The last few hours of the day really seemed to drag on and I couldn’t wait to leave. I was out that door at exactly five o’clock, and it wasn’t a moment too soon. I hated the first day, but I know it can take a while to settle into a new job, so I wasn’t too worried about the remainder of the week.
I didn’t arrive so early on the second day as I knew there was a lot of hanging around during the day, and the last thing I wanted to do was hang around some more. The morning was very quiet and between four work experience girls and the juniors there was hardly anything to do, but you’re not allowed to talk to each other, as it looks unprofessional. When Portia and I returned from our lunch break, there was so much to do. We had loads of washing up, sections to clear, the towel bin was full and the floor needed sweeping. The staff room is three floors high and it was one of the hottest days that week. We had to stand in a sort of cupboard off that room with a tumble dryer and sort and fold what seemed like hundreds of towels. This day was even worse than the first and I was beginning to dread what the next three days would be like. Although you don’t have very important, exciting or satisfying tasks, standing on your feet all day really wears you out.
The next day it became easier to find things to do, but there still weren’t a lot of jobs to do. I washed and rinsed someone’s hair for the first time, it was really good to finally be near a client and to actually do something with hair other than sweep it up. But unfortunately the acting manager that day thought I took too long and started shouting, telling me I had taken too long, even though I was being supervised by one of the juniors, so this put me off washing hair for the rest of the week. Over the last three days I’d started to notice that most of the juniors and stylists seemed really put out if we asked them a question, or tried to talk to them during a break, it seemed to be inconvenient to be polite towards us. The staff didn’t seem very considerate or understanding towards us, and we were doing all the mundane jobs for free. I really hate work experience now and just want this awful week to be over.
The next morning there was a team bonding exercise that we were not included in. We were made to sit at the opposite end of the salon and whenever we started talking to each other we were repeatedly told to shut up. It’s getting easier to find things to do now, but I really don’t want to do them. Even the juniors think of us as slaves, one said to me when I was sweeping the stairs at the end of the day ‘Where are the others, skiving again, you’re the only good little worker’. I really can’t wait to get out of here!
The next morning wasn’t so bad. I was told to go and get 40 one pound coins from the bank and sent to WH Smith to buy magazines, however I was given no money which proved to be a slight problem. While I was there, I was asked to return several CD’s. Finding the CD’s in what is possibly the world messiest, hottest, and smallest office in the world was not an easy task, and took several attempts. When I finally returned to the salon floor, there was once again nothing to do. I couldn’t wait to go on my lunch break. I was clock watching for the last hour. I didn’t go back after my lunch break.
I feel that work experience is quite pointless, as it didn’t really teach me a lot about a career in hair dressing, I’d have been better off working for my actual employer, as I like the people and the working environment there. What I did learn, was that I want go to college and do well, so I will be able to get a job I really like, then I’ll never have to be a hairdressing junior again. I also learned that you should always make an effort to get on with, and be polite to people you work with, as it makes your job a whole lot more enjoyable.