The week before Christmas and the week between Christmas and New Year's has been called the lost weeks because so many workers take days off to be with family and friends. I'm no exception, and will take a brief hiatus from now until January 3.
Enjoy the holidays and I look forward to the new year with its clean slate and endless possibilities.
Until next year,
Sarah
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Work-From-Home Job Spotlight: Video/DVD Editor
Each Thursday, I’m highlighting a work-from-home job or business.
Job Description: A video/DVD editor transfers older media (VHS tapes, 8 mm film, photographs, etc.) to DVDs. An editor might also create DVDs from a variety of materials, such as video footage, still photography, music, etc.
Education: None required.
Skills: The ability to create DVDs or other media from materials supplied by clients.
Job outlook: Video/DVD editors fall under “Motion Picture and Video Industries.” The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) finds that “wage and salary employment in the motion picture and video industries is projected to grow 14 percent between 2008 and 2018, compared with 11 percent growth projected for wage and salary employment in all industries combined. … Opportunities will be better in some occupations than in others. Computer specialists, multimedia artists and animators, film and video editors, and others skilled in digital filming, editing, and computer-generated imaging should have the best job prospects.” Check out the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook for more details
Possible employers: Family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, organizations, companies, etc., all have different needs when it comes to video/DVD editing. For example, family or friends might need a tribute DVD for a significant birthday or graduation. Companies and organizations could need a DVD to celebrate a milestone or anniversary.
Preparation: Make sure you have the equipment to transfer older media onto DVDs if that will be part of your business. Also ensure that your equipment is up-to-date enough to handle requests from clients.
Get your foot in the door: Start out by offering a discount on your services to a select group of companies or friends. Troll for corporate clients by reading up on the histories of local companies and seeing which might be having an important anniversary coming up.
Testimony: “Working at home was a better fit than trying to operate out of an office or with an organization,” says Tiffany, who works out of her Reston, Va., home. She and a partner create video or DVD tributes for weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, and other special occasions using photographs and film materials. They also convert reel, 8mm, and VHS tapes to create digital archives for their clients. She states that she “wouldn’t have gone looking for a job like this outside of the home, but the fact that I can do it from home makes it all possible.”
Until next time,
Sarah
Job Description: A video/DVD editor transfers older media (VHS tapes, 8 mm film, photographs, etc.) to DVDs. An editor might also create DVDs from a variety of materials, such as video footage, still photography, music, etc.
Education: None required.
Skills: The ability to create DVDs or other media from materials supplied by clients.
Job outlook: Video/DVD editors fall under “Motion Picture and Video Industries.” The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) finds that “wage and salary employment in the motion picture and video industries is projected to grow 14 percent between 2008 and 2018, compared with 11 percent growth projected for wage and salary employment in all industries combined. … Opportunities will be better in some occupations than in others. Computer specialists, multimedia artists and animators, film and video editors, and others skilled in digital filming, editing, and computer-generated imaging should have the best job prospects.” Check out the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook for more details
Possible employers: Family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, organizations, companies, etc., all have different needs when it comes to video/DVD editing. For example, family or friends might need a tribute DVD for a significant birthday or graduation. Companies and organizations could need a DVD to celebrate a milestone or anniversary.
Preparation: Make sure you have the equipment to transfer older media onto DVDs if that will be part of your business. Also ensure that your equipment is up-to-date enough to handle requests from clients.
Get your foot in the door: Start out by offering a discount on your services to a select group of companies or friends. Troll for corporate clients by reading up on the histories of local companies and seeing which might be having an important anniversary coming up.
Testimony: “Working at home was a better fit than trying to operate out of an office or with an organization,” says Tiffany, who works out of her Reston, Va., home. She and a partner create video or DVD tributes for weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, and other special occasions using photographs and film materials. They also convert reel, 8mm, and VHS tapes to create digital archives for their clients. She states that she “wouldn’t have gone looking for a job like this outside of the home, but the fact that I can do it from home makes it all possible.”
Until next time,
Sarah
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
At Home News on Setting Boundaries
When you work at home, it's tough to shut out the distractions of home, whether it's chores like laundry or that movie you've been dying to watch. The December issue of At Home News has tips on how to set boundaries while working from home.
