Define "qualified"

[RAQUEL]

how would you define fully trained/qualified in the nail and beauty business? what would be the minimum requirement you would think be needed before setting up a business??
IN BEAUTY i wouldsay at least NVQ level 2, nails either that or a good few decent manufacturers courses under your belt.

i ask this because someone has set up a place next to me. They describe themselves as " a fully trained nail technician and beauty therapist.Shes 16. I know for a fact she has done no manufacturers courses, maybe shes done a one day wax course.i dunno. Would they even qualify for insurance?

Dont get me wrong, im hardly threatened by the competition lol, but it boils my blood ( as well as other bodily fluids) that someone comes along and makes a mockery of my industry, as well as the money and effort i put into training fro the likes of CND, ez flow, 4 years at college and 2 years at uni to get where i am- TO HAVE THE NERVE TO CHARGE THE SAME AS ME OR MORE!!!!

i have been chewed up for days, so.. how would you define it??? will there ever be a government regulation??? thoughts appreciated..

 

[Sharkster]

I would define 'qualified' as posessing a nationally/internationally recognised certificate of qualification e.g. CIDESCO, ITEC, NVQ, C&G etc.

I would define 'trained' as any other private academy or product house training.

How clients percieve this is a different matter and it's up to them to draw their own conclusion.

I understand your frustration but your obviously a much better therapist and twisting yourself up in knots about this is not going to resolve the matter. Be happy in the fact that you are much more experienced and will be providing a much higer quality of treatment to your clients.

Life is far to short to be stressed by this kind of thing but I do agree that regulation should be brought in (but that's a whole other thread!)

xx

 

[shedunlop]

I think the truth is that there is no National definition of qualified really. As long as you have completed a course that will allow you to insure yourself then that is that. Clients, however, will decide for themselves who they feel can or cannot complete a treatment to their satisfaction.

We have a long way to go, as an industry, to achieving a 'standard' and I worry that if one is achieved it will fall far short of what the majority of us would expect as it would probably be taken from the manufacturers and given over to further education colleges who, themselves, are businesses and very rarely fail anyone at all! I know when I went to college years ago we had 2 girls who passed even though they applied eyeshadow with their fingers during their make-up assessment!

There are always going to be people, young and more interesting, who set up claiming this that and the other but we need to just let them be, they generally fizzle out if they are not any good. It is better that she is charging the same or more than you rather than undercutting.

Count to ten and find a happy place, as my son says!

 

[Lucy36]

You have some great experience and wonderful qualifications. I would make clients aware of this in any of your marketing to create some great PR for yourself. Show your clients the difference! The other ladies on this site are right too, she will just fizzle out if she is not good at her job. Good luck x

 

[geeg]

Fully trained .... is anyone ever really fully trained? I know I'm not.

Qualified 'got the certificate' ... to me means 'able' to perform a service safely but not necessarily competently or with much experience.

Professional ... THAT is the word that means the most to me ... meaning that one is able to perform services without supervision and with full knowledge of the service they are performing and the safety measures and high standards required to perform it.

I would not 'sweat' the girl next door Raquel ... guaranteed she won't last 2 minutes or be a threat to your business.

 

[persianista]

I have interviewed girls of 16/17 who claim to be "qualified therapists" usually a 20 week course. There is no way on Gods earth I would employ them after such a skimpy training. I know it feels as tho it negates the thorough training that we put ourselves through when someone else can "qualify" so quickly and easily, but rest assured I have trade tested these "qualified" therapists. This girl will never be competition to you, even if she charged half what you do. Everyone entering ur trades need time to practice, at 16 she hasn't had that time yet.

 

[Kaynine]

I would say at least 30- 50 sets of nails after taking a corse by who's products you want to use. And maybe a one to one to back it up if your still a little dodgy on your feet.
I, myself still being unqualified until January Would never allow myself to ever tough someone's nails if I had even a shadow of a doubt In myself and my training and my products.
16? I didn't know you could qualify at that age or get insurance.
Just wait a while, her sevises will not last and no one in their right mind will return to her if she's not what she says she is, you will be there.

