the world of the nail tech, but I do know I want to do it well, hence the CND complete and I already know which courses I would like to do next.
Are there minimum requirements for being a nail tech? Surely as there is work with chemicals you have to regularly attend courses/seminars to continue working with these products?
Can I have a vocation at my age!! xx

 

[Rhiannon1408]

ALL GOOD POINTS.

HOW ABOUT THIS FOR A DEFINITION?

Here is a definition I like: For the difference between a trade and a profession.

A trade is an occupation requiring manual or mechanical skill.

A profession is vocational, a calling requiring specialized knowledge and often long and intensive academic preparation.

I think the bold type distinguishes between the two and is where the difference lies.

Every job whether it is in a trade or in a profession requires academic preparation and skill, the difference is in how much IMO. This is why I refer to some as non-professionals in our business because they have not had the required fundamental knowledge or academic preparation NOR ON-GOING education to even be involved in the business of working on people.

Yes that's a great definition. There is so much to learn within our industry and on going education is the only way to keep up with new technology.

Thanks for creating a thread that stimulates our brains Gigi
Rhiannon x

 

[Deena]

It may be 'Old school' but, to me, I tend to think of professions in terms of doctors, dentists, solicitors, accountants etc. They need degrees plus years and years of intensive study/exams and highly regulated professional qualifications before being let loose on the public.

None of this can be claimed by a nail technician so, to me, it's a trade - and a highly skilled one if it's done properly.

 

[Fake it...]

Love a good thread. I'm on mat leave at the min and if it wasn't for threads like this I'd be bored beyond belief. My husband can't understand why, when I'm meant to be on "holiday" am I still trawling through anything nail related? I shall inform him later on that just because I'm taking a break from my trade doesn't mean I have to stop learning about my profession! Lol x

 

[An*Gel]

I don't know why but when I think of a trade, to me it means something that involves manual labour. For example a plumber, a bricklayer, a carpenter etc. These are of course skilled jobs.

When I think of a profession, I think of doing something that involves a specialised education, something which you can have a life long career in and progress as the years go on.

So I guess I would say being a nail tech is a profession. Although having said that a plumber has to have a specialised education...
Rhiannon x

Rhiannon1408 I agree... I've never thought of myself as having a trade... my Husband is a Plasterer and he has a trade.

If the definition of a profession is " vocational, a calling requiring specialized knowledge and often long and intensive academic preparation", then I would class myself as having a profession.

 

[Feline]

I guess we could be a bit of both, however I feel that if you have been trained to a high standard and know your onions on the subject of nails - and back again 100 times+ then you can consider that you are a professional in your field of work. You continue to learn more as you go along and build on your skills, keep up with the times etc.

If you have not been trained yet, or are in the middle of it, you are on your way to becoming a professional?

Trade, when I think of this I dont really think about the fact that some one pays me to do what I do, to me trade is more about - you give me a bunch of banannas, in return for this packet of Quavers, and then we are done It is more a retail thing in my mind, some thing that I would not class as a profession if I did it.

 

[Fake it...]

It may be 'Old school' but, to me, I tend to think of professions in terms of doctors, dentists, solicitors, accountants etc. They need degrees plus years and years of intensive study/exams and highly regulated professional qualifications before being let loose on the public.

None of this can be claimed by a nail technician so, to me, it's a trade - and a highly skilled one if it's done properly.

I kind of understand the above but, what about when you get someone like Geeg? A person who keeps learning, keeps taking courses. Does this make her a tradesperson or a professional? Lol... Looking forward to these answers xx