You need to understand the job you've applied for and be able to convey how your skills best fill the companies needs. Be prepared to give real life experiences when asked questions.
As a hiring manager I can't tell you how many times I've heard "I'm good with people" and "I'm a real go-getter" or "I'm a team player".
That's great. So is everyone else I've talked to. What I want you to tell me is exactly how you're a team leader. Did you do a project that required you to work with a bunch of folks? How do you take initiative? Give me an example.
Be prepared to ask questions of your interviewer. A good interview is a give and take of questions and answers between both parties. Interviewees that ask good probing questions about my management style or career growth opportunities within the company show a real interest in both the hear and now and their future prospects.
Don't talk money, benefits, 401k, or vacation. Period.
Just don't.
Unless the interviewer asks you specifically about those things avoid those topics like the plague. Those folks that come in and start talking $$$ immediately take themself out of the running with me. You're there to talk about the opportunity, your skills, and how you fit. Chances are if I've called you to interview then your skills AND your salary requirements are in line with what the job offers.
Save the money talk until very late in the process.
Do research the company. It may sound obvious, but I can tell you that there are very few people that come in that really understand not only the company, but the markets we serve, our competitors, and the economic challenges we possess. Present a complete picture when you discuss the company not just the obvious stuff you can find on the web.
Be prepared to have a discussion on your career plans. Finding someone that has a clear vision of what they want to do in their career is a very important part of the process. It shows that you're thinking long term about yourself and the company.
Practice your answers in front of the bath room mirror. Having someone sit in front of me, not making eye contact and "Ummming" and "Ahhhhing" their way through the interview is a sure fire way of not getting a 2nd interview. Also, don't use slang or street talk. Provide a firm handshake, make eye contact, sit up straight and look very presentable.
Again, I can't tell you how many people have knocked themselves out of contention by coming in and saying "Whasss up." to me at the start. Show your polish and your best side.
And finally: Answer the questions that are asked. Provide clear, non-rambling, and direct answers. If I ask you about your computer skills don't proceed to tell me about a friend who really likes computers and is really good with Excel. That's great, but that's not what I asked you.
This is your one and only chance to make a fantastic impression. You are selling yourself to this company and as such you should be prepared to show exactly how and why you are the best candidate for the job.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Is it ok to leave some jobs out of a resume?
Some employers will run a background check of public records to verify your employment so you need to be careful on how you present your work history.
Large gaps in time -or- times that don't align with what's on record (e.g. you said you worked at a place for 2 years and they show you on roll for 6 months) will raise red flags.
The internet age has allowed prospective employers a very detailed look into your past. For a small fee they can look up public records files, if you filed taxes, schools you went to, marriage, moves, the works.
My advice would be to put all your job history on your resume so there are no gaps and/or inconsistencies. For those jobs that you want to de-emphasize only put a sentence about what you did. As you noted, most of those jobs aren't going to relate to your current career aspirations and won't be the center of discussion anyway.
Your interview is the first and only chance you get to make a strong first impression. You sound like an honest hard working person you don't want to jeopardize that. If they ask you if you liked working at Taco Bell, be honest but not petty.
I'd rather you tell me: "I worked hard while I was there and enjoyed the opportunity but in the end it just wasn't for me. I don't really enjoy cooking and the schedule demands didn't fit my school studies so I looked for other opportunities to help put myself through school." That's a much easier conversation to have than me asking you why there was a gap and/or that your background check showed you had omitted past employers. To me that says you're hiding something.
Are the work at home businesses real?
The old saying "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is" is never more accurate than when you're talking about work-at-home businesses.
Most of these "opportunities" come in the form of you buying some type of "starter kit", booklet, or other type of list that promises to share with you all the secrets of eternal wealth.
What you typically get is some half-baked information that tells usually 1 of 3 things:
The problem with #2 is that 99% of the companies they claim are looking for this type of work are either a) fictitious or b) have no such opportunities available.
And finally the problem with #3 is that did you really need someone to tell you to sell your baseball card collection for extra money?
No matter which scenario they employee they all have one thing in common they want to separate you from your $19.99 as quickly as possible.
Don't fall for their pitch. Better to look for meaningful employment locally either working for someone or finding a small business you can run.
Most of these "opportunities" come in the form of you buying some type of "starter kit", booklet, or other type of list that promises to share with you all the secrets of eternal wealth.