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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, December 8, 2011
Work-From-Home Job Spotlight: Scientific Consultant
Each Thursday, I’m highlighting a work-from-home job or business.
Job Description: A scientific consultant gives businesses technical expertise, information, contacts, and tools that clients cannot provide themselves. The scientific consultant also works with clients to provide a service or solve a problem.
Education: Bachelor’s degree in related field required.
Skills: Expertise in a specific field, such as manufacturing, marketing, process, physical distribution, logistics, occupational safety, security, and technical.
Job outlook: The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) found that “wage and salary employment in the management, scientific, and technical consulting services industry is expected to grow by 83 percent between 2008 and 2018. All areas of consulting should experience strong growth. Projected job growth can be attributed primarily to economic growth and to the continuing complexity of business.” Check out the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook for more details
Possible employers: Almost any business uses consultants, but start with companies in your field of expertise.
Preparation: Make sure that any credentials you have are up-to-date. Take a refresher course in your field if you’ve been out of the workforce a while.
Get your foot in the door: Start by offering your services at a discount or gratis to a nonprofit organization in your field to gain a recent reference.
Testimony: Lori segued from her job as senior scientist for a Washington, D.C.-area research organization into an at-home position when she moved out of the area to Upper Darby, Penn. She conducts job analysis, creating multiple-choice and performance-based tests, data analysis, educational research and quality assurance, and training development. “I’m able to use my training and skills to perform my work well, and I feel a sense of satisfaction in doing good work, earning some income, and maintaining relationships with colleagues,” she says.
Until next time,
Sarah
Job Description: A scientific consultant gives businesses technical expertise, information, contacts, and tools that clients cannot provide themselves. The scientific consultant also works with clients to provide a service or solve a problem.
Education: Bachelor’s degree in related field required.
Skills: Expertise in a specific field, such as manufacturing, marketing, process, physical distribution, logistics, occupational safety, security, and technical.
Job outlook: The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) found that “wage and salary employment in the management, scientific, and technical consulting services industry is expected to grow by 83 percent between 2008 and 2018. All areas of consulting should experience strong growth. Projected job growth can be attributed primarily to economic growth and to the continuing complexity of business.” Check out the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook for more details
Possible employers: Almost any business uses consultants, but start with companies in your field of expertise.
Preparation: Make sure that any credentials you have are up-to-date. Take a refresher course in your field if you’ve been out of the workforce a while.
Get your foot in the door: Start by offering your services at a discount or gratis to a nonprofit organization in your field to gain a recent reference.
Testimony: Lori segued from her job as senior scientist for a Washington, D.C.-area research organization into an at-home position when she moved out of the area to Upper Darby, Penn. She conducts job analysis, creating multiple-choice and performance-based tests, data analysis, educational research and quality assurance, and training development. “I’m able to use my training and skills to perform my work well, and I feel a sense of satisfaction in doing good work, earning some income, and maintaining relationships with colleagues,” she says.
Until next time,
Sarah
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
More Ways to Tame the Email Monster
Recently, I went out of town for a Friday and Saturday, and didn't have time to check email while away. That Sunday was really busy, so I went three whole days without reading my email. That Monday, I downloaded 222 messages, which might not seem like a lot until you realize it was the weekend and most of those were not related to my freelance writing business.
Weeding through emails, no matter how many, can be tedious, especially given the time it takes to respond to them. Here are some tips on how to tame the email monster.
First, go through and delete without reading the unneceesary or unwanted messages. For example, on the days I don't write a news file for a trade association, I trash unread all the daily news digests and e-newsletters related to that job. Ditto on all the come-ons from companies I've done business with but have no need to order again at this time.
Second, triage the remaining email by tending to the ones in which you are the expert. These would be the ones that focus on your at-home business, for instance.
Third, tackle the rest of the email by either placing in folders for response later (and be sure to have a follow-up plan to do this) or write the response then.
Fourth, set a time limit on how long you will work on email. Then turn off or close the program and focus on other tasks.
Keeping the email monster tamed can seem daunting, but by developing a system that works for you can be a life-saver.
Until next time,
Sarah
Weeding through emails, no matter how many, can be tedious, especially given the time it takes to respond to them. Here are some tips on how to tame the email monster.
