Considering a career change

[kdmb212]

Hello all,

I am new to the site, and was not sure if this thread should be here or in the Consumer section (I am leaning towards consumer at this point now lol).

Just a little history, I am 34 with a Bachelor's degree in Marketing and have worked in the insurance industry for the last five years. However, my true passion is beauty therapy (although funny enough I didn't really even start wearing makeup until a few years ago). I know this is what I really want to do, I know how wonderful I feel having services done, and I would love to provide that to others.

I have a few basic questions:

1. Is it more beneficial to gain my NVQ through my local college or to attend more specific courses (ie CND, etc) I want to do more than just nails, but all aspects from makeup to spray tanning and waxing, hd brows etc
2.Silly question--am I just too long in the tooth to think of such a drastic career change?
3. My ultimate goal is to manage and/or own a salon...is this just too much of a daydream?

I guess what I am really looking for is just a ballpark figure of the time it will take for education and gaining clientele. I know it will take a great deal of effort on my part, but I love a challenge. Thanks in advance for any advice. I love this site..what a great wealth of information

 

[Velveteen]

1. Is it more beneficial to gain my NVQ through my local college or to attend more specific courses (ie CND, etc) I want to do more than just nails, but all aspects from makeup to spray tanning and waxing, hd brows etc

Well, if you want to do more than nails then a specific course kinda defeats the purpose. Research your beauty course and find a college/institution/tutor that suits you.

2.Silly question--am I just too long in the tooth to think of such a drastic career change?

We're talking beauty therapy here, not runway modelling :wink2: I know a lot of women who are in their 50s and 60s who change careers and opt for beauty therapy. You're only too old if you think you are.

3. My ultimate goal is to manage and/or own a salon...is this just too much of a daydream?

Well, again, that depends on you and what you want. If you want to own or manage a salon, then go for it. And best of luck to you!

 

[kdmb212]

Well, if you want to do more than nails then a specific course kinda defeats the purpose. Research your beauty course and find a college/institution/tutor that suits you.



We're talking beauty therapy here, not runway modelling :wink2: I know a lot of women who are in their 50s and 60s who change careers and opt for beauty therapy. You're only too old if you think you are.


Well, again, that depends on you and what you want. If you want to own or manage a salon, then go for it. And best of luck to you!

Thanks for the kind words of encouragement...I really think I would feel much more comfortable taking my NVQ course, I know it would increase my confidence quite a bit more. Age is but a number...that is definitely true, I need to just stop worrying about how old I am and do what I enjoy and what makes me happy. Fab...thanks!

 

[olabecee]

Girl I think you should go for your dream. I'm 33 and like you I have a Bachelor's degree in Media Studies & Society and worked for a couple of years and didn't really feel happy in myself-----always felt something was missing and that I was in the wrong profession. I did all this for the sake of my parents---funny enough they don't even know I'm now a qualified beauty therapist, nail technician and makeup artist----lol.
After having my first child in 2005 I said to myself if I didn't do it now, I might never have the chance to follow my passion so I did with the support of my husband. Here I am today---very happy that I took the bold step. I'm still learning but I guess life is a continuous process of learning. You're not too old to learn any skill especially when you have the drive and passion for it. By the way, I'm adding another string to my bow by training in semi permanent lash extension in 2weeks time and I have so many trainings and skills on my list of things to do. I believe if you have the drive and the passion, sky is just your starting point. I wish you all the very best in your endeavours.

 

[wendy malley]

hello from one of the ladies in her 50's :wink2: who's havin a ball just started doing nails again n lovin it! if its what you really want i'd do it if you can i wish i'd done it years ago but the mortgage and the children came first now its my time x

 

[kdmb212]

YAY Why must we be our own worst critics?? Now I'm just bummed I have to wait until September! LOL...you ladies have me all fired up again THANK YOU!! :Love:

 

[kdmb212]

Girl I think you should go for your dream. I'm 33 and like you I have a Bachelor's degree in Media Studies & Society and worked for a couple of years and didn't really feel happy in myself-----always felt something was missing and that I was in the wrong profession. I did all this for the sake of my parents---funny enough they don't even know I'm now a qualified beauty therapist, nail technician and makeup artist----lol.
After having my first child in 2005 I said to myself if I didn't do it now, I might never have the chance to follow my passion so I did with the support of my husband. Here I am today---very happy that I took the bold step. I'm still learning but I guess life is a continuous process of learning. You're not too old to learn any skill especially when you have the drive and passion for it. By the way, I'm adding another string to my bow by training in semi permanent lash extension in 2weeks time and I have so many trainings and skills on my list of things to do. I believe if you have the drive and the passion, sky is just your starting point. I wish you all the very best in your endeavours.