What you typically get is some half-baked information that tells usually 1 of 3 things:
- Set up a business selling these exact same "secrets" yourself.
- Some type of list or booklet of companies that are dying for you to be their secret shopper, survey taker or web page surfer.
- A bunch of common sense things you already know like "find something you love to do and offer it for a service -or- go dig around your basement to find things to sell on eBay.
The problem with #2 is that 99% of the companies they claim are looking for this type of work are either a) fictitious or b) have no such opportunities available.
And finally the problem with #3 is that did you really need someone to tell you to sell your baseball card collection for extra money?
No matter which scenario they employee they all have one thing in common they want to separate you from your $19.99 as quickly as possible.
Don't fall for their pitch. Better to look for meaningful employment locally either working for someone or finding a small business you can run.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Where do I find products to sell?
A - There are a number of ways to find products to sell depending on what your interests are.
Wholesaler - these are companies (or their representatives) that offer product direct for sale to the merchant (you). The great thing about wholesalers are they often offer a very wide variety of products at very low prices. They will often times offer price breaks for the more you buy and they will ship the items directly to you.
The downside of wholesalers are they often times require you to buy in quantity which can make the initial investment quite pricey. If you're just starting out and are cash strapped a wholesaler may not be your best bet.
Sources: www.alibaba.com
Dropshipper - A dropshipper is different from a wholesaler in that you act as their middleman between the buyer. The dropshipper holds all the inventory and ships it upon the sales order. You make your money on a % of the sale price and let the dropshipper handle the logistics of the sale.
Dropshipping is a viable way of setting up an online presence at a minimal price point -BUT- they have limitations in that their selections are often limited, pricing is usually fixed and you are relying on them to provide a critical piece of customer service; basically shipping an unbroken, quality item on time to your customer.
Sources: www.doba.com
Direct Sale - There are many small manufacturers that will work directly with the retailers to stock their products. These tend to be smaller speciality items that can be bought in smaller lot quantities. Often times an email or call to the manufacturer is all that is needed to get a price list and products coming in.
As with wholesalers, direct sales need to be managed carefully to make sure you don't buy more inventory than is necessary. Make sure that your spending is slow and well planned as nothing eats through cash quicker than spending on inventory.
Wholesaler - these are companies (or their representatives) that offer product direct for sale to the merchant (you). The great thing about wholesalers are they often offer a very wide variety of products at very low prices. They will often times offer price breaks for the more you buy and they will ship the items directly to you.
The downside of wholesalers are they often times require you to buy in quantity which can make the initial investment quite pricey. If you're just starting out and are cash strapped a wholesaler may not be your best bet.
Sources: www.alibaba.com
Dropshipper - A dropshipper is different from a wholesaler in that you act as their middleman between the buyer. The dropshipper holds all the inventory and ships it upon the sales order. You make your money on a % of the sale price and let the dropshipper handle the logistics of the sale.
Dropshipping is a viable way of setting up an online presence at a minimal price point -BUT- they have limitations in that their selections are often limited, pricing is usually fixed and you are relying on them to provide a critical piece of customer service; basically shipping an unbroken, quality item on time to your customer.
Sources: www.doba.com
Direct Sale - There are many small manufacturers that will work directly with the retailers to stock their products. These tend to be smaller speciality items that can be bought in smaller lot quantities. Often times an email or call to the manufacturer is all that is needed to get a price list and products coming in.
As with wholesalers, direct sales need to be managed carefully to make sure you don't buy more inventory than is necessary. Make sure that your spending is slow and well planned as nothing eats through cash quicker than spending on inventory.
Friday, February 26, 2010
What's a business plan and why do I need one?
A - A good business plan, one that outlines how you're going to market your business, the areas you're going to focus on, the type of work you're going to perform and the prices you expect to charge are all key components of a good business plan.
My suggestion is to look for a local chapter of SCORE (Service Chapter of Retired Executives) to help you put this together (http://www.score.org/index.html). They will walk you through the process and give you sound advice on how to operate, insure, market, and administer to your clients.
Here are some other things you need to consider (which I think you already have in mind) but these are make or break items.
1) Pricing - most new business owners make the mistake of pricing themselves way too low as a way of enticing new customers to try them out. While aggressive pricing is OK don't give your services away. Landscaping businesses are expensive to operate (especially if you have employees) and while you think you may be making money because you have clients that pay you don't confuse cash flow with profitability. They are two different things.