First, go through and delete without reading the unneceesary or unwanted messages. For example, on the days I don't write a news file for a trade association, I trash unread all the daily news digests and e-newsletters related to that job. Ditto on all the come-ons from companies I've done business with but have no need to order again at this time.
Second, triage the remaining email by tending to the ones in which you are the expert. These would be the ones that focus on your at-home business, for instance.
Third, tackle the rest of the email by either placing in folders for response later (and be sure to have a follow-up plan to do this) or write the response then.
Fourth, set a time limit on how long you will work on email. Then turn off or close the program and focus on other tasks.
Keeping the email monster tamed can seem daunting, but by developing a system that works for you can be a life-saver.
Until next time,
Sarah
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Work-From-Home Job Spotlight: Recruiter
Each Thursday, I’m highlighting a work-from-home job or business.
Job Description: A recruiter works in the employment services industry, which helps connect workers with employers. Recruiters can specialize in an industry, such as healthcare, or help companies staff for specific times, such as holiday, summer or temporary.
Education: A bachelor’s degree is preferred.
Skills: Experience in human resources and connections within the chosen industry are vital for this job.
Job outlook: The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) says that “the employment services industry [under which recruiters fall] provided 3.1 million wage and salary jobs in 2008. Wage and salary employment in the employment services industry is expected to grow 19 percent over the 2008 to 2018 projection period. … Temporary help agencies, the largest sector within employment services, should continue to generate many new jobs. This growth will be spurred by businesses in need of workers to manage seasonal and other temporary increases in their workloads, demand for specialized workers, and those businesses seeking to expand without incurring the additional costs associated with permanent employees.” Check out the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook for more details
Possible employers: Retail establishments that hire seasonal workers, such as those located in tourist destinations, and both big and small companies and businesses who may need temporary help. If specializing, any company in the specific industry with which you’ll be working.
Preparation: Start contacting former co-workers to see if they know of any staffing needs within that company or other businesses.
Get your foot in the door: Offer a discounted fee for the first few candidates you place within other companies. Give referral hiring bonuses to placed candidates who let you know about other openings that could work for your clients.
Testimony: Tina works from home as a missionary recruiter for the missionary arm of a Protestant denomination as a missionary recruiter, spending thirty hours a week talking with people interested in long-term and two-year mission service. “I talk regularly with hundreds of people. I develop relationships with them, talk through qualifications, help narrow down opportunities/fields, and coach them through the application process—or encourage them if they choose to pursue another line of service,” says Tina, who lives in Atlanta.
Until next time,
Sarah
Job Description: A recruiter works in the employment services industry, which helps connect workers with employers. Recruiters can specialize in an industry, such as healthcare, or help companies staff for specific times, such as holiday, summer or temporary.
Education: A bachelor’s degree is preferred.
Skills: Experience in human resources and connections within the chosen industry are vital for this job.
Job outlook: The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) says that “the employment services industry [under which recruiters fall] provided 3.1 million wage and salary jobs in 2008. Wage and salary employment in the employment services industry is expected to grow 19 percent over the 2008 to 2018 projection period. … Temporary help agencies, the largest sector within employment services, should continue to generate many new jobs. This growth will be spurred by businesses in need of workers to manage seasonal and other temporary increases in their workloads, demand for specialized workers, and those businesses seeking to expand without incurring the additional costs associated with permanent employees.” Check out the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook for more details
Possible employers: Retail establishments that hire seasonal workers, such as those located in tourist destinations, and both big and small companies and businesses who may need temporary help. If specializing, any company in the specific industry with which you’ll be working.
Preparation: Start contacting former co-workers to see if they know of any staffing needs within that company or other businesses.
Get your foot in the door: Offer a discounted fee for the first few candidates you place within other companies. Give referral hiring bonuses to placed candidates who let you know about other openings that could work for your clients.
Testimony: Tina works from home as a missionary recruiter for the missionary arm of a Protestant denomination as a missionary recruiter, spending thirty hours a week talking with people interested in long-term and two-year mission service. “I talk regularly with hundreds of people. I develop relationships with them, talk through qualifications, help narrow down opportunities/fields, and coach them through the application process—or encourage them if they choose to pursue another line of service,” says Tina, who lives in Atlanta.
Until next time,
Sarah
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