Work-From-Home Job Spotlight: Garage Sale Organizer

Each Thursday, I’m highlighting a work-from-home job or business.


Job Description: A garage sale organizer works with homeowners and estates to hold yard/garage and estate sales. A yard or garage sale is generally held by the current homeowners and is limited in scope, while an estate sale is usually done by an executor or heirs and pertains to the entire household contents.

Education: None required.

Skills: Experience in advertising, sales, and marketing helpful.

Job outlook: More people are looking to earn extra cash by holding yard/garage sales, and with the aging population, more are also turning to experts for help in estate sales.

Possible employers: Your neighbors and those living in the surrounding area. Also consider teaming up with estate attorneys to offer your services.

Preparation: If you don’t normally go to yard sales, start heading out Saturday mornings to get a feel for what people are selling and for how much. Research used furniture prices by checking Craig’s List and any retail resale shops. Get a list of experts together that you can call on for appraisals in specific areas, such as jewelry, furniture, artwork, etc., especially if you focus on estate sales when then goods are likely to be worth more. Set up a website advertising your services and print business cards to hand out to friends, neighbors, etc.

Get your foot in the door: Offer to run a neighbor or friend’s garage sale at a discount rate to get started. Make sure you have flyers or business cards on hand to give to customers at the sale to advertise your business.

Now available on Kindle and Smashwords: HomeWork, which gives details on 50 at-home jobs or businesses.

Until next time,

Sarah

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Conference Etiquette

Attending a conference has its own set of etiquette. Since most conferences cost money, “Conference Etiquette” has some great tips that can help you have a successful event.


Come prepared. Bring lots of business cards and/or brochures.

Wear your name badge but still introduce yourself to those you don’t know.

Ask other attendees questions to get the conversation started. Where they’re from, what they do, have they ever attended the conference before, are good places to start.

Approach small groups of people if you arrive at an event alone. It’s easier to break into a small group of twos or threes than a larger one.

At a meal event, don’t reach across the table to shake hands. Wait until everyone is served before picking up your fork.

Don’t talk while the speaker is talking. Bring a pen and notebook to take notes.

After the conference, write prompt follow-up notes to those who were helpful or who you need to thank for their assistance.

Following these simple tips can turn your next conference or convention into a great event.

Until next time,

Sarah

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Work-From-Home Job Spotlight: Engineer

Each Thursday, I’m highlighting a work-from-home job or business.


Job Description: Engineers use math and science principles to create economical solutions to technical problems. Engineers generally specialize in a field, such as the environment, electrical, health and safety, civil, mechanical or work environment engineering.

Education: A bachelor’s degree in the specialty field, plus graduate-level work or degrees are required.

Skills: The ability to link scientific discoveries and commercial applications to meet the needs of society and consumers.

Job outlook: The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) finds that “overall engineering employment is expected to grow by 11 percent over the 2008–18 decade, about as fast as the average for all occupations. … Overall job opportunities in engineering are expected to be good, and, indeed, prospects will be excellent in certain specialties. In addition to openings from job growth, many openings will be created by the need to replace current engineers who retire; transfer to management, sales, or other occupations; or leave engineering for other reasons.” Check out the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook for more details.

Possible employers: Companies, organizations and associations in your chosen field. Also, inquire about opportunities with local, state and federal governments, including agencies and departments.

Preparation: Make sure your certifications and licenses are up-to-date by checking with the appropriate federal or state agency or licensing board. Brush up on any new advances in your field by reading the applicable journals or attending conferences.

Get your foot in the door: If you previously worked in this field, reconnect with former colleagues and supervisors to see if any at-home work is available. Join the appropriate societies or associations and use the meetings and gatherings for networking.

Testimony: Sharon views her life as a an at-home mother and environmental engineer who consults from home as “having my cake and eating it, too.” From The Woodlands, Texas, she works between 10 and 20 hours weekly providing services to industrial and manufacturing clients to assist with air quality regulation compliance.

Until next time,

Sarah

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Basic Manners

Some people might think the time for manners is past in our fast-paced and increasingly mobile society, but as a businessperson, brushing up on your manners might just set you apart from the competition. Here are some manner basics.


“Please,” “thank you” and “you’re welcome” never go out of style.

Remember not to interrupt when someone else is talking.

Arrive at appointments on time or even a few minutes early.

Turn off cell phones and mobile devices during meetings, lunches, etc.

Hold the door for the person behind you regardless of gender.

Keep to the right on sidewalks and escalators.

Make eye contact when meeting or talking to someone and offer a warm smile.

Follow up promptly on promised materials, emails, information, etc.

Until next time,

Sarah

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Work-From-Home Job Spotlight: Data Entry Worker

Each Thursday, I’m highlighting a work-from-home job or business.


Job Description: A data entry or information processing worker keys in data into a computer, usually into a specific software or database program. Other names for this type of work include word processors, typists, data entry keyers, electronic data processors, keypunch technicians and transcribers (see Medical Transcriptionist and Transcriptionist for details on these jobs).

Education: None usually required.

Skills: The ability to spell, punctuate and know basic grammar, as well as familiarity with office equipment and procedures necessary. The ability to key in information accurately and quickly a requirement.

Job outlook: The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) says “the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or leave this large occupation for other reasons will produce numerous job openings each year. Job prospects will be most favorable for those with the best technical skills and be willing to upgrade their skills continuously in order to remain marketable.” Check out the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook for more details.

Possible employers: Hospitals, nonprofit organizations and associations, and companies of all sizes use data-entry workers.

Preparation: Brush up on your skills by enrolling in data entry, word processing, spreadsheet and database management classes at community colleges, temporary employment agencies and business schools. Self-teaching aids, such as books, CD-ROMs and online tutorials are also available in this field.

Get your foot in the door: When asking about data-entry work, offer to do a small project at reduced rate.

Testimony: “I used contacts from my previous employment to get my at-home job,” says Melissa, who does data entry for a school system in Dacula, Ga. “I do what I used to do, I just do it from a different angle and at home.”

Until next time,

Sarah

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August At Home News

A love of fabrics led Lisa Hawkes to start her own online fabrics store, Pink Hollybrush Designs, which specializes in classic children’s fabrics. Learn how Lisa started her home-based business in the August issue of At Home News.

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Until next time,

Sarah

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Work-From-Home Job Spotlight: Coach (Life, Parenting, Sports, etc.)

Each Thursday, I’m highlighting a work-from-home job or business.


Job Description: Coaches guide clients to achieve a particular personal or professional result. The coaching method is usually a facilitating style in that the coach generally asks questions that challenge the client. Coaching can be preformed individually or in groups and either in person, over the phone or online through live chats or email discussions. Different coaching specialties include life, sports, parenting, ADD (Attention Deficient Disorder), business, executive, career, financial, health, sports, conflict, dating and marriage, among others.

Education: While there are no state or governmental requirements, having certification through one of the specialty or general coaching associations will help you stand out among the competition.

Skills: The ability to work with people in your chosen specialty that helps them achieve their goals.

Job outlook: More people are seeking coaches to help them advance in their careers, juggle work and home life or excel at a particular skill. Especially in metropolitan areas, these types of coaches will likely find a large pool of potential clients.

Possible employers: Schools, businesses, churches, organizations and associations are beginning to see the benefits to hiring coaches to help their employees meet their full potential. Set up your own coaching business after determining which niche would best be filled by your particular skills and location.

Preparation: Check out the resources at the International Association of Coaching. Get certified through one of the many specific coaching associations, such as the Parenting Coaching Institute, iPEC’s Accredited Coach Training Program and Marriage Builders.

Get your foot in the door: Seek other coaches in the area you want to specialize in and talk to them about their experiences a coach. Contact the association or organization that offers certification and take a course or two to see if coaching is a good fit for you.

Until next time,

Sarah

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