Keep your prices competitive but not super cheap. Really low prices also can carry a stigma of being done by a "fly-by-night" operation. As a homeowner I'd rather spend a few extra dollars to go with a reputable operation that is reliable and using good equipment.
2) Marketing - I'm not a big fan of fliers. Sure they're cheap and relatively easy to put together but they have limited reach and limited appeal. Think of it this way, do you read all your junk mail? I'm guessing not. And the reason you don't is because these items are sent to you unsolicited.
Direct marketers will grudgingly tell you that if they get a 1-2% response rate they are happy. Or, put another way if you gave out 1,000 fliers and got 15-20 people to call you for a quote you'd be doing something. The only way this type of marketing works is by blanketing an entire area with your ad. That's when things get expensive.
I'd much rather see you focus on getting up a web site, advertising with your local yellow pages (both online and book form), doing some print ads in local newspapers (a classified ad under services offered will get responses), and look for creative opportunities to get your name out.
A nice looking pick-up truck with well cared for equipment that has your company name and number prominently displayed will get attention. The other thing to consider is offering new customers some incentives for getting your name out to their neighbors and family. Do something like - Refer a customer and get a free week of services, free weeding.... You get the idea.
3) Do a FANTASTIC job ALL THE TIME! Don't just do a slam-bam-thank-you-mam job because your best tool in marketing is word-of-mouth. People talk. Period. Not to mention that your work is on display for all to see. If you hack up my lawn I'm going to fire you and not recommend you. Do a great job and I won't want to shut-up about you.
4) Spend your money slowly and wisely. Don't hire too fast. Don't buy a bunch of equipment too fast but make sure what you have is in good working order.
My suggestion is to look for a local chapter of SCORE (Service Chapter of Retired Executives) to help you put this together (http://www.score.org/index.html). They will walk you through the process and give you sound advice on how to operate, insure, market, and administer to your clients.
Here are some other things you need to consider (which I think you already have in mind) but these are make or break items.
1) Pricing - most new business owners make the mistake of pricing themselves way too low as a way of enticing new customers to try them out. While aggressive pricing is OK don't give your services away. Landscaping businesses are expensive to operate (especially if you have employees) and while you think you may be making money because you have clients that pay you don't confuse cash flow with profitability. They are two different things.
Keep your prices competitive but not super cheap. Really low prices also can carry a stigma of being done by a "fly-by-night" operation. As a homeowner I'd rather spend a few extra dollars to go with a reputable operation that is reliable and using good equipment.
2) Marketing - I'm not a big fan of fliers. Sure they're cheap and relatively easy to put together but they have limited reach and limited appeal. Think of it this way, do you read all your junk mail? I'm guessing not. And the reason you don't is because these items are sent to you unsolicited.
Direct marketers will grudgingly tell you that if they get a 1-2% response rate they are happy. Or, put another way if you gave out 1,000 fliers and got 15-20 people to call you for a quote you'd be doing something. The only way this type of marketing works is by blanketing an entire area with your ad. That's when things get expensive.
I'd much rather see you focus on getting up a web site, advertising with your local yellow pages (both online and book form), doing some print ads in local newspapers (a classified ad under services offered will get responses), and look for creative opportunities to get your name out.
A nice looking pick-up truck with well cared for equipment that has your company name and number prominently displayed will get attention. The other thing to consider is offering new customers some incentives for getting your name out to their neighbors and family. Do something like - Refer a customer and get a free week of services, free weeding.... You get the idea.
3) Do a FANTASTIC job ALL THE TIME! Don't just do a slam-bam-thank-you-mam job because your best tool in marketing is word-of-mouth. People talk. Period. Not to mention that your work is on display for all to see. If you hack up my lawn I'm going to fire you and not recommend you. Do a great job and I won't want to shut-up about you.
4) Spend your money slowly and wisely. Don't hire too fast. Don't buy a bunch of equipment too fast but make sure what you have is in good working order.
Do fliers and handouts really work?
A - It depends on the audience and the product/service you're offering.
Fliers can backfire on you depending on how you distribute them. If you post them on a public space like a bulletin board, telephone pole or shop windows you may do alright. If you choose to put them under car windshields or hand them out to passer-bys you may find they drive some resentment because of the nuisance factor.
