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
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Thursday, August 25, 2011
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
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
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
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
“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
Thursday, August 18, 2011
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
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
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
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.
Not receiving the free, monthly e-newsletter? Signing up is easy. Just click on the newsletter tab and type in your email address in the box provided.
Until next time,
Sarah
Not receiving the free, monthly e-newsletter? Signing up is easy. Just click on the newsletter tab and type in your email address in the box provided.
Until next time,
Sarah
Thursday, August 11, 2011
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
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
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Email Etiquette
Email has become the go-to form of communication in the business world, but not following some basic email etiquette can be potentially harmful, especially for the freelancer or home-based businessperson.
Here are some tips on business email.
Take time for grammar. Misspellings, missing punctuation and abbreviations or emoticons do not have a place in business email. Exceptions could be made for close clients, but even then, erring on the side of formality is probably better than choosing to be informal.
Keep it short and to the point. No one likes to read rambling emails, which can smack of unprofessionalism. State your purpose for emailing up front.
Make questions precise to avoid emailing again for clarification. You don’t want to start a long back-and-forth exchange if a properly worded question could have resulted in one or two responses.
Read it over before hitting the send button. Make sure you have the right recipient(s) in the To line. Did you cover all the points you needed to? Did you ask for a response within a certain time frame? Taking the time to give your message the once-over can save you lots of embarrassment later on.
Until next time,
Sarah
Here are some tips on business email.
Take time for grammar. Misspellings, missing punctuation and abbreviations or emoticons do not have a place in business email. Exceptions could be made for close clients, but even then, erring on the side of formality is probably better than choosing to be informal.
Keep it short and to the point. No one likes to read rambling emails, which can smack of unprofessionalism. State your purpose for emailing up front.
Make questions precise to avoid emailing again for clarification. You don’t want to start a long back-and-forth exchange if a properly worded question could have resulted in one or two responses.
Read it over before hitting the send button. Make sure you have the right recipient(s) in the To line. Did you cover all the points you needed to? Did you ask for a response within a certain time frame? Taking the time to give your message the once-over can save you lots of embarrassment later on.
Until next time,
Sarah
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Work-From-Home Job Spotlight: Circulation Manager
Each Thursday, I’m highlighting a work-from-home job or business.
Job Description: A circulation manager handles the subscription and customer service duties of a publication, such as magazine and newspaper.
Education: None required, but a bachelor’s degree will probably be preferred.
Skills: The ability to manage and update databases. Also, some marketing skills will likely be a plus because some circulation managers are tasked with growing the subscriber base.
Job outlook: As more companies seek to outsource data entry-type jobs, circulation management jobs from home will probably become more likely. However, some analysts believe that magazines and other publications will not growing or expanding as in years’ past. But the good news is that webzines and other web publications will have a need for online circulation management as more news sites and others move to fee-based content.
Possible employers: Magazines, publications and newsletters, both print and online, need circulation managers. Associations, churches, and nonprofit organizations would be good places to start because they will probably be interested in off-site, contract workers.
Preparation: Brush up on your subscription marketing skills. Also be sure you’re familiar with the latest in subscriber database software. Knowing how online publications manage content would be a plus.
Get your foot in the door: Make a list of the publications that interest you and send emails or letters asking about work-from-home opportunities in circulation. Also ask about temping for a while if the company wants a trial.
Testimony: “I had always thought that my ideal job would be flexible and allow me to use my English degree as I worked from home on a part-time basis,” says Valerie of her subscription and customer service job for a Protestant denominational magazine.
Until next time,
Sarah
Job Description: A circulation manager handles the subscription and customer service duties of a publication, such as magazine and newspaper.
Education: None required, but a bachelor’s degree will probably be preferred.
Skills: The ability to manage and update databases. Also, some marketing skills will likely be a plus because some circulation managers are tasked with growing the subscriber base.
Job outlook: As more companies seek to outsource data entry-type jobs, circulation management jobs from home will probably become more likely. However, some analysts believe that magazines and other publications will not growing or expanding as in years’ past. But the good news is that webzines and other web publications will have a need for online circulation management as more news sites and others move to fee-based content.
Possible employers: Magazines, publications and newsletters, both print and online, need circulation managers. Associations, churches, and nonprofit organizations would be good places to start because they will probably be interested in off-site, contract workers.
Preparation: Brush up on your subscription marketing skills. Also be sure you’re familiar with the latest in subscriber database software. Knowing how online publications manage content would be a plus.
Get your foot in the door: Make a list of the publications that interest you and send emails or letters asking about work-from-home opportunities in circulation. Also ask about temping for a while if the company wants a trial.
Testimony: “I had always thought that my ideal job would be flexible and allow me to use my English degree as I worked from home on a part-time basis,” says Valerie of her subscription and customer service job for a Protestant denominational magazine.
Until next time,
Sarah
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Phone Etiquette
Talking on the phone might seem very natural, but today’s world of mobile phones and conversations happening all over the place, following some simple phone etiquette rules can help you present a polished and professional manner on the phone.
Here are some tips from “20 Business Telephone Etiquette Tips for Customer Service.” Whether you’re in customer service per se, some of these tips apply to home-based businesses and at-home workers.
Always answer the phone in a pleasant manner. Don’t bark “hello” into the receiver. Don’t answer while chewing anything—gum, food, ice, etc. Do identify yourself and your company. Make sure you have a quiet place to talk in your house, whether it’s your office or bedroom, to mute the sounds of home when you’re talking to a client. I usually head to my bedroom and close the door whenever a source or client calls unexpectedly. When I do scheduled interviews, I make sure the children are otherwise occupied away from the office.
Set up your answering machine or voice mail in a professional way, even if you use your home phone number for business. For example, I use my home phone for my freelance business and my message reflects that: “You’ve reached the Hamakers and the home office of Sarah Hamaker, freelance writer and editor. Please leave a message after the tone and we’ll return your call as soon as possible.”
Return messages promptly. Make it a practice to return calls within 24 hours. There’s nothing more annoying than leaving messages and never receiving a call back.
Until next time,
Sarah
Here are some tips from “20 Business Telephone Etiquette Tips for Customer Service.” Whether you’re in customer service per se, some of these tips apply to home-based businesses and at-home workers.
Always answer the phone in a pleasant manner. Don’t bark “hello” into the receiver. Don’t answer while chewing anything—gum, food, ice, etc. Do identify yourself and your company. Make sure you have a quiet place to talk in your house, whether it’s your office or bedroom, to mute the sounds of home when you’re talking to a client. I usually head to my bedroom and close the door whenever a source or client calls unexpectedly. When I do scheduled interviews, I make sure the children are otherwise occupied away from the office.
Set up your answering machine or voice mail in a professional way, even if you use your home phone number for business. For example, I use my home phone for my freelance business and my message reflects that: “You’ve reached the Hamakers and the home office of Sarah Hamaker, freelance writer and editor. Please leave a message after the tone and we’ll return your call as soon as possible.”
Return messages promptly. Make it a practice to return calls within 24 hours. There’s nothing more annoying than leaving messages and never receiving a call back.
Until next time,
Sarah
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