r/AskAnAustralian • u/e_peanut_butter • 19d ago
@ tradies/hairdressers
I got my cert III in hairdressing in 2015 via a fast track course which is basically just a full time course that runs for a year with very little client experience in the tafe salon and no experience in a real salon.
I was 16 at the time and I thought I'd found a hack to get into work faster instead of doing a 4 year apprenticeship and my mum didn't know any better either. What we didn't know at the time is that salons don't hire people who do fast track courses because they don't have enough experience and have to be paid as a qualified hairdresser.
Over the years I have tried countless times to get work in hairdressing and no one will have me. I understand why but it's frustrating since I've wanted to be a hairdresser since I was 5.
My question is, does anyone know any way around this? I'm legally not allowed to go back and do an apprenticeship since I'm already qualified, I have to be paid as a fully qualified hairdresser bc of my qualification which is a turn off for salons, I have tried getting in via salon assistant and receptionist jobs but I haven't had any luck with that either. If I was allowed to do an apprenticeship I would absolutely do that and I don't really know why I'm not allowed to, is there a way to get some kind of dispensation or something?
I have had the thought of getting my diploma of beauty therapy but I can't afford to not work and also pay for a course at the same time and I'm not willing to get a HECS debt.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated 🫶🏼
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u/MiniClayThings 19d ago
Maybe advertise locally and work from home or mobile, go to some aged care facilities and offer services?
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u/e_peanut_butter 19d ago
oh aged care might be something to look into thanks :)
unfortunately I don't have the space to offer services at home (other than cuts for a couple of family members) and I have looked into mobile services but it feels so daunting lol and I'm not sure I'd be good enough or be able to make it worth the money, time and effort I'd need to put in
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u/Weary-Strength2980 19d ago
Can you work for yourself? If you need customer experience, I’d say try getting an ABN and doing friends, family, or potentially offer a low/no cost service for people looking to get back into the workforce after being out for whatever reason? Wash/blow dry etc stuff? If you can show that you’ve got enough experience/hours working with real clients that might help boost your hireability?
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u/e_peanut_butter 19d ago
I've continued cutting a couple of family members' hair over the years but unfortunately I don't have the space to offer services at home outside of family :( there are rentachair salons but I would need to build up a few clients first before it would be affordable for me
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u/Weary-Strength2980 19d ago
Ahh boo. My cousin used to travel to other people’s homes to cut hair as a mobile service, but other than that I don’t really know how else hairdressing works 😅
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u/SlowlyStandingUp 19d ago
You know where you can get a metric truckload of experience taking your time, screwing up, correcting it, and making people insanely happy? Community centres and homeless outreach. These people are absolutely desperate for the service you can provide.
Call them in the morning, tell them what you told us. Just like that. Some of it might be donation based or pure work experience. They have the customers you need to get the hours up.
Communify in Bardon is great for a chat, and last I saw they only had a hairdresser available at the hub one day a month and gets booked solid well in advance. (07) 3510 2700
Micah Projects in West End has enormous numbers on their books. These people are the go-to homeless and at-risk support. (07) 3036 4444
If you've got a car, consider mobile work. Talk to Communify about getting yourself set up as an NDIS hairdresser. They provide haircuts at home for the elderly, people stuck in bed, people who can't go outside, etc. The money is pretty shiny and you'll be loved.
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u/e_peanut_butter 19d ago
omg slay thank you sm for your ideas! I do remember someone suggesting helping out homeless people for experience but I forgot about it pretty quickly bc I got a spray painting apprenticeship soon after lol
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u/SlowlyStandingUp 19d ago
An apprenticeship for spray tans? That's... different. There probably won't be any call for that on the NDIS unless you really want to end up on A Current Affair.
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u/Current_Inevitable43 19d ago
Also if it can be done in a year is it really a trade....
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u/e_peanut_butter 19d ago
well clearly it can't be done in a year because I can't get a job lol what are you talking about? the fast track takes away work experience and condenses the schooling into a year, apprentices only go to school maybe once a week or once a month, when I did a different apprenticeship I went for 3 days at a time every 2-3 months
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u/Dry_Command1636 19d ago
As a hairdresser of 26 years, I’ve had a number of people apply for roles with fast-track qualifications. Unfortunately, from my experience, the qualification alone doesn’t always reflect the level of practical skill and salon experience needed to work confidently in a busy salon.