I think your time, money, and energy are better spent with other forms of advertising. Fliers have the appeal of being cheap, but if you consider the number of fliers you have to distribute and/or post, the cost to duplicate and the cost to distribute (even if it's just your time) they're really not that cheap.
My advice is to take some time and consider your audience. There are a lot of ways to get the word out through print, classifieds, the web, and even radio (yes, radio can be affordable if you pick the right time and right station).
Fliers tend to be limited to a small geographic area, have limited appeal (e.g. even though I see it will I read and retain it), and have a high risk of negative attention (a parking lot full of fliers blowing around isn't a good message).
Ask yourself who you're trying to reach? What are you trying to reach them with (i.e. product, service, concert, gallery opening) and then think of where those things are typically announced.
A lot of local papers will run local notes of interest in the paper for free (especially if it's a new business opening or if it's a "lifestyle" event like an art gallery, concert or play). There are also a lot of local weekly periodicals that offer extremely competitive ad pricing that reach a far broader audience than handing out fliers.
Fliers have their place in established businesses where a satisfied customer can pick up a flier/brochure on what services you offer. They're a decent follow-up advertising tool but I wouldn't build my whole marketing strategy around them.
Fliers can backfire on you depending on how you distribute them. If you post them on a public space like a bulletin board, telephone pole or shop windows you may do alright. If you choose to put them under car windshields or hand them out to passer-bys you may find they drive some resentment because of the nuisance factor.
I think your time, money, and energy are better spent with other forms of advertising. Fliers have the appeal of being cheap, but if you consider the number of fliers you have to distribute and/or post, the cost to duplicate and the cost to distribute (even if it's just your time) they're really not that cheap.
My advice is to take some time and consider your audience. There are a lot of ways to get the word out through print, classifieds, the web, and even radio (yes, radio can be affordable if you pick the right time and right station).
Fliers tend to be limited to a small geographic area, have limited appeal (e.g. even though I see it will I read and retain it), and have a high risk of negative attention (a parking lot full of fliers blowing around isn't a good message).
Ask yourself who you're trying to reach? What are you trying to reach them with (i.e. product, service, concert, gallery opening) and then think of where those things are typically announced.
A lot of local papers will run local notes of interest in the paper for free (especially if it's a new business opening or if it's a "lifestyle" event like an art gallery, concert or play). There are also a lot of local weekly periodicals that offer extremely competitive ad pricing that reach a far broader audience than handing out fliers.
Fliers have their place in established businesses where a satisfied customer can pick up a flier/brochure on what services you offer. They're a decent follow-up advertising tool but I wouldn't build my whole marketing strategy around them.
I want to open a cleaning business, what should I do?
A - First you will have to get bonded and any employees or coworkers need to be bonded. This is for your own protection.
I would call some cleaning services and ask approximate rates to clean XX number of square feet and XX story house. They will want to set an appointment to come to your house, but you may be able to get around it. I think that commercial services often charge more than individuals, but individuals can request cash only.
To get started, you can print and distribute a flyer or even just a business card in nice neighborhoods. Some folks even put up small signs on street corners (depends upon laws in your city). Other good places to advertise are grocery bulletin boards, day care centers, exercise centers - anywhere there are busy mom's.
Don't overlook apartments either. These are easy to clean and singles have the $$ to spend. Leave business cards with the manager and find out where you can post your name.
Many people will ask for references even though you are bonded. You might start out by cleaning the homes of a couple of friends for free, just to get a reference going.
The best way ultimately is word of mouth, but you'll have to put forth quite a bit of effort to get that going. I pay $60 cash for my 2200 square foot, one story house. It takes 2 people about 2.5 - 3 hours to clean it. I would say on average that $10 per hour is what people will pay.
You want to try to stay in the same neighborhood to keep your costs down.
Also you might look at signing up with some of the cleaning services as a sub contractor to get started.
I would call some cleaning services and ask approximate rates to clean XX number of square feet and XX story house. They will want to set an appointment to come to your house, but you may be able to get around it. I think that commercial services often charge more than individuals, but individuals can request cash only.
To get started, you can print and distribute a flyer or even just a business card in nice neighborhoods. Some folks even put up small signs on street corners (depends upon laws in your city). Other good places to advertise are grocery bulletin boards, day care centers, exercise centers - anywhere there are busy mom's.
Don't overlook apartments either. These are easy to clean and singles have the $$ to spend. Leave business cards with the manager and find out where you can post your name.