 

[RAQUEL]

LOL thanks for all your encouraging replies.. i think my main frustration is some folk have got suchhhhh balls!!! Only cos i care so passionately about our industry i hate to see anyone make a mockery of it!!!

 

[mikem]

I'm with Geeg on this one. Qualifications mean very little, it is about your competence, skills and the quality of what you do.

I'm an IT professional with 22 years experience and plenty of evidence that I am good at what I do. I have a few certificates but very few qualifications. I have a degree in Physics but wouldn't be a very competent physicist.

I do get worried about the desire for qualifications, especially when they become more important than capability (I have seen a few people who have succeeded in getting their Microsoft qualification, but I wouldn't let them near a server as they are not capable).

I have always seen qualifications, certifications etc being a by product of having the skills to do something well rather than an end game. Professional is a good place to be. Certificates are great for getting insurance.

Mike

 

[Unique Nails09]

Whoo this is a scary one. I went to college 7 years ago at the age of 20 and undertook a NVQ2 Beauty Therapy and a VCTC Nail art course - both of which i passed after much hard work. Soon after I decided to specialise in nails and began 'work experience' in a nail salon. After months of watching the other technicians I was allowed to begin training using NSI Products. My manager trained me intensively and I had to do about 150 sets of nails until she was satisfied enough to make me a Senior Technician - it was hard work - she was a stickler for perfection. I also went to NSI and did a one day Conversion course and went to college to undertake another health and safety course - So am I qualified/trained etc? I think its all down to how professional/driven and good you are at your art!!!

 

[catsaremad]

This is a good thread.

In my day time job I am defined as a qaulified by experience accountant and a professional book keeper, I hold AAT and have been working in the industry for over 20 years, so not a lot of qualifications but oodles of experience. So in this capacity I am a professional.

As a nail technician I hold NVQ2 beauty therapy and Ezflow Gel nails and L&P. So I am a qualified beauty therapist and nail technician but I am certainly not a professional ! I need a hell of a lot more experience before I would feel comfortable describing myself as such, but I will get there one day !

 

[RAQUEL]

maybe i shouldve called the thread " define fully trained" as opposed to qualified.. lol.. its just bugging me cos this girlis neither TRAINED or qualified.. she self trained and 16.. so i cant even say shes experienced.. like i say... mockery of my profession..

 

[Sharkster]

maybe i shouldve called the thread " define fully trained" as opposed to qualified.. lol.. its just bugging me cos this girlis neither TRAINED or qualified.. she self trained and 16.. so i cant even say shes experienced.. like i say... mockery of my profession..

I could not agree more but as Geeg says, there is a difference to being Professional, which you are.

Don't let it get you down (although a good rant now & again is great to get things off your chest)! x

 

[hippy-chick]

This young girl may well attract a younger crowd of clients that won't care a jot about what qualifications if any, but will be attracted by her age and admire her.

They may not be able to see what is quality or not, define experience or inexperience, professionalism or downright sloppy, but for your more experienced clients they will soon work out what is right and wrong and word will soon spread.

 

[lilly]

maybe i shouldve called the thread " define fully trained" as opposed to qualified.. lol.. its just bugging me cos this girlis neither TRAINED or qualified.. she self trained and 16.. so i cant even say shes experienced.. like i say... mockery of my profession..

She cant get hold of insurance if she's not trained, she wouldnt be that stupid to work without would she ??? she must have some sort of qualification, maybe that you dont know about, mabe a home course or something ???

 

[catsaremad]

maybe i shouldve called the thread " define fully trained" as opposed to qualified.. lol.. its just bugging me cos this girlis neither TRAINED or qualified.. she self trained and 16.. so i cant even say shes experienced.. like i say... mockery of my profession..

I know that this is bugging you but as Hippy Chick said don't let it get you down and just carry on being the Professional that you are:hug: