how long is a trade test?

[laurakate]

I went for a trade test a few days ago. I did 3 treatments in 3 hours on paying clients. The potential employer seems pleased and wants me to do a days unpaid work trial soon. The potential employer sounds keen to employ me but I thought she might know by now with me already having done a trade test as such. They seem short staffed so I'm hoping this is part of a trade test rather than me being free cover? I've not really had an interview as such yet but I guess that's ok because I think she wanted to see if I could walk the walk rather than talk the talk.

I really want this job but I'm very new to this so I'm just asking what you lot think. If it's all part of the selection process then great, I'm happy with that because I would like it to lead somewhere, I really truely would because it seems like a nice place to work and does a lot of my favourite treatments but yeah, I'd just like to hear from you guys that this all sounds like a standard way to assess potential employees.

What are your thoughts

 

[FreyaBeauty]

In the past I have done interviews, then a trades test! Like a massage and eyebrow wax etc so they can see your skill in different things! Some lasted an afternoon but were on other therapists!

To me this sounds a bit like she wants you to work for free? I could be totally wrong! But if you have had an interview and trade test she could offer you a weeks trial but I would expect it to be paid? In one job I was on a three month trial to see if I'd build clients etc but I was paid!

On the other hand, if you really want the Job then do as the owner/manager would like and see how it goes!

And good luck xx

 

[jacqueline]

I interview, then at a later date give a second interview/trade test, (not on paying clients) and then would give a trial period with pay.

I certainly would not expect someone to work for nothing, especially on the paying client. The fact you did it on paying clients and then she wants you to work free on more paying clients again is a bit much and she is taking advantage of you imo.

Depends how badly you want the job, you could bite the bullet one more time and see what transpires but from an outsider looking it it sounds a bit iffy and I would always say go with your gut instinct.

 

[perfect10kb]

Hmmmmm ,


You have worked on 3 paying clients so she has had the chance to see your standard of work and yoor interaction with PAYING clients . I would see no reason why she should then expect you do then go and do a days work for her for FREE. paid yes but free no

But as the previous posters have said if you really want the job.? It does seem to me as though she is taking advantage

A trade test such as you have already done is the norm but not the day free. As already said a trial paid period would also be the norm not one day unpaid .

Good luck

 

[cilverangel]

how can anyone test someone's skills on a paying client..this to me sounds like she was already confident with you, why else risk her reputation,or shes short staffed and using you..doesnt seem right for a trade test
but if yu really need the job guess theres nothing to be done, but be carefull with people who like using other people.xx

 

[laurakate]

cheers guys, eyeopening stuff. I often ask questions like this because it's like my instinct is telling me something but then a second opinion is always helpful because I do think that I lean towards the more cautious train of thought when it comes to employment (have worked in some really tough jobs for really tough people before).

she's short staffed and needs someone for a few shifts over the next few days so we've came to the agreement of a paid 1 week work trial. i'm going to roll with this because if everthing gets ironed out then i can see myself enjoying the work and sticking with it. i don't think any contracts are getting signed with regards to a paid week work trial so i guess it's a case of accept it as a spoken agreement and hope for the best as i have nothing to lose except time and energy and it's only a weeks worth which would suck but it wouldn't be the end of the world. i am thinking that i should go in, give it my best shot and no matter what i gain, it will be experience at least.

if it's a weeks work trial, do yas think that means that she wants to keep me on? i'd have thought that would be the goal for her if they're short staffed rather than continue looking to recruit?

I'm a right nervy person me!

what are your thoughts?

 

[FreyaBeauty]

cheers guys, eyeopening stuff. I often ask questions like this because it's like my instinct is telling me something but then a second opinion is always helpful because I do think that I lean towards the more cautious train of thought when it comes to employment (have worked in some really tough jobs for really tough people before).

she's short staffed and needs someone for a few shifts over the next few days so we've came to the agreement of a paid 1 week work trial. i'm going to roll with this because if everthing gets ironed out then i can see myself enjoying the work and sticking with it. i don't think any contracts are getting signed with regards to a paid week work trial so i guess it's a case of accept it as a spoken agreement and hope for the best as i have nothing to lose except time and energy and it's only a weeks worth which would suck but it wouldn't be the end of the world. i am thinking that i should go in, give it my best shot and no matter what i gain, it will be experience at least.

if it's a weeks work trial, do yas think that means that she wants to keep me on? i'd have thought that would be the goal for her if they're short staffed rather than continue looking to recruit?

I'm a right nervy person me!

what are your thoughts?

I am glad you have the whole working for free thing sorted well done to you for sorting this part out!

One would like to have faith she will keep you on (unless something really went wrong this week) then I think her would is a good enough one for now!