Many people will ask for references even though you are bonded. You might start out by cleaning the homes of a couple of friends for free, just to get a reference going.
The best way ultimately is word of mouth, but you'll have to put forth quite a bit of effort to get that going. I pay $60 cash for my 2200 square foot, one story house. It takes 2 people about 2.5 - 3 hours to clean it. I would say on average that $10 per hour is what people will pay.
You want to try to stay in the same neighborhood to keep your costs down.
Also you might look at signing up with some of the cleaning services as a sub contractor to get started.
What's the best way to ship items for eBay?
A - Assuming you live in the US the cheapest and most cost effective way of shipping merchandise is to utilize the US Postal Service. Here are some of the benefits:
* Their costs are very competitive with other domestic carriers
* They offer package tracking (so you know when it's delivered) as well as insurance
* They will pick up the items at your door
* You can print postage & shipping labels online (provided you have a credit card or PayPal)
* They will ship you packaging supplies (basically boxes) for FREE (http://www.usps.com/)
From a cost and convenience perspective it is hard to beat the services they offer.
The only equipment you would need to buy is a decent postal scale to weigh your packages before you ship them. Most office supply stores sell analog style scales for around $30 and while you're there you should plan on picking up some packing tape and packing material (foam peanuts, bubble wrap).
All packages should ship with a return address (yours) and a recepient's address (your buyer) clearly labeled on the front of the package. It is your best way of guaranteeing safe delivery.
* Their costs are very competitive with other domestic carriers
* They offer package tracking (so you know when it's delivered) as well as insurance
* They will pick up the items at your door
* You can print postage & shipping labels online (provided you have a credit card or PayPal)
* They will ship you packaging supplies (basically boxes) for FREE (http://www.usps.com/)
From a cost and convenience perspective it is hard to beat the services they offer.
The only equipment you would need to buy is a decent postal scale to weigh your packages before you ship them. Most office supply stores sell analog style scales for around $30 and while you're there you should plan on picking up some packing tape and packing material (foam peanuts, bubble wrap).
All packages should ship with a return address (yours) and a recepient's address (your buyer) clearly labeled on the front of the package. It is your best way of guaranteeing safe delivery.
Can you list fixed price items in eBay with no feedback?
Not until you have the prerequisite number of feedbacks as you noted.
A big part of the eBay "experience" is built around their feedback system. This system is a tool designed to build trust and establishing a good reputation as both buyer & seller.
There have been instances in the past where folks have opened up online stores, made promises to sell items, collected money and never shipped. eBay has adjusted it's policies to try and minimize these type of fly-by-night operations (not to say that this is you in any way).
The best thing you can do is to look for some auction items that you can bid on and/or sell some items in a regular auction format that will allow you to build your feedback profile. The good news is that within a week to 10 days you should have the requisite number of transactions to put this issue behind you.
A big part of the eBay "experience" is built around their feedback system. This system is a tool designed to build trust and establishing a good reputation as both buyer & seller.
There have been instances in the past where folks have opened up online stores, made promises to sell items, collected money and never shipped. eBay has adjusted it's policies to try and minimize these type of fly-by-night operations (not to say that this is you in any way).
The best thing you can do is to look for some auction items that you can bid on and/or sell some items in a regular auction format that will allow you to build your feedback profile. The good news is that within a week to 10 days you should have the requisite number of transactions to put this issue behind you.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
How do I start a cleaning business?
A - My experiences with small businesses of this type are that you really need strong word of mouth advertising. Your first steps should be to advertise in your local newspaper or weekly coupon pages (almost every town has a small weekly periodical that accepts advertising for a reasonable fee).
You need to establish yourself as trustworthy and dependable with your clients so you can use them as references. People need to know the person they have in their homes is there to clean and not clean them out. You will be amazed how fast your name will spread through town once you have a couple of well established clients. People talk, especially if they have someone that provides good, reasonably priced services.
Get some business cards, either print them yourself at home with business card stock you can buy at any office supply store, or order them online. They are cheap and as you get clients be sure to give them some to give to friends. Keep your cards simple, have a phone number where you can always be reached (I can't stress this enough) and get back to people quickly. If you're not there to answer your phone and make appointments your potential clients will move on to the next business.
