Job Situation - WWYD?

[LoveBWVVBR]

NO WAY. I'm sorry, but as soon as one of my friends starts with the MLM garbage I drop them like a hot potato. Nobody wants to be "sold" to by a friend. Don't get sucked in. You can find a real job if you keep looking IMHO.

 

[Pigeon]

I wouldn't buy that stuff ever. And nothing kills a friendship, imo, like people trying to sell you stuff in MLM schemes. I know lots of people who have gotten sucked into them, but nobody IRL who's done well. I have known people who have pretended to do well for a time.

I think a pp had a good suggestion. Take a few cc classes to beef up your resume and get a real job. Be aware that secretarial jobs are not a growth field. Support positions have been slashed at most companies, and the remaining workers are expected to do their own "support."

If you are at all interested in the health care field, there are several allied health careers that pay reasonably well if you are interested in retooling.

 

[Mixie]

No, I wouldn't be interested in those items. At my age, I'm not acquiring anything I don't really need.

Watching those hoarding shows has affected my buying habits!


I remember years ago I did the math on 'friends' who wanted us to get into Amway.

I calculated:

Cost of my time
Cost of supplies
Cost of transportation/storage of items/phone expenses
Cost of getting people to agree to have a 'party' (assuming you had to talk to 10 people to get 1 to agree)
Sales needed to break even
Sales needed to make a decent profit

Of course, I've an accounting background - doing all that was actually fun.

I realized that I would have to talk to something like 20 people a day (getting 2 to commit) and have a party no less than every 3 days just to break even.


SO I suggest you do the math.

 

[Mrs.Reese]

Have you ever considered substitute teaching? Its not the most glamourous gig but you did get to pick and choose when to work. Plus your schedule matches your kids. Yes it's not secretarial in nature but it does help give you some work experience.

 

[Pigeon]

Have you ever considered substitute teaching? Its not the most glamourous gig but you did get to pick and choose when to work. Plus your schedule matches your kids. Yes it's not secretarial in nature but it does help give you some work experience.

Depending on where you live though, this can be very hard to do. Certified teachers are getting laid off in droves, and many districts have closed their sub lists.

 

[momof1princess]

Depending on where you live though, this can be very hard to do. Certified teachers are getting laid off in droves, and many districts have closed their sub lists.

this is the problem where we live. i have a good friend who graduated from college with a masters in education 3 years ago, and she just can't get a teaching job. she finally gave up, after substitute teaching for over 2 years, and took a clerical assistant job at a church. honestly, the classifieds here are just empty. i've tried monster.com, our state employment office website, snagajob.com, etc. there's just nothing out there.

 

[SweetPeasMom2]

I love the company. Several friends are doing it. Some on a hobbiest/part-time level and one as a career. She earns great money doing it.

The recruiting freeze was necessary. The company wanted to be able to continue to provide quality customer service. There were so many that joined in January that I think if just a small % of them places qualifying orders in the month of Feb, they wouldn't have been able to meet the demands. So I admire what they did and can't wait to see what comes when they do lift the freeze.

I am a consultant in another company and my income helps support our family. It's not just pocket change or fun money. It's really a substantial amount that makes a big difference in my family making it or not.

It's not a job situation.
You have to buy the stock and find the customers.
You have to host the parties, possibly hiring a hall.

Not sure why one would need to rent a hall. A living room or kitchen at someone's home does quite nice.

I wouldn't buy that stuff ever. And nothing kills a friendship, imo, like people trying to sell you stuff in MLM schemes. I know lots of people who have gotten sucked into them, but nobody IRL who's done well. I have known people who have pretended to do well for a time.

There are some out there that don't know how to ask once and let it go. Some out there just hound their friends until they ruin the friendships. But there are many out there that don't. I asked my friends once in the beginning and that was it. Almost 6 years ago. Those that wanted to did. Those that didn't didn't. We are still friends today.

I find it very odd that people will go out and shop at the big box stores and buy stuff there but won't give a home based business a chance.

If you found a great bow maker on Etsy or someone that made handmade soaps out of their homes, would you not support them because they work from home? What difference does it make how the product is supplied? Direct sales can and does provide a real income for women (and men).

 

[prncess674]

Ugh, I hate all these products that require parties.

Are you ready and willing to hit up all your friends and casual friends to host parties so you can hit up their friends in hopes of you making a tiny profit. Most people hate hosting these parties and only do it in the beginning to help out a friend. These catalog type purchases are going to be extinct soon.


Similar products to what you would be selling are easily available via etsy for less money and less hassle. There is nothing unique to what you are selling. Tupperware was one of the first successful home party sales items. The reason it did so well is because there was no one else selling such items. What makes your item unique and not available in your area or on the internet?

Also these party sales items require plenty of your time on nights and weekends. Are you will to do parties every weekend day or every weeknight?

 

[Kellydelly]

i am also concerned that people won't want to order. i know everyone won't, and that's okay.

I personally dislike it when people invite me to parties and expect ME to help them make a living by buying products (scentsy, premier jewelry, pampered chef). I think unless you have a very large pool of friends and family willing to have parties and keep buying the goods that you will fizzle out rather quickly with this type of "job." JMHO, I guess there are probably people out there that actually like going to home selling parties.