This all sounds positive have faith in yourself! Be confident (don't just sit in the staff room) get out there interact, even dust (if there is nothing to do) show her that you can be an all rounder and you are keen!

Good luck let us know how you get on xx

 

[laurakate]

thank you I hope I get paid ok for the week as I'm always a bit cautious not having a contract but I guess what will be will be and the most important thing is probably more about what happens in the long run and a work trial will definately be about that...I suspose also this is about them being able to trust me in that I'm not contracted to turn up anywhere at anytime...wow! this industry is so different to what I used to do in many respects!

 

[FreyaBeauty]

Yes look at the bigger picture, you could get a super job out of it!

When I have had trails I havnt had contacts until they offer a permanent position so just see how this goes and if you really enjoy your first week then talk contacts ; )) good luck xx

 

[andrea27]

Great you came to an agreement. Just to add my experience, my trade tests often lasted a whole day and I was doing treatments on paying clients.
I didn't know that's not the standard procedure and now I know I was being taken advantage of a bit.

 

[laurakate]

thank you so much, it is at times like these that I am really greatful to salon geek because it's a fantastic support network for when newbies like me have questions like this. its really scary to think that people might take advantage of people by finding a word mincy kinda way of getting them work for free...kinda makes me feel really intimidated/overwhelmed

on the plus side, the last salon i interviewed for spent ages talking work agreements with me and then it was only hours worth of conversation later in the trade test that they decided they didn't want to employ me. hmmm, i'm wondering if a lot of employers are still in the process of deciding how best to go about recruiting, especially if they're small and new businesses. i think there's a lot to be said for knowing your rights etc when it comes to defining what is an interview based activity and what is working for free.

 

[laurakate]

change of plan ladies. last night i was kept awake by my instinct until about 4am. when me instinct does this to me then i know that somethings up. i thought about all the feedback i got on here about the ins and outs what a trade test and interview should be like and i decided that i wouldn't be happy working in an environment that i felt was anything less than fair, well thought out and professional so I let the potential employer know that I wanted employment rather than a series of trade tests. he text me back saying that if i came in today then he would have employed me after that but if that's what it takes to get a straight answer out of someone then I'm not too happy with that either. i didn't reply

i do hope that i haven't cut my nose off to spite my face because the job role itself would have been enjoyable because there was scope to work independantly in a private treatment room doing a lot of my favourite treatments using a lot of my favourite products but I figure that no matter how good something sounds in theory, it's when you think about doing it in practice that you get down to the meatyness I guess.

I phoned my college tutor (I've just finished college) and the Beauty Guild for some advice and they said that I was right to have my concerns because when I was working on the paying clients, I was alone with them in the room so how it could have been a trade test without me being watched I don't know (what are your thoughts geeks?) I know I can do a good treatment but if a potential employer isn't checking this in a "trade test" then, as people said, perhaps he's more about getting bums on seats, even if that is at the cost of giving the best treatment possible to clients. I could have been ANYONE sitting in that room with those paying clients. It was nice to be offered an opportunity and to be trusted but all the same, I can't see that mindset being one I can work with.

I've asked so many questions to so many people about this but it has been a really eyeopening experience so anymore thoughts/advice on what has happened so far would still be appreciated. There's still a part of me that says I should have gone for it because it would have been a very convenient way to get my foot in the door but i don't think it would have been the "right" way to get my foot in the door if that makes sense?

xx

 

[laurakate]

sweet crikey almighty!!!!!! just looked at the companys price listing online and my so called trade test in theory was worth around £300 to this guy. OMG that is chronically wrong!!! I am so glad I listened to my instinct. He could have made at least twice this much out of my free labour if I worked for a "trial day"

The level of exploitation that he was trying to get away with here is really scary. I feel really dizzy now!!!

So much for an interview and "trade test"!! that was so sly! I think I need to go and have a lie down now!!!

Eeeeeep! Restore my faith people, please tell me that for every bad apple there are legions of employers who treat newly qualified therapists with some dignity and respect!! Feeling very worried now. I'm praying this is a one off!!!

(I wouldn't have minded doing one paying client if he was watching the treatment and gave me a propper interview but this?! O M G!)

 

[andrea27]

You don't want to work in a salon like that. Exactly the same thing happened to me not once, but a few times in different salons. I went for my "trade test" and was expected to perform treatments unsupervised on paying clients.
I was shocked they would just let me do that. If the poor clients knew that I haven't even worked in that salon - but was just there to do my trade test, and they paid full price for it, I don't think they would have been happy with that.
Yes, you earned him money and he didn't have to pay you. So he made a good profit. He thought he could give you another "trade test".
Well done for not playing this game with him. I am sick of some people taking advantage of newly qualified or inexperienced therapists.

 

[perfect10kb]

Oh dear poor you and good for you for going with your 'gut '.

