Pro's 'v' Cons of being newly qualified?

[redsadie]

Helloooo

Having being fairly newly qualified myself in tanning and waxing, and about to embark on a Creative Nails Foundation course in a few weeks time :green:, I wondered what you guys could suggest as positives could be pushed for being newly qualified as well as the obvious negative objections that could be overcome i.e needing experience etc.

People always expect you to be cheaper when you're new at anything but I don't always agree it should be that way.

What do you think?

xx

 

[Martin Duffy]

It's been a long time since I was newly qualified, but whenever I go on further training courses the one thing I see in newly qualified therapists is enthusiasm, which can wane with experience if people aren't careful. It's when people keep this fire stoked that they seem to last in the industry. I'm always looking at bettering my treatments & searching for innovative new treatments, which keeps my business fresh & me interested, but I've met some therapists who have gotten staid & as a result so has their business!

Also, so long as your training was up to scratch you'll also be trained in the latest techniques, and again if therapists aren't committed to continuing their education throughout their careers they can end up being out of touch & out of date. This is why I always attend further training courses every year, and have done for the last 11 years.

The negative side is of course experience, when you've been around the block a few times you learn all those little tricks & begin to operate on instinct & intuition, and if there's one thing I've noticed, clients can smell lack of experience & confidence a mile off! However, we all started somewhere; I remember how god awful my first waxes & facials were, but so long as you constantly reflect on where you can improve you can't go wrong. There never comes a moment in this industry when you know it all, and as they say you're only as good as your last treatment!

 

[hippy-chick]

the good points however is that you get an almost exact treatment, as that person hasn't 'blurred the lines' of what they 'remember'!!! or interpreted aka short cuts.

 

[Martin Duffy]

the good points however is that you get an almost exact treatment, as that person hasn't 'blurred the lines' of what they 'remember'!!! or interpreted aka short cuts.

Indeed! When I've swapped reflexology with friends before I've been horrified at the inaccuracy of the treatment, often with half the reflexes being missed out!

However, there are exceptions here, my treatments are certainly different to the way I learnt them, but that can be a good thing. I for example can't stand 'scripted' massage, which is how I was taught. Instead I adapt to the needs of the client at that time & so no two of my massages are ever the same, but I see that as positive. Similarly, I've adapted my waxing technique over time & honed it to what I hope is perfection!

 

[hippy-chick]

Indeed! When I've swapped reflexology with friends before I've been horrified at the inaccuracy of the treatment, often with half the reflexes being missed out!

However, there are exceptions here, my treatments are certainly different to the way I learnt them, but that can be a good thing. I for example can't stand 'scripted' massage, which is how I was taught. Instead I adapt to the needs of the client at that time & so no two of my massages are ever the same, but I see that as positive. Similarly, I've adapted my waxing technique over time & honed it to what I hope is perfection!

totally agree with you Martin. I have learn't many different types of massage and although I stick to a basic routine, I tend to go off on a tangent and use different techniques as I see fit.

I always remember when I first advertised my services after attending college part time for 2 years studying massage then aromatherapy.
My first proper client rang me, I went to the house and set up. Once finishing the consulation she informed me that she owned 2 salons and her last mobile therapist got sacked cos she bruised her, and was she guaranteed a good treatment from me. I acted professional, did a text book massage and she wiped the floor with me.

She told me that when you state that you do a full body massage, then you should do a full body, and that I had not done her feet or her hands.

I spluttered that that is what I was taught at college. She gave me "one of those looks".

Now, I could have gone home and crumpled, but I am a stubborn beast, and she made me want to better myself and not do a 'text book' massage again. That was 12 years ago, and it still hurts!

 

[Alibarr]

Im fairly new to it all but find I can tell my clients all the theory behind what Im doing and why as its still fresh in my mind. Also my hygiene practice was drilled into me sooo much at college I follow it bang on, every time

 

[Martin Duffy]

Now, I could have gone home and crumpled, but I am a stubborn beast, and she made me want to better myself and not do a 'text book' massage again. That was 12 years ago, and it still hurts!

I think we all have those 'moments' when we feel we've failed & I reckon it's that determination to better ourselves that makes or breaks us. I still cringe at my various mistakes, such as my first ever eyebrow wax in a salon when I got wax all over someone's cashmere jumper & the time I glued someone's eyelids together whilst demonstrating false eyelashes on an openday! Thankfully those are waters that passed under the bridge a long time ago!

 

[redsadie]

Aw, thanks for the replies so far, makes me know I'm not alone

I am confident in my abilities but even so, today I performed a brow shape and forgot to do the bit in the middle! The ladies daughter (who luckily for me is a friend of mine) pointed it out and I was horrified How could I miss something so obvious! I rectified it, she re-booked :green: and her daughter booked in with me for a few treatments next week, so I couldn't have been that bad . They know I'm new.

I don't like to let people know I'm new to the biz in case they don't have the same confidence in me as I have in me but sometimes I think it helps them to know when you make what I class as 'silly' mistakes. Catch 22?

Perfect practise makes perfect huh?

 

[Martin Duffy]

We all have moments where our concentration lapses, I once started to prepare for a lip wax when I was supposed to be waxing eyebrows - imagine how my client felt...hairy lip...moi?!! I just laughed it off, and she's been coming to me for years!

 

[Karren]

lol babe ive been talking and completely missed a finger before when rebalancing as the bead i picked up was better suited to another packed everything away then to be asked if im going to do "this finger" !! lol

show no fear babe !!!

..... yes ive been doing "waxing" for "a while now" doesnt hurt :hug:

kxx

Aw, thanks for the replies so far, makes me know I'm not alone

I am confident in my abilities but even so, today I performed a brow shape and forgot to do the bit in the middle! The ladies daughter (who luckily for me is a friend of mine) pointed it out and I was horrified How could I miss something so obvious! I rectified it, she re-booked :green: and her daughter booked in with me for a few treatments next week, so I couldn't have been that bad . They know I'm new.

I don't like to let people know I'm new to the biz in case they don't have the same confidence in me as I have in me but sometimes I think it helps them to know when you make what I class as 'silly' mistakes. Catch 22?

Perfect practise makes perfect huh?

 

[redsadie]

Aww, thanks guys

I have been asked by 'new' clients how long have I been doing it, they've not heard of me before. I tell them that I've been doing it a while, but because I work another job, I've only just started to get myself 'out there'. They must have believed me cos they keep re-booking

I suppose it's the confidence you have in yourself that projects onto the client.

xx