No, I'm not talking about finance for kids! Microfinance is lending in small amounts to higher risk individuals, such as home-based entrepreneurs. In the October issue of At Home News, I talk about microfinance and how you can tap that resources for a cash infusion.
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Until next time,
Sarah
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Work-From-Home Job Spotlight: Jewelry Maker
Each Thursday, I’m highlighting a work-from-home job or business.
Job Description: A jewelry maker creates earrings, necklaces, bracelets, etc., by hand from a variety of materials. The pieces can be one-of-a-kind or similar.
Education: None required.
Skills: Creativity and the ability to fashion jewelry using a variety of materials.
Job outlook: The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) says that “employment of jewelers and precious stone and metal workers is expected to grow by 5 percent between 2008 and 2018, more slowly than the average for all occupations. Most jewelry is currently imported, and continued growth in imports will limit demand, particularly for lower-skilled workers. However, demand … will grow as consumers seek more customized jewelry.” Check out the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook for more details.
Possible employers: Jewelry stores, watch stores and independent clothing boutiques might be interested in carrying your pieces on consignment. Also consignment stores might have space for original pieces.
Preparation: Make sure you have a variety of product available before starting to sell, as consumers enjoy browsing to find the right jewelry for them or as gifts. Many community colleges or technical schools offer classes in jewelry making that might be beneficial to see what the new trends are.
Get your foot in the door: Try out your designs at a local arts-and-craft festival by buying a space or sharing a booth with a similar but non-competing business, like clothing, purses, hair ornaments, etc.
Testimony: Debbie in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, works in a local art gallery designing jewelry on Saturdays, while the rest of the week, she works out of her home. “I just figured that was what I would do, and making jewelry is something that’s relatively easy to do from home,” she says.
Now available on Kindle and Smashwords: HomeWork, which gives details on 50 at-home jobs or businesses.
Until next time,
Sarah
Job Description: A jewelry maker creates earrings, necklaces, bracelets, etc., by hand from a variety of materials. The pieces can be one-of-a-kind or similar.
Education: None required.
Skills: Creativity and the ability to fashion jewelry using a variety of materials.
Job outlook: The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) says that “employment of jewelers and precious stone and metal workers is expected to grow by 5 percent between 2008 and 2018, more slowly than the average for all occupations. Most jewelry is currently imported, and continued growth in imports will limit demand, particularly for lower-skilled workers. However, demand … will grow as consumers seek more customized jewelry.” Check out the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook for more details.
Possible employers: Jewelry stores, watch stores and independent clothing boutiques might be interested in carrying your pieces on consignment. Also consignment stores might have space for original pieces.
Preparation: Make sure you have a variety of product available before starting to sell, as consumers enjoy browsing to find the right jewelry for them or as gifts. Many community colleges or technical schools offer classes in jewelry making that might be beneficial to see what the new trends are.
Get your foot in the door: Try out your designs at a local arts-and-craft festival by buying a space or sharing a booth with a similar but non-competing business, like clothing, purses, hair ornaments, etc.
Testimony: Debbie in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, works in a local art gallery designing jewelry on Saturdays, while the rest of the week, she works out of her home. “I just figured that was what I would do, and making jewelry is something that’s relatively easy to do from home,” she says.
Now available on Kindle and Smashwords: HomeWork, which gives details on 50 at-home jobs or businesses.
Until next time,
Sarah
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Flexibility Tops Pay
It's no surprise for those of us who work from home that flexibility is high on the list of reasons why we choose not to go into an office, but 42 percent of working adults would willingly give up 6 percent of their salary for more workplace flexibility, according to a recent survey.
For me, being able to put aside my work and tend to a boo-boo or read a story with my children is priceless. Scheduling my writing around my family's schedule means I'm there when I'm needed.
I'm thankful that my husband's office has a certain amount of flexibility, too, which means we can have a home life that suits our family.
So embrace the flexibility of your at-home work and enjoy knowing you can have it without taking a pay cut.
Until next time,
Sarah
For me, being able to put aside my work and tend to a boo-boo or read a story with my children is priceless. Scheduling my writing around my family's schedule means I'm there when I'm needed.
I'm thankful that my husband's office has a certain amount of flexibility, too, which means we can have a home life that suits our family.
So embrace the flexibility of your at-home work and enjoy knowing you can have it without taking a pay cut.
Until next time,
Sarah
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Work-From-Home Job Spotlight: Interpreter/Translator
Each Thursday, I’m highlighting a work-from-home job or business.
Job Description: Interpreters interpret the spoke word for a non-native speaker while translators translate documents into another language for companies, governments and organizations.
Education: A bachelor’s degree usually required; post-graduate work relating to the language a plus.
Skills: Spoken and written fluency in a specific language.