When I commented before I just assumed that while you were doing the 3 clients that the salon owner was in the room observing you . THAT is what a trade test is all about . If he was not there to watch then it was not a trade test it was free labour


Good luck in your search and yes there are some good guys out there and I am sure you will find someone worthy of you
xx

 

[laurakate]

cheers guys. it makes me so sad that people seem to either a) not do the research in how to recruit for/run a business or b) think they can take the mick out of people and exploit their keeness to work for free labour. it makes me really sad that i'm not the first and won't be the last to experience this. i guess he'll employ someone but i don't think I'd want to be that someone. I guess the someone who would take the job would either click with him, be very keen to take the job and put up with the potential to be exploited in other ways once employed or be assertive to the point of demanding how they be treated. Frankly I don't have the energy for that and am gonna hold on and wait for an employer who I feel respects me and I them.


the thought that there are people in this country (and others!) getting exploited at work/"interviews" makes me feel so bad, i don't know how these people sleep at night.

my mind has kind of gone into a big overwhelmed blur after the last 24hours or so.

thanks again everyone because the landslide of opinion on the matter was
exactly what i needed to show me that my instincts were right.

 

[Angellcake]

Please can someone tell me what is an acceptable trade test? What treatments have you asked to be done in a trade test and on whom? Staff? yourself? or paying clients so you can observe. How long do you think this test should last? Any opinions/ideas would be great thanks x

 

[andrea27]

Please can someone tell me what is an acceptable trade test? What treatments have you asked to be done in a trade test and on whom? Staff? yourself? or paying clients so you can observe. How long do you think this test should last? Any opinions/ideas would be great thanks x

Usually you would have to do some waxing - normally small area like underarm or bikini, a little bit of massage so they see your pressure and technique and polishing with a dark colour.
Normally, you would do the trade test on a member of staff/manager but if you read this thread some of us were made to do a trade test on paying clients. It really depends on the salon.

 

[Rhiannon1408]

I went for a trade test a few days ago. I did 3 treatments in 3 hours on paying clients. The potential employer seems pleased and wants me to do a days unpaid work trial soon. The potential employer sounds keen to employ me but I thought she might know by now with me already having done a trade test as such. They seem short staffed so I'm hoping this is part of a trade test rather than me being free cover? I've not really had an interview as such yet but I guess that's ok because I think she wanted to see if I could walk the walk rather than talk the talk.

I really want this job but I'm very new to this so I'm just asking what you lot think. If it's all part of the selection process then great, I'm happy with that because I would like it to lead somewhere, I really truely would because it seems like a nice place to work and does a lot of my favourite treatments but yeah, I'd just like to hear from you guys that this all sounds like a standard way to assess potential employees.

What are your thoughts

I was asked to do something similar a couple of years ago. I spent 6 hours at the interview and trade test on a paying client. Then was asked to do a days trial without pay. I agreed but thought it was a bit strange so I spoke to my aunt who is a lawyer and specialises in employment law. Anyway it's actually illegal to do a trial day without pay so I didn't do it.

Most trade tests I have done have been a back massage and a nail paint - dark on one hand, French on the other. A few trade tests I've have also done a bit of waxing and/or a facial.

I hope that helps.
Rhiannon x

 

[laurakate]

I was asked to do something similar a couple of years ago. I spent 6 hours at the interview and trade test on a paying client. Then was asked to do a days trial without pay. I agreed but thought it was a bit strange so I spoke to my aunt who is a lawyer and specialises in employment law. Anyway it's actually illegal to do a trial day without pay so I didn't do it.

Most trade tests I have done have been a back massage and a nail paint - dark on one hand, French on the other. A few trade tests I've have also done a bit of waxing and/or a facial.

I hope that helps.
Rhiannon x

woah! thank you very much for this! I thought it was dodgy but didn't know it was illegal! I find this so so so frustrating because what I guess we have here in the industry (in small parts I hope) are people who don't know what they're doing and need a little help or people who know exactly what they're doing and think they can get away with it. Terrible

It's been messing with my head in the last few days because it would have been such an easy way for me to get my foot in the door and dispite the way the owner was doing things, I think the company would have looked good on my cv....it's really upmarket in quite a posh part of manchester and they even do botox!!! omg if that's how he recruits people to carry botox out then i'm bricking it!

I think I've done the right thing by withdrawing my interest though. he did say that he had another potential employee messing him about but i'm not suprised at all to be honest.

the fact that people are breaking this law in this industry, especially when they look very reputable upon first impression (good website, upmarket treatments with high end products etc) is very perplexing. legal mindfield!!

On the plus side, at least i am armed with the right information now so if I were to find myself in this situation again then at least if i really wanted the job i could pull them up on what they were doing and see how they dealt with it then.

tis a bit of a shame because i felt like i did some lovely treatments on the day but all the same...