Apprentice training advice..Would you like a hairdressing apprenticeship, but not sure how to go about it. I have 25 years experience employing apprentice hairdressers. Let me help you find the right apprentice hairdressing course for you...How to get into hairdressing and tips for school leavers. The world of hairdressing at your door. Hairdressing is a wonderful profession to learn as a career. It will see you through all the turning points in your life. One of the best things is the flexibility of the job. Think about what you want from life, kids, marriage, family, or starting your own business, or mobile hairdressing round. Hairdressing will see you through the good times and the bad. You can take your skills into many aspects of your life, and I will show you how to get a foot in the door, and ways to enhance your interview technique. If you follow my simple instructions you will be starting your hairdressing career very soon.

Lots of schools in the U.K offer students an opportunity to start training as a hairdresser as part of there working week. I know schools vary so check with your careers officer at school, and ask them if they have courses in hairdressing.

If this is the career path you wish to take it will give you a good grounding and better chance of a college or salon placement. You also leave with a qualification. This will be good time spent doing what you most want out of life. Most tutors on these courses own there own salons, so more opportunities to have your hairdressing job lined up for when you leave school

If your school does not offer this then don't panic as there are other ways you can get started now. There are many hairdressing academy's in your area and with a little research you may find some of them offering tutorials to you for a small fee. This is normally worked as a hobby but again showing you are keen will get you top of the list when they decide to recruit.

Weather you choose full time college or apprenticeship in a salon the out come is the same. I know this may sound random but every salon owner has there own views taking on either full time college students or day release students.

My preference is day release although I myself trained full time at college many years ago when it was five days per week. Then it was worth it but now full time equals 3 days so the remaining 2 our normally spent working in a reatial outlet. In fact you end up getting less salon experience as day release entails spending 5 days in a hairdressers.After 2 years of training you will leave with an NVQ level 2 with the option to do NVQ level 3.Third year training is recommended for management positions, or cruise liners.

Some tips on how to bag that illusive Saturday job in a salon. Look on the internet for more product knowledge. Now I know as an employer with two salons that finding a weekend hairdressing job is like finding the proverbial needle in a haystack. A short example of not what to do follows, as you would not believe the times this has happened. A girl and her friend ..a young lad came in the other day, and one of my employees was sat at the desk. The lad asked if we had any jobs for his mate. Our policy is to take every one's name and number. When my employee asked what the details of this person were, the girl who had come in with him answered it was her.

OK please, please when applying for a Saturday job remember it is a small interview in it's self. Presentation and first impressions are the key. If you feel too shy to go door to door then create a good CV with a picture of yourself and post it to the salons in your area. If you feel you have the confidence to walk into a salon and ask then take a CV with you again with a picture of yourself on the CV and ask. They are more likely if you have been polite and well presented to keep your information, and ring you when a vacancy arises.

This will get you everywhere... how to stand out from the rest!!! You see a salon is in need of a weekend helper, so what do you do to get that job? Go into the shop and ask to speak to the person in charge. Tell them you want to apply for the position, and hand over your CV. Ask her if it's possible to work an evening or Saturday for free so she can see if you are suitable. Be well dressed with no jeans or trainers, but no need to make yourself look old by dressing up.

I tell you if someone came in and did that in my shop they would get the job. It shows your employer you are willing to do anything to get it. Remember whichever you choose to do on leaving school, college, or apprenticeship you are more likely to get taken on if you already work in a salon.

Choices you have to make college, or salon apprentice.!!!!

Within the hairdressing industry employers have different views on the best approach. I would say apply for your college courses as early as you can in the year, but do not worry if you have missed the date as they take applications on a day release basis through out the year. Full time college courses have there up sides and down sides as does a placement in a salon. When you go to college full time unless you can obtain a salon job you will not get the experience of working in the hairdressing environment. Many girls who work in my salon from college say they can not believe how different it is in a real salon. Much busier and more demanding. If you can do both then that is the best way.

Going to college one day per week is what they call a salon apprenticeship. You then work the rest of the week in your salon getting paid a wage, and having all round experience of both. These apprenticeships are well sought after especially in the better salons...Choose a few you think you would like to work in and apply for work experience. If you show them how good you are they will be sure to have you lined up for when you leave school. This is how I have taken on every single one of my apprentices and apart from the odd few who have had personality changes after a few weeks the remainder have been the best juniors ever

Attitude: No swearing, or mobile phone use during your interview. Fashion is great just make sure you can walk in the shoes you are wearing as salon floors can be slippery. Do not come in for an interview with friends. If you feel a little nervous ask a parent or guardian to attend with you as us employers prefer this.

Appearance: Make sure your nails and hair are well groomed. Remember you are applying to work in a well groomed industry so your future boss will be looking for personal care. Dress in a tidy fashion and try to avoid trainers and jeans. No chipped nail.

Attendance: Whatever it takes do not be late for an interview as the way I see it if you can not turn up on time for an important thing like this then the chances of you turning up on time for work are remote. Get there early they will not mind, and in fact it will show you are keen. if you are doing a work experience treat the whole week as if you are on an interview as everything will be monitored and noted.

I hope this article has helped anyone looking for hairdressing apprenticeship jobs and especially the young people leaving school. These tips will give you the best start in life whatever career you choose. My other topics on hair will give you a little more insight in to workings of hairdressing as a whole. Apprentice training can be very rewarding, and think carefully about  which course is best for you when you decide how to become an apprentice hairdresser. Good Luck.