Job outlook: The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) finds that “employment of interpreters and translators is projected to increase 22 percent over the 2008–18 decade, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. Higher demand for interpreters and translators results directly from the broadening of international ties and the large increases in the number of non-English speaking people in the United States. Both of these trends are expected to continue throughout the projections period, contributing to relatively rapid growth in the number of jobs for interpreters and translators across all industries in the economy.” Languages in demand include Portuguese, French, Italian, German, and Spanish, while demand is growing for Arabic and other Middle Eastern languages, and for Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. American Sign Language is also expected to grow. Check out the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook for more details.
Possible employers: The BLS says that “urban areas, especially Washington, D.C., New York, and cities in California, provide the largest numbers of employment possibilities.” Governments, companies, organizations, public and private schools (preschool, elementary, secondary and university levels), and associations all need translators and interpreters.
Preparation: Make sure your interpretation and translating skills are up-to-date. Take a refresher course or receive certification in your preferred language.
Get your foot in the door: Offer to translate a short document for free or at a greatly reduced rate, or do a free consultation in interpreting.
Now available on Kindle and Smashwords: HomeWork, which gives details on 50 at-home jobs or businesses.
Until next time,
Sarah
Job Description: Interpreters interpret the spoke word for a non-native speaker while translators translate documents into another language for companies, governments and organizations.
Education: A bachelor’s degree usually required; post-graduate work relating to the language a plus.
Skills: Spoken and written fluency in a specific language.
Job outlook: The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) finds that “employment of interpreters and translators is projected to increase 22 percent over the 2008–18 decade, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. Higher demand for interpreters and translators results directly from the broadening of international ties and the large increases in the number of non-English speaking people in the United States. Both of these trends are expected to continue throughout the projections period, contributing to relatively rapid growth in the number of jobs for interpreters and translators across all industries in the economy.” Languages in demand include Portuguese, French, Italian, German, and Spanish, while demand is growing for Arabic and other Middle Eastern languages, and for Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. American Sign Language is also expected to grow. Check out the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook for more details.
Possible employers: The BLS says that “urban areas, especially Washington, D.C., New York, and cities in California, provide the largest numbers of employment possibilities.” Governments, companies, organizations, public and private schools (preschool, elementary, secondary and university levels), and associations all need translators and interpreters.
Preparation: Make sure your interpretation and translating skills are up-to-date. Take a refresher course or receive certification in your preferred language.
Get your foot in the door: Offer to translate a short document for free or at a greatly reduced rate, or do a free consultation in interpreting.
Now available on Kindle and Smashwords: HomeWork, which gives details on 50 at-home jobs or businesses.
Until next time,
Sarah
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Freelancers Union Wants Better Classification
Freelancers, or contingent workers, are a growing and vital part of the American workforce, but how to classify those who are not employed full time has been the subject of some debate. The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics hasn’t measured this group since 2005 because of lack of funds. The BLS has asked for the money to start counting again, but the Freelancers Union, an advocacy group, has asked the BLS to change the way these employees are labeled, according to a recent article in Bloomberg Business Week.
The government is “ignoring a crucial, and growing, segment of the economy that is transforming the U.S. workforce,” the union said. Contingent workers were defined by the BLS as workers who see their jobs as temporary.
Sara Horowitz, who founded the Freelancers Union, pointed out that the BLS numbers don’t portray workers who aren’t employed permanently full time. She said the agency needed to include independent workers, such as how the Government Accountability Office classifies this group. That would include self-employed, temps, contract workers, day laborers, on-call employees and part-time employees.
“What I find so profoundly unsettling is that the number one issue that human beings are having in America right now is the lack of work,” said Horowitz. “And to not have a clue about how people are really working, and that this isn’t a huge focus — why isn’t the Department of Labor making this front and center?”
Part of the debate is about the fact that contingent workers do not have much legal protection in the way of minimum wage, overtime, unemployment insurance and anti-discrimination regulations.
Until next time,
Sarah
The government is “ignoring a crucial, and growing, segment of the economy that is transforming the U.S. workforce,” the union said. Contingent workers were defined by the BLS as workers who see their jobs as temporary.
Sara Horowitz, who founded the Freelancers Union, pointed out that the BLS numbers don’t portray workers who aren’t employed permanently full time. She said the agency needed to include independent workers, such as how the Government Accountability Office classifies this group. That would include self-employed, temps, contract workers, day laborers, on-call employees and part-time employees.
“What I find so profoundly unsettling is that the number one issue that human beings are having in America right now is the lack of work,” said Horowitz. “And to not have a clue about how people are really working, and that this isn’t a huge focus — why isn’t the Department of Labor making this front and center?”
Part of the debate is about the fact that contingent workers do not have much legal protection in the way of minimum wage, overtime, unemployment insurance and anti-discrimination regulations.
Until next time,
Sarah
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