That's interesting because sometimes I feel like I did it just for my parents as well. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed the boost in self esteem I got when I graduated, but I don't enjoy it. I have the drive to be a high powered executive, but why not a high powered beauty industry executive? Perhaps that's why I floated through university (10 years UGH). It's about me now. Off the soapbox and off to dream about manis and pedis, although might not be able to sleep because I get super excited when my eyebrow threading booking comes around lol. WOO HOO

 

[Liane]

I was inspired by your post, we can all achieve our dreams if we try hard enough and I am absolutely positive you will!!

The only thing I will say (and I don't want to put you off in any way at all!) is research your course as much as possible. I paid for and completed an NVQ course in Nail Technology in College and because of the content and the price of the course, I assumed I was getting a positive, constructive course - I was wrong. I had a completely incompetent teacher who basically taught me all wrong. It's only after leaving and reading posts on websites like this and watching hours and hours of tutorials that I am starting to perfect my techniques.

At the end of the day, the world is your oyster, just make sure you catch it right!!!

 

[geeg]

As far as the nail side goes ... go for company training and CND tops the list both for quality of products and education. info from 08452106060

As far as your age is concerned I think that generally women are more comfortable in the hands of someone who is not too young and 34 for goodness sakes is a perfect time to start. Age gives one credibility through experience .. much more common sense too which provides an important balance to your education.

If I were you I'd go to the best private beauty school you can find that has the best reputation. It may cost more but it will be worth every single penny you can give it.

 

[Velveteen]

*roars laughing*

Crikey, Geeg, at least wait until the ink is dried on the poor girl's enrolment form before you hit her up! Haha!

Aside from the fact, K, that she's absolutely right. CND is a brilliant product. I don't know much about the NVQ as we have a different system in Australia but if you have the funds and the fire, why not do a CND course while you wait for September to arrive? From what I've seen, those run in the UK are very comprehensive.

What else can I say - welcome to the industry! :wink2:

 

[kdmb212]

*roars laughing*

Crikey, Geeg, at least wait until the ink is dried on the poor girl's enrolment form before you hit her up! Haha!

Aside from the fact, K, that she's absolutely right. CND is a brilliant product. I don't know much about the NVQ as we have a different system in Australia but if you have the funds and the fire, why not do a CND course while you wait for September to arrive? From what I've seen, those run in the UK are very comprehensive.

What else can I say - welcome to the industry! :wink2:

LOL that's hilarious...I really think I'm going to go ahead and take the CND course, funny she mentioned that as I was looking at it last night. I've heard nothing but praise about it. The system here is different from Australia, but worlds apart from the system in America (where I'm originally from). It takes quite a bit less to become insured here, but there are far more choices in training in the UK. I'm so excited, I've been grinning like a fool all day today LOL.

 

[geeg]

Might as well get it Right From the Start!! No sense beating around the bush is there? :hug:

 

[Snipps]

Hi,

I think you should just do what your heart tells you I'm 35, had a job but not what you would call a career :o and got made redundant just before christmas and thought "what the hell, i love having my nails done so why not learn to do other peoples". I trained with CND, who are absolutely brilliant and am loving my job now!!!!

 

[kdmb212]

I put my call in to CND, will probably have to wait until Tues because of the holiday. Geeg, you have a point about a lot of women being more comfortable with someone a bit older. I have sown my oats and have a passion for something, not just an "oo that would be sooo cool" kind of thing.

 

[kdmb212]

I did it, my CND Foundation5 starts May 17th!! I just wish I could have started earlier lol. Geeg, and everyone thanks for the great advice. Just far too excited for words now.

 

[geeg]

I did it, my CND Foundation5 starts May 17th!! I just wish I could have started earlier lol. Geeg, and everyone thanks for the great advice. Just far too excited for words now.

Will you be training with Julia Moran in Manchester??? Lucky you!! x I'm excited for you :hug:

 

[kdmb212]

Will you be training with Julia Moran in Manchester??? Lucky you!! x I'm excited for you :hug:

I will indeed...the ladies at S2 are amazing, so nice and helpful!

 

[Velveteen]

Hey! Well done! I wish you all the best!

 

[kdmb212]

Hey! Well done! I wish you all the best!

Many thanks

 

[Bezza]

What a brave decision to have made - well done!! I think a lot of people do things to please their parents and don;t really admit it to themselves - i'm certainly one of them!! I'm not as brave as you yet and am only going to be doing the nail stuff part time, alongside another job - my parents would go nuts (and I'm 28!!) . Good on you for taking the plunge - we should all be a little more selfish and live our lives for us sometimes!!! Good luck and I think that the CND route is a good one to take from all the support you get on here!!