You should carry your own cleaning supplies with you (Lysol, Pinesol, Windex, towels, etc.) in a bucket with gloves and other support items. A vacuum is a definite plus, but if it's not in your reach financially then it's OK to ask your clients to use theirs just be sure you stipulate that up front.
Price aggressively but don't undersell yourself. Be very clear going in what your services include. Time yourself on how long it takes to do things. For example an average sized room takes 5-10 minutes to vacuum or dry mop. Cleaning a bathroom takes 15-20. If you go in to a home and see it has 5 rooms and a bathroom you should figure a good hour to hour & 15 minutes to do just those tasks. It's not unreasonable to ask for $20-25/Hour to start (depending on your geographical location), but the key is to make a mental note of how big the house is and do the math as you walk through it. If you've got a 10 room 3 bathroom house and you only charge them $20 you are underselling yourself. Be realistic, you're not out to make a million dollars, but rather to bring in some extra cash with some schedule flexibility.
Let your clients tell you what they want and then go over it with them so you're sure you both agree. A quick recap of "I will come in weekly on Wednesday to vacuum all the floors, clean the bathroom, empty the trash, and dry mop the kitchen floor for $30.", will set expectations right off the bat and make sure you're customer is happy.
Don't be afraid to sell other services along with your weekly duties. "For an additional $xx a month I'd be happy to dust for you every other week." or "I'd be happy to wash the kitchen floors, do the windows for and additional $xx". They'll appreciate it and you'll get a little extra business.
Your reputation is critical in this type of work especially in a small town. You need to be on time, courteous, and trustworthy all the time. Nothing will destroy your business quicker than bad word of mouth.
You need to establish yourself as trustworthy and dependable with your clients so you can use them as references. People need to know the person they have in their homes is there to clean and not clean them out. You will be amazed how fast your name will spread through town once you have a couple of well established clients. People talk, especially if they have someone that provides good, reasonably priced services.
Get some business cards, either print them yourself at home with business card stock you can buy at any office supply store, or order them online. They are cheap and as you get clients be sure to give them some to give to friends. Keep your cards simple, have a phone number where you can always be reached (I can't stress this enough) and get back to people quickly. If you're not there to answer your phone and make appointments your potential clients will move on to the next business.
You should carry your own cleaning supplies with you (Lysol, Pinesol, Windex, towels, etc.) in a bucket with gloves and other support items. A vacuum is a definite plus, but if it's not in your reach financially then it's OK to ask your clients to use theirs just be sure you stipulate that up front.
Price aggressively but don't undersell yourself. Be very clear going in what your services include. Time yourself on how long it takes to do things. For example an average sized room takes 5-10 minutes to vacuum or dry mop. Cleaning a bathroom takes 15-20. If you go in to a home and see it has 5 rooms and a bathroom you should figure a good hour to hour & 15 minutes to do just those tasks. It's not unreasonable to ask for $20-25/Hour to start (depending on your geographical location), but the key is to make a mental note of how big the house is and do the math as you walk through it. If you've got a 10 room 3 bathroom house and you only charge them $20 you are underselling yourself. Be realistic, you're not out to make a million dollars, but rather to bring in some extra cash with some schedule flexibility.
Let your clients tell you what they want and then go over it with them so you're sure you both agree. A quick recap of "I will come in weekly on Wednesday to vacuum all the floors, clean the bathroom, empty the trash, and dry mop the kitchen floor for $30.", will set expectations right off the bat and make sure you're customer is happy.
Don't be afraid to sell other services along with your weekly duties. "For an additional $xx a month I'd be happy to dust for you every other week." or "I'd be happy to wash the kitchen floors, do the windows for and additional $xx". They'll appreciate it and you'll get a little extra business.
Your reputation is critical in this type of work especially in a small town. You need to be on time, courteous, and trustworthy all the time. Nothing will destroy your business quicker than bad word of mouth.
Is there a "real" home business that I can run?
A - There are no legitimate "get rich quick" schemes on the web that work. There are plenty who claim they will, but in the end if they sound to good to be true, they probably are.
A lot of these offers are to do menial tasks such as stuffing envelopes (which is just a phony list with a bunch of non-working phone numbers to companies seeking this service). Others are a multi-level marketing scheme (often referred to as MLM) where you sell vitamins, self help products or beauty items to people that you recruit to work for you (again, another non-working business model).
My advice is to stay away from these offers that fill the web and your inbox. Again, if it sounds to good to be true, it is.
