So I lost my job yesterday...

[Brigitte]

I am, or should I say, I was a medical secretary. I've been doing an NVQ2 in Nail Services for the last year (due to qualify in 10 days time) & it's been a real struggle to keep up with everything and juggle my full time work and childcare with a 12 hour weekly commute (twice a week, 3 hours each way) with my college work.

Anyway I was fired yesterday from the hospital because she said that she didn't think I was fully committed to my work if I was going to college to study an unrelated subject. As I am (was) a temp I have no rights. They can get rid of you if they just don't like your face & they don't have to give a reason.

Never mind the fact that my partner is seriously ill with a potentially life-threatening medical condition or that I have given a year of dedication to this job and never been off sick (except when my son was in hospital).

I'm heartbroken. Sorry, I just needed to vent. I'll stop now before I collapse into a self-pitying heap!

I really have to pass this course now and make it as a nail technician because I'm screwed as a medical secretary - I'll never get another job in this (or the other) hospital after getting fired...

No sympathy please (I can't afford to start feeling sorry for myself) but any jokes, funny stories or practical advice on how to start earning money asap (as a nail technician) would be much appreciated! :o

Edit: My plan at the moment is to just do everything that I can to get my college work completed in time (I'm really struggling as I've been so busy with work and the long commute etc) and then after I (hopefully) pass, get some business cards printed, stand in the middle of town handing out flyers to passers by, offer to do barmaids nails in the local pubs for free if they give my business cards out to people who admire their nails while they're serving them drinks (barmaids nails are always on show!) and to just really try hard now to get some clients.

I've been doing friends and family for free and I don't feel right about charging people till I'm qualified so I have no way of earning any money for the next 10 days - I really do need to hit the ground running when I finish college. I've already got a website but I think I'm in for a challenging few months at least! *bites nails

 

[Bev Robinson]

Hi,

What a day you've had! Good job you'd started your nail trg, try to keep your chin up. Without your massive comute i'm sure you'll be able to catch up.

For good value business cards flyers i advise you look at vista print .co.uk
you can get business cards free, only costs you the postage? Might help you get on your feet.

Anyway all the very best - sure all will work out for the best.

Bev Robinson

 

[annasmum]

Sorry to hear about your bad luck. When I first started in my salon 3 months ago I also gave a 20% discount to new customers which really helped. I am nowhere near fully booked but it's heading in the right direction. My little business is in a hair salon. So in the beginning when mums came in to have their hair done I would do their kids to keep them quiet at a really cheap price. I now have a fixed price for kids manis and pedis that also includes nail art. It has brought me quite a few mums as regular clients. The barmaid idea is excellent. I have done this too and it has really helped. I also do all the stylists in our salon for free and clients often ask where they get their nails done. HTH Good luck!

 

[angelnailz]

Oh hun I really feel for u

I know EXACTLY how you feel as the same thing happened to me. I worked as a secretary for over a year for the University. I was on a temp contract and I was let go due to staff cuts, one day i was there, next day I was gone, it was all very distressing at the time. I`d put in ALOT of effort, stayed late, worked through lunch etc, so felt gutted when i was dismissed so easily.

BUT i believe everything happens for a reason...this spurred me on to do my nail course, then i got ill with cancer and realised u only get one shot so u may as well go for what makes u happy xxxxx

 

[Aspire]

Persevere....realise things are difficult at the moment...don't feel bad about charging people before qualifying..it is possible to ask them to make a donation at least that way you can cover your costs...you can also get students insurance...but I guess if you're qualifying soon you will need professional cover..I wouldn't advise doing nails without cover you never know when you might need it...

My husband is disabled, and I use to work as a cleaner for Center Parcs..Mondays and Fridays for 4 and a half hours each day. One day my husband got out of his car and he couldn't move his legs and was in extreme pain..had to call an ambulance. on three seperate occasions .no friends or family to help and three young children..I missed three days work and when I got back with an injury to my shoulder but still willing to work I was called into the office and asked why I was off (even though I had kept them fully informed) I explained what had happened and they replied "we all have problems" I was gob smacked and besides myself...looking back now I don't how I coped...you will too, you are doing everything right and sometimes when our circumstances are really tough when this passes you will look back and see how well you have done...congratulate yourself because even in the face of adversity you succeeded with your goal..
Good Luck with your examination..you obviously have determination...The monologue is now over lol...I wish your partner and you all the best.

 

[persianista]

I got fired from my job as a salon manager 12 years ago. Nearly had a breakdown. I had never been sacked before.
Ended up working for myself, then buying my first salon. Best thing that ever happened.

Funny enough, I'm still in business and the nasty devil has gone bust and lost his salon.

 

[essentia]

I am sorry to hear about your situation. However I am not so sure that you do not have any rights as I read that temp/agency workers do have rights after 12 weeks employment. It may be worth checking this out with relevant authorities. However it sounds like the commute is way too much and this is a chance to find a better arrangement whilst you prepare for your future career. Hope it works out.

 

[persianista]

No they don't essentia. Only normal employees have any rights after one year of continuous employment.

 

[glitter tips]

Above all, try to keep smiling. I have quit mt my job after working in travel for 16 years (since the day I left school) to do nails. Its the best move you'll make, Vistaprint for business cards, I also got some magnets for my car doors which were less than £20 for 2!!! Set up a Facebook page and invite everyone and anyone, take photos of your work and upload them. Practive with nail art etc, so many places just dont bother to offer it (in my area anyway) it makes me different. Loyalty cards are great, get in touch with travel agents and see if they will let you put some leaflets in their ticket wallets for "Holiday Nails" believe me, it works a treat.
Don't give up! Sometimes you might want to but it really is worth it, and let us know how you get on xxxx:hug:

 

[jo1983]

I believe that everything happens for a reason!
I got made redundant in November, just a handful of days after I bought my first house and got engaged! I was devestated and really worried! I didnt know how I was going to pay my mortgage, bills, ets, and start to save up for my wedding.
I also couldnt find any salons that were hiring during that time of the year, so I decided to start working from home. I set up a website through vistaprint, ordered some business cards, set up a facebook page, and most importantly told all my friends and family!
And guess what??? I havent looked back! In fact I make more money than I ever could working for someone else, and I'm now considering opening my own salon!

