Is my approach to training healthy?

[laurakate]

Hi geeks

So basically I'm nvq2 and 3 qualified and have been in the industry for just under 2 years now. My goal is to teach and I prefer being employed by others. I seek to know/learn/experience as much as I can in the industry so that when it comes to being a teacher I hope to have a lot to offer and be able to compete for positions of employment in this respect.

As a result of the above, I've done a LOT of training throughout the last two years, most of which has been funded by myself (Jessica, shellac, brisa, hopi ear candling, intimate waxing, lashes, nsi acrylics, reflexology, crystals, fake bake...urrm, think that's it!) rather than an employer as the rate and depth at which I seek to learn has so far been more than my previous employer was willing/able to provide to me. And I do so love training and learning new things and getting the certificate to prove it.

Currently I have a "to do" list of things I want to learn; sports massage, Thai massage, aromatherapy (blending own oils), threading, male intimate waxing, body electrics, electrolysis (I insist on all of the latter being done as VTCT/ITEC/cityandguilds etc qualifications) and then also lava shells and pretty much anything else that's coming to me.

Trouble is that I genuinely do want to learn these things but when I look at how much all of that is going to cost me in the long run I think to myself "Jeeeeeeez! is it really that important to me?! Wouldn't that sort of money be better spent on home improvements or a holiday or put away for a rainy day"....bear in mind I'm not rich in any sense of the word...I'm just saying that whenever I have any disposable income I am more willing to spend it on a course than anything else and I'm genuinely starting to wonder if this is actually healthy...like I can get my head round spending a grand on courses but I wouldn't dream of spending that on something more leisurely (holiday, clothes, nights out etc) because I would rather spend it on a course and I'm starting to wonder if this is genuinely healthy.

I hope this all makes sense and someone out there can relate. I don't get pay rises for doing courses but it does give me satisfaction in itself and I feel that it keeps more doors open for me when seeking employment as well as making me more versatile for when I have been in the industry long enough to be able to teach.

I know other beauty therapists who live for the weekend and having become nvq3 qualified a few years ago don't seem to have that sense of urgency to learn more things in the way that I do. Like sometimes I think that it would be good for me to try taking a leaf out of their book?

I've written a mini novel here so I hope I've succeeded to get my point across in a way that will get me some constructive feedback because I could really do with some help to get my head round this at the moment!

I should add that everything I've learnt from every course has made me a better beauty therapist overall and they are all skills that I have had the pleasure of being able to use on paying clients so it has been and will continue to be worthwhile to do more courses but I just can't help feeling that I should have goals and dreams that are focussed on other aspects of life. Like I feel that I'm becoming unhealthily obsessive here!

Argh! Over to you lot .....

 

[laurakate]

Anyone?

 

[julie25]

I am very similar to you, in my last job I grew very stale as my boss wasn't bothered about keeping up with training and new treatments. 8 months ago I started working for myself and I've planned a few refresher courses etc for the next couple of months. I'm also paranoid about insurance since working for myself and want to make sure that I have all the relevant certificates.

These courses cost a small fortune don't they!! And keeping up to stock etc, I haven't had any nights out and holidays in ages and I had times where I think, this is too much you can't do everything at once, spread it out, but at same time my business is my everything right now and I hope that it all pays off and can reap the benefits soon. Sometimes it's hard when you don't have a social life but hopefully one day soon! Haha xxx

 

[Scissorz]

Hi I'm not beauty I'm hair, in my opinion whilst training is great and it's good to be qualified in so many areas and product lines, I think actual salon or mobile experience is invaluable, as you say you've only been in the industry 2 years and most of it by the sounds of it has been training, you should get some practical experience behind you and you never know what you could learn from employment, aswel as getting paid to do it, I hope this makes sense. For example I am a hairdresser but also did my mani an pedi qualification whilst I was in college, that enabled me to do Gelish training in my last salon paid for by my employer ;-)

 

[Belle Vie]

I think your approach to training is healthy in that you are always looking to gain new skills that's always a good thing in this industry but you need to have a long hard think about how much all these new skills are making you in real terms.

You are already qualified to NVQ3 level and have trained in Jessica, Shellac, Brisa, Hopi ear candling, Intimate waxing, Lashes, NSI acrylics, Reflexology, Crystals, Fake Bake over the past 2 years. How much have you earned vs money spent on training, products and equipment?

Think about your business, the type of therapist you are/want to be, are you a beauty therapist, a holistic therapist, a nail technician or all of the above? Can you realistically provide a first class service in all of these areas?

Personally, I think you need to get your business head on now and only add new services when you see a real genuine demand for it.

I've been in the industry for just over 2 years and only offer nail services, even those are limited because I won't move on to anything else until there is a real demand and I'm certain that I've got everything perfect before I move on. Lots of my clients go to other therapists who offer nails but prefer to come to me for them as they like someone who specialises. At the moment, I'm being asked by at least every other client to start offering eyebrow threading/waxing so I'm now giving that serious thought but won't rush into it.

Have a read of the 'will it make the boat go faster?' thread Lynn started a while back.

 

[souz]

belle vie made some very valid points, yes its great to want to learn but you need to master each of these skills first before you move onto the next especially as you want to teach, think of all those students asking you a variety of questions about each treatment, would you be able to answer them?? Experience to me is key to teaching, you need to have been in all different walks of life including running your own business, students are going to want to know it all from you, you are who they will look up to. Are you going to be a jack of all trades, master of none kind of therapist or are you going to have a specialist subject?

Take your time to enjoy what you do and learn, teaching will come and only you will know when you are ready.

 

[laurakate]

Thanks everyone

Because I work for other people and dont seek to work for myself it doesnt really result in me making a profit from learning a new skill. I guess what I say when I do some training is "ive worked hard to earn this money so this is a present to me from me." and as part of that i anticipate that it will widen my opportunities when it comes to moving jobs so that if im asked can i do a certain treatment i am able to answer positively as Ive often found there to be a lot of competition even for minimum wage jobs in the industry...so yeah i guess my return for doing courses isnt necessarily money but the opportunities provided by having the skills themselves.

Most of my work experience to date has been in a day spa where yiu carry out a treatment so many times that it doesnt take long to become confident in it. I guess in that respect I am very lucky but the repetitive nature of it has definitely made me want to learn more to open new doors regarding job opportunities. Hmmm, maybe the choice to specialise can be limited by what an employer wants...that is to say that i always seek to work somewhere with a wide treatment menu and employers often seek a good all rounder rather than a specialist.

If I was self employed Im thinking it would be different because i wouldnt be able to afford the kit to carry out everything i can do.

Hmmm definitely food for thought so thanks guys. I guess this could show that mqybe i vqlue education over money/profit. Will have to have a think about this.