Where you may be able to succeed is in offering your services/skills in something you excel at.
Do you have a marketable skill that you may be able to use to your advantage? Are you good with your hands? Mechanically inclined? Artistic? Good with taxes? A good golfer?
Think about the things that you do well and see if you can find a way to offer it to folks at a moderate cost.
My late grandfather was an avid fisherman who used to advertise his services as a local fishing guide at some of our local camp grounds. His knowledge of the local fishing holes along with his very reasonable fees had him constantly booked. It was a win-win for him. He got to do what he loved and he made some extra $$$ on the side. If you think in those terms I think you'll find something.
A lot of these offers are to do menial tasks such as stuffing envelopes (which is just a phony list with a bunch of non-working phone numbers to companies seeking this service). Others are a multi-level marketing scheme (often referred to as MLM) where you sell vitamins, self help products or beauty items to people that you recruit to work for you (again, another non-working business model).
My advice is to stay away from these offers that fill the web and your inbox. Again, if it sounds to good to be true, it is.
Where you may be able to succeed is in offering your services/skills in something you excel at.
Do you have a marketable skill that you may be able to use to your advantage? Are you good with your hands? Mechanically inclined? Artistic? Good with taxes? A good golfer?
Think about the things that you do well and see if you can find a way to offer it to folks at a moderate cost.
My late grandfather was an avid fisherman who used to advertise his services as a local fishing guide at some of our local camp grounds. His knowledge of the local fishing holes along with his very reasonable fees had him constantly booked. It was a win-win for him. He got to do what he loved and he made some extra $$$ on the side. If you think in those terms I think you'll find something.
Is a work as an Ebay listing agent for real?
A - The simple answer to your question is yes, being a listing agent for eBay is a legitimate business model.
You don't need an intermediary to become a listing agent for eBay. All you really need is an account in good standing, some basic tools (PC, quality digital camera, photo editing software) and some marketing to get you started. You are basically in the business of selling other peoples things.
Not knowing your level of experience with eBay I would suggest you do a few practice auctions with some of your own personnel items you no longer need to get the feel for how the auction process works, collecting money, packaging and shipping before you start trying to sell other people's items.
A good listing agent will take a % of the final sale prices as a commission and your duties basically entail handling all of the auction particulars in exchange. Simply put, you take the pictures, write the ad copy, collect the money and handle all the shipping. This is a job that requires someone that is comfortable managing multiple priorities and who pays attention to detail.
This is a business model that can and does often work -BUT- it requires diligence, organization, and customer service. You need to make sure that both your client (the seller) and your clients client (the buyer) are happy. Make sure you take the time to fully understand eBay's rules and regulations as well as the cost of listing things.
You don't need an intermediary to become a listing agent for eBay. All you really need is an account in good standing, some basic tools (PC, quality digital camera, photo editing software) and some marketing to get you started. You are basically in the business of selling other peoples things.
Not knowing your level of experience with eBay I would suggest you do a few practice auctions with some of your own personnel items you no longer need to get the feel for how the auction process works, collecting money, packaging and shipping before you start trying to sell other people's items.
A good listing agent will take a % of the final sale prices as a commission and your duties basically entail handling all of the auction particulars in exchange. Simply put, you take the pictures, write the ad copy, collect the money and handle all the shipping. This is a job that requires someone that is comfortable managing multiple priorities and who pays attention to detail.
This is a business model that can and does often work -BUT- it requires diligence, organization, and customer service. You need to make sure that both your client (the seller) and your clients client (the buyer) are happy. Make sure you take the time to fully understand eBay's rules and regulations as well as the cost of listing things.
Do I need a Resale Licenses for selling at eBay?
A -Typically not. A resale license is for taxation purposes and often times state's will issue them so that if you're buying items for sale locally you don't have to pay sales tax on the item only to have to turn around and collect taxes on them again from your buyers (a double dip).
Whether or not you need an importers license depends on what you're importing. Again, typically the answer is no, but if there are food, health, or petroleum related items then you should check with the US Dept. of Commerce. The items you list above shouldn't require an import license.
http://www.commerce.gov/
Whether or not you need an importers license depends on what you're importing. Again, typically the answer is no, but if there are food, health, or petroleum related items then you should check with the US Dept. of Commerce. The items you list above shouldn't require an import license.
http://www.commerce.gov/
How do I find suppliers for my eBay business?