So just go for it! And stay positive!!!!

 

[OBIC]

It's true, these things happen for a reason.

I retrained in beauty about five years ago but couldn't take the plunge to give up a good paid secretarial job that I'd been at far too many years. Also the fact I'd always convinced myself that I couldn't paint nails!

I then decided in the October to take the plunge and started worked as a casual at a spa just one evening a week and the odd day they needed me here and there. Then in the December I got made redundant from my secretarial job which was tough but what I really wanted and I had kind of suspected it was coming as it was for a property consultants.

I'm still working at the spa and building up a business from home/mobile and couldn't be happier. It means for me that I'm around so much more for my kids whereas working in London three days a week leaving home at 8 and not getting back until 6.45 each evening was just very depressing. My kids are a lot happier too having me around so much more.

Money was / is tighter but life is a lot better.

So yes doesn't feel too great now but might just be a blessing in disguise.

 

[essentia]

No they don't essentia. Only normal employees have any rights after one year of continuous employment.

I think there are some grey areas depending on whether an agency/temp person is classed as an employee or a worker. There are some similarities and differences. I think it depends on whether you get set hours to do duties rather than tasks and whether you pay tax & insurance from your wages. The TUC says that usually only a tribunal will decide this. I have included a link from a law firm that states that there are rights regarding dismissal obviously depending on the time she has been there. The reason for the dismissal is poor unless the poster really is letting her work suffer due to her taking nail courses.

Same rights for temporary staff

 

[user 35377]

Sonia, you are on the right path--use the next ten days to get out there and advertise! Get your nails done and you business cards and flyers made and get out there and start handing them out to anyone who looks like they might like a mani/pedi! Put Harri in the stroller and hit the parks where all those young mothers and nannies are hangin out! Prayers up--blessings down!!

 

[Brigitte]

Thanks everyone. lol, I was quite taken aback when someone used my real name (Brigitte is a middle name) and knew my son's name! Then I realised I knew you from the other forum However did you know it was me? lol *waves & smiles*

Well, at least the long commute to college won't be such an issue anymore soon. I can't afford £60 a week in travelling costs without a job anyway.

Vistaprint sounds like a great idea.

I'm so sorry to hear your own stories of job loss and ill health (I hope you are in remission now AngelNailz? (((hugs))). My uncle was actually diagnosed with cancer in 2001 and given only 18 months to live. I must call him actually as it's his wedding anniversary soon (he lives in Australia) but whenever I call him he's always out mountain biking or one of his many sporting pursuits!

It's uplifting that so many of you found it was a blessing in disguise to have their hand pushed and I'm happy for you all. I mean that deeply. I hope I will have similar luck but I know I'll have to work really hard and try to 'make my own luck' to a big extent too as I'm sure you all did.

In order to complete my course successfully I have yet to do:

1. 1 Full set of acrylic nails
2. Nail art that includes foiling, marbling, transfers & striping
3. One reception duty
4. 2 sets of infills
5. 1 manicure
6. Finish off all my cross referencing from my folder

If I fail any of these I'm in trouble because there isn't time to re-take them & as I live 75 miles away I can't bring a client with me (I can't afford to pay the £30 for their train fare) so I'm struggling for clients because if there isn't a client who wants one of those treatments then I have no client.

Luckily some of the beauty salon girls have finished their courses now so they are available to work on and if I can persuade a couple of them to let me do a couple of sets of acrylics on them and infill them next week then that will get the infills and acrylics out of the way and the nail art.

I only have 26 hours of salon time left so I have to organise everything very carefully!

Well... I can only do my best...

thanks everyone, reading all your replies has given me some some hope that this isn't the end of the world. I just really need to pass and then follow a lot of the advice that I've been reading here.

x

 

[cabby]

sometimes fate gives you a helping hand to make a move maybe this is what is happening to you. Sometimes the things that seem awful at the time are for the best in the end x

 

[Brigitte]

Thanks again everyone. Ack! I failed my acrylic nails assessment today...:sad:

All is not lost yet though, I was going to do a set of acrylics tomorrow anyway on one of the beauty salon girls so that I could get some nail art done this week and some infills to do for next week. I'm really cutting it fine now but it's still possible that I might pass everything in time.

My finish wasn't good enough, I think the beads that I used were too big and too wet and needed too much filing so that I was running out of time. I was so nervous that my hands were actually shaking at times! Not a good idea really! The irony is that if I was at home doing one of my friends nails then I don't find it that difficult but when my tutor is looking over my shoulder (as she has to to assess me) then I get so nervous that I can't concentrate and I make mistakes.

My partner had more blood tests today, he has to have his blood tested every 48 hours at the moment. It wasn't good news but it wasn't as bad as it could have been, we're not out of the woods yet but we're hanging in there!

Thanks again everyone, please keep everything crossed for us!
x

edit: After I realised that I had failed (and missed my train home and had to wait for 45 minutes at one station and 20 minutes at another) my partner called and asked me if I wanted anything (the shops are closed by the time I get home at midnight). I said YES! Wine! Please get me a bottle of wine because I really need it tonight.

Only trouble is he got me NON-ALCOHOLIC wine! Hmmph! lol