| CAREERS NOW 03-18-07 |
| Need Income? Delve Into Direct Selling |
DEAR JOYCE: At 43, I lost my job but have enough savings to return to college
for two years to update my skills. But I would like to get a part-time job in case my education takes longer. I
was thinking about selling cosmetics like Avon or another product. Would this be a waste of my time? - Y.T.Z.
The median (half earn more, half earn less) annual pay for the nation's 14 million direct sellers is about $2,400,
or $200 a month, according to an industry trade organization, which also places the average earnings figure at
between $13,000 and $14,000. But the vast majority of direct sellers, most of whom are women, work part time, generally
putting in fewer than 10 hours a week.
The stories you hear about six-figure incomes from selling person-to-person or through home parties or network
marketing (also called multilevel marketing) are sometimes true but not common. And you can bet that these high-flyers
are working full time and have learned to become strong sellers and, in some cases, managers.
What should you sell? The variety of products and services you can choose from is surprisingly diverse, from air
filtration systems to wine. Hop onto the Direct Selling Association Web site (dsa.org,
click on Member Directory, and then on Direct Selling Member Company Search) to see 70 categories and the companies
that sell goods in each.
The Direct Selling Women's Alliance (mydswa.org) is another online
resource to review, as is Jobs and Moms (jobsandmoms.com, scroll
down to link for Direct Sales) which posts a free 24-page guide, "The Jobs and Moms Guide to Careers in Direct
Sales and Multi-Level Marketing."
A cottage industry has sprung up to market videos, audio tapes and books on how to find the yellow brick road across
direct-sales country. Read the free data in the above three resources first.
DEAR JOYCE: My daughter, 27, suggests that she and I go into business as wedding planners. I have given
many parties and served as the chair for numerous fundraising events but I'm not sure I know what we'd be getting
into. Where can we get unbiased information on the wedding business? - S.H.
A federal Department of Labor publication, Occupational Outlook Quarterly Winter 2006-07, features an informative
article that compares working with the betrothed and the bereaved, "Jobs in Weddings and Funerals." I
realize you're not looking for six-feet-under work but there is a connection.
I hadn't thought about it before but the "I do" and the "Goodbye" events actually have a lot
in common: bringing family and friends together and co-coordinating many details, such as arranging for flowers,
music, transportation and guest accommodations. And each often involves a ceremony followed by a reception.
Read the 16-page article for free online at www.bls.gov/opub/ooq/ooqhome.htm.
DEAR JOYCE: Many of your subjects hit very close to home. Case in point is job switching within a company
which I have done recently as I voluntarily went from a five-day job in customer service to a two-day job in prospecting
for new business.
But I write today to extol the virtues of Toastmasters International, the only organization devoted to oral communication.
Everyone gets to participate in speaking, a valuable business skill. Members, of all ages and backgrounds, learn
communication and leadership skills, develop confidence and meet motivated, interesting people. Dues are modest.
Welcome to all. - Martin Menter, Pompano Beach, Fla.Toastmasters.
Thanks for the reminder. I'm a big fan of Toastmasters as a practical and accessible tool to develop the polish,
presence and presentation skills that boost a career. Readers, you can look on the Toastmaster Web site - toastmasters.org - to find a club near you.
DEAR JOYCE: I need help in finding a defense contractor job that pays better than I can make around here.
Can you help? - J.R.
You may need a government security clearance - difficult to get - so if you don't have one, skip applying for jobs
that require it. These Web sites have many jobs openings that are clearance-free:
U.S. Department of Defense (dod.jobsearch.org); DefenseJobsBlog
(defensejobsblog.com);Intelligence Careers (intelligencecareers.com); National Defense Industrial Association (defensejobs.com).
If you do have a security clearance, try these sites:
Defense Talent (defensetalent.com); Cleared Connections (clearedconnections.com); and Clearance Jobs (clearancejobs.com).
Email Joyce
Sorry, the volume of mail makes personal replies impossible.