A - This is the classic eBay "gotcha" question.
Your question is a legitimate one, but it's one that many successful sellers are very reluctant to answer because if they've found an inexpensive supplier of products that sell well they are not going to want to share it with anyone for fear that you'll become their competition and eat into their profit margins.
The other side of the gotcha is that if you search eBay for "supplier list" or "wholesale suppliers" there are plenty of unscrupulous sellers that want to sell you a list that gets you all the names and numbers of the best suppliers you can find.
Only problem is when you get the list most of the names and contact information are either out dated, bogus or both. So don't waste your money.
My best advice to you is to pick items that interest you and then start with a simple search on Alibaba (www.alibaba.com) to see if you can find a supplier that will sell to you at quantities that you can afford.
Before you go placing any orders make sure you do a "Completed Listings" search on the type of items you're interested in selling to see if you can make a profit on them. There's no use in buying a bunch of iPhone cases (as an example) for $2 a piece when you find that all you can sell them for is $1.50.
Do your homework first before you buy.
Another area you can look for is eBay itself.
Many sellers will sell bulk lots that they don't feel like sorting through to list separately. I buy a lot of camera equipment this way, often times taking a lens out of the lot that I'm interested in and relisting the rest of the items individually.
I don't make millions, but I do fund my hobby.
Anyone that wants to sell you some type of "magic" list or pamphlet for the low-low-price of $9.99 is just looking to separate you from your $9.99. Don't bother with this hokum. Take some time with Google and Yahoo! to find contacts (good searches will yield results).
Your question is a legitimate one, but it's one that many successful sellers are very reluctant to answer because if they've found an inexpensive supplier of products that sell well they are not going to want to share it with anyone for fear that you'll become their competition and eat into their profit margins.
The other side of the gotcha is that if you search eBay for "supplier list" or "wholesale suppliers" there are plenty of unscrupulous sellers that want to sell you a list that gets you all the names and numbers of the best suppliers you can find.
Only problem is when you get the list most of the names and contact information are either out dated, bogus or both. So don't waste your money.
My best advice to you is to pick items that interest you and then start with a simple search on Alibaba (www.alibaba.com) to see if you can find a supplier that will sell to you at quantities that you can afford.
Before you go placing any orders make sure you do a "Completed Listings" search on the type of items you're interested in selling to see if you can make a profit on them. There's no use in buying a bunch of iPhone cases (as an example) for $2 a piece when you find that all you can sell them for is $1.50.
Do your homework first before you buy.
Another area you can look for is eBay itself.
Many sellers will sell bulk lots that they don't feel like sorting through to list separately. I buy a lot of camera equipment this way, often times taking a lens out of the lot that I'm interested in and relisting the rest of the items individually.
I don't make millions, but I do fund my hobby.
Anyone that wants to sell you some type of "magic" list or pamphlet for the low-low-price of $9.99 is just looking to separate you from your $9.99. Don't bother with this hokum. Take some time with Google and Yahoo! to find contacts (good searches will yield results).
What's the best way to approach businesses for work?
Q - I was wondering if going through a phonebook and calling any/all businesses to see if they need any extra help of any kind was an okay way to find some temp(and with luck some more steady) work. What do you think?
A - Unsolicited calls are generally a poor way to generate leads so save your effort there. These type of calls typically never make it past a receptionist.
Unsolicited visits don't fare much better but you may find you're in the right place at the right time. If you decide to do this, go prepared. A one page summary of your qualifications, contact information and references can help you open the door over other candidates.
A simple bulletized list of what you can do (e.g. run a Bobcat, carpentry skills, plumbers apprentice, etc...) and what you've done and for who is all you need. Make sure it's neat, with proper spelling and grammar.
Persistence can pay off, but remember this is still a challenging way of looking for work.
A - Unsolicited calls are generally a poor way to generate leads so save your effort there. These type of calls typically never make it past a receptionist.
Unsolicited visits don't fare much better but you may find you're in the right place at the right time. If you decide to do this, go prepared. A one page summary of your qualifications, contact information and references can help you open the door over other candidates.
A simple bulletized list of what you can do (e.g. run a Bobcat, carpentry skills, plumbers apprentice, etc...) and what you've done and for who is all you need. Make sure it's neat, with proper spelling and grammar.
Persistence can pay off, but remember this is still a challenging way of looking for work.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)