@olwebs I’ve been at this about two years myself, but took the small shop route and I’m currently debating giving it one final go via corporate. I’m sorry, your experience has been so unpleasant. I hate to say it, but I have found this industry to be incredibly toxic and abusive as a whole and it’s unfortunate, because I am so damn passionate about this work.
Honestly, I would attempt to wait it out until January if I was in your shoes (based only on your post). I will say though that I’m shocked you’re putting so much weight on a “certification” at this stage in your career. Certified literally means nothing in an unregulated industry. I have a certificate from Penn Foster in grooming, I am AKC safe certified and Pet CPR and first aid certified and I’m still not hirable as a groomer and for good reason. I learned very quick to appreciate being an assistant and accept that there will always be something new to learn or something to improve. Even 2 years in I still regularly notice how much my skills are improving. This is such a hard job and to be the kind of groomer that I want to be there is a huge benefit to taking it slow and truly learning as much as you can. If you think you’re out of things to learn in your current position then it might not be in your best interest to groom yet.
With that said, Penn Foster was a joke and a waste of money. Just buy Notes from the Grooming Table , it’s the same thing and practically copied word for word. Can’t speak for ABC program or Paragon though.
My biggest issue with still being an assistant is the crap pay. At some point I need the opportunity to earn an actual living. Instead I’m still working for minimum wage pouring my heart and soul into working, literally busting my ass barely making enough money to pay for childcare let alone all of my equipment and tools that coworkers are constantly using and breaking. I’m frustrated by the toxic and abusive work environments and poor pay, not the fact that I’m still an assistant after two years (4 salons total, 11 months at my current salon). Sorry, it’s been a rough couple of weeks here and a day to put those weeks to shame
![Downcast face with sweat :sweat: 😓](https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f613.png)
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