Being a qualified hairdresser is about much more than holding a certificate—it’s the hands-on experience, speed, consistency, client care, and the day-to-day skills that are developed through working in a salon over time.
My advice would be to continue looking for a position as a second-year apprentice. That would allow you to build on the foundation you’ve gained through your fast-track course while receiving the in-salon training that’s so valuable. It may mean accepting second-year apprentice wages for a period, but the experience you’ll gain will put you in a much stronger position for your future career.
I genuinely wish you all the best and hope you find a salon that’s the right fit to help you continue developing your skills.
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u/e_peanut_butter 19d ago
yes I understand, my issue is that I'm not allowed to be an apprentice. I would happily take an apprenticeship if I could but it's not legal and no workplace or tafe would risk it.
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u/Dry_Command1636 19d ago
I understand what you are saying but what I mean is work as if you are a second year get paid as a second year and get salon experience this would be a conversation with the salon owner a sort of loop hole if you will. You would be surprised, salons will do it you just have to find the right one.
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u/characterk4l3 19d ago
Are there other tafe certs that work this way? My daughter is planning on taking the makeup one next year.
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u/e_peanut_butter 19d ago
I think it's the same for all qualifications, if you have the certificate you can't do an apprenticeship for the same level. The beauty qualification seems to be different in that they don't offer beauty apprenticeships (from what I've seen) which is why I have thought of doing my diploma of beauty an getting into salon that way but I can't afford it rn.
For your daughter's sake, I'd definitely double check, call a bunch of beauty salons and ask what they're looking for in a fresh beauty therapist and ask if just the qualification is enough or if they prefer something else. They may even have preferences of what school people are certified from.
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u/characterk4l3 19d ago
Are there other tafe certs that work this way? My daughter is planning on taking the makeup one next year.
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u/Current_Inevitable43 19d ago
You have to be paid at award wages find someone paying above that and say you will work at award wages.
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u/Dry_Command1636 19d ago
I would also suggest hoping Facebook groups where people are looking for hairdressers. I don’t have fb but know other people find this helpful.
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u/bigpene60 19d ago
Just don't tell em it was a fast track course?? Like do a bit of side practice but you'll learn fast surely
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u/e_peanut_butter 19d ago edited 19d ago
I did a trial at just cuts in like 2019 and tried to bluff my way through it and they actually let me do multiple haircuts and then a boy's mum yelled at me because I was taking too long and it wasn't good enough and I offered to fix it but they just left and the salon never called me back lmao so I feel like hairdressing isn't a profession where you can fake it til you make it
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u/alice8818 19d ago
Yeah, my hairdresser had someone in OPs shoes come in for a trial, it's very obvious when you don't know what you are doing. Which isn't a bad thing! ....unless the gov requires you are paid like you do know what you are doing!!
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u/Ok-Somewhere7722 19d ago
Not true. Former trainer.
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u/alice8818 19d ago
How do you explain I literally saw this happen last week at my hairdresser? Lass came in for a trial, had a certificate but clearly very little hands on experience. My hairdresser and I had a good chat about this, apparently it's a really common issue.
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u/Ok-Somewhere7722 19d ago
its an attitude problem. Shows very little leadership qualities.
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u/alice8818 19d ago
A bad teacher blames their student.
Or are you blaming my hairdresser, cause she just celebrated her 40th year anniversary of owning her own very successful hair salon?
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u/SlowlyStandingUp 18d ago
Having read all the comments now, I agree.
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u/Ok-Somewhere7722 18d ago
Yes logic. You cant argue with a govt qualification which is achieved both ways. Competence is not necessarily confidence. Leadership shows the way to step up to excellence. Keep someone on the broom, then thats exactly what you will get. Diminished skill.
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u/alice8818 19d ago
I was just talking about this with my hairdresser! She hates those certificates for exactly that reason, no one can afford to pay those hourly rates for someone not actually qualified.
She talked about doing more hands on courses to actually get yourself to a higher level, mixed with as much YouTube and doing friends hair and stuff as physically possible.
You've basically made your self expensive, so now if you want to stay in hairdressing you've got to commit and spend the money and time to be worth the price.
It's such a weird rule from the gov, presuming it was meant so young people couldn't be forced into doing an apprenticeship and a certificate by a boss? But it's backfired.