 

[zalansky]

I have to agree with the others who don't care for friends getting into these types of home selling parties. It just makes it uncomfortable. And consider the economy...people really don't want to be buying these types of things right now and they would likely buy out of guilt, as others have mentioned. I know one person that has tried several of these MLM companies and has never made a lot of money from it. I think these MLm companies figure they can get as many people as they can to guilt friends into buying a few things, no skin off their backs. Its win-win for the companies!

I would keep looking OP. I know its not easy, I feel for you! I have been home 5 years and need to start looking soon, and I am not looking forward to it one bit. Good luck to you in whatever you decide!

 

[tink2dw]

My Dd got a real deal on signing up to sell Avon Feb 2010. Now Avon practically sells its self, there are tons of Avon loving people. All sounded really good. But reality is that it didn't work because the economic down turn hit everyone where we lived!! No one had any extra money to buy extras! Even with Dd's Avon website it made no difference. She also did not have the social network of friends to reach out to and door-to-door canvasing didn't really turn up any potential customers for her. Dd lost money every month for 6 months!! She NEVER earned any income from the deal and had to quit.

Another friend was doing parties to sell purses. yes her friends bought a few purses At $100 to $200 each. But she also lost money and had to stop!

Very few people at this point in time have extra money even if there is a little recovery going on, it isn't in Oregon or Arizona. These states have been hit very hard by the economy.

I would not get into the party business at this time! If you are having a hard time finding a job, then there is no economic recover in your area either!! And this stuff you want to sell isn't even a product that a person would run out of and want/need to re-order???

Run Away don't walk!!

 

[momof1princess]

you all raise some valid points. i guess i'm TOO desperate, lol. i just want to work, i'm not expecting to get rich.

 

[SweetPeasMom2]

I personally dislike it when people invite me to parties and expect ME to help them make a living by buying products (scentsy, premier jewelry, pampered chef).

How is this different than you going into Target or WalMart to purchase a product? Or going to a restaurant and having to tip your server? You are helping some bigwig at corporate make a buck when you purchase an item from Target. You are helping your server make a buck when you tip them. When you purchase through a home party business, you are helping that mom, wife, sister, etc make a buck to put food on her table, pay a bill, or maybe just have some extra fun money. If you don't need the product, don't buy it. But don't say you won't help someone make a living by buying products. You do it every single day.

Also these party sales items require plenty of your time on nights and weekends. Are you will to do parties every weekend day or every weeknight?

I don't do parties every night or every weekend. I have 2 nights a week blocked off and that works for my family. I have 1 maybe 2 weekends a month with one event. That works for my family. Some may only do one or two parties a month and that works for their family. For a family that a traditional out of the home job doesn't work, direct sales is an option. Are all plans good ones? No. Are there some that ask more upfront that necessary? Yes (been there done that). But many out there are very successful companies and the consultants are very successful. And they do it a very ethical and honest way.

 

[captsparrowslady]

I've been out of work myself and I'm 24. I've had 1 job (other than Avon, but I don't really count it since it was a bust) and I haven't found work since I quit my first job (Lowe's Cashier) in 2008. But I've been putting in applications online, using www.snagajob.com and www.workinretail.com and I got an interview with Macy's from it (didnt' get the job unfortunately...) but it gives me hope that my time spent putting in applications is not in vain.

 

[prncess674]

How is this different than you going into Target or WalMart to purchase a product? Or going to a restaurant and having to tip your server? You are helping some bigwig at corporate make a buck when you purchase an item from Target. You are helping your server make a buck when you tip them. When you purchase through a home party business, you are helping that mom, wife, sister, etc make a buck to put food on her table, pay a bill, or maybe just have some extra fun money. If you don't need the product, don't buy it. But don't say you won't help someone make a living by buying products. You do it every single day.

there is a huge difference. I go to Target, etc because they sell a random assortment of products that I enjoy and many that I need. Target doesn't call me up and ask me to leave my kiddos at home with a (paid) babysitter so I can now listen to a consultant try to sell me an array of over priced products that I probably don't need while sipping cheap wine. Sure there may be something that I want (earrings, Vera Bradley knockoffs, over priced kitchen ware, etc.), dissimilar to Target which sells products that I need such as toilet paper, dish lquid, etc.

I don't do parties every night or every weekend. I have 2 nights a week blocked off and that works for my family. I have 1 maybe 2 weekends a month with one event. That works for my family. Some may only do one or two parties a month and that works for their family. For a family that a traditional out of the home job doesn't work, direct sales is an option. Are all plans good ones? No. Are there some that ask more upfront that necessary? Yes (been there done that). But many out there are very successful companies and the consultants are very successful. And they do it a very ethical and honest way.

I am impressed if you can make a significant amount of money by preying on F&F by only doing two parties a month. I don't have such a huge group of friends (and friends of friends) that I could manage to prey on them that much with some over priced product.

It appears the OP lives in a small town. How big is the market for the items the OP is trying to sell. Sure she could sell it once a year, but making it a continuous business is unlikely.

 

[1hero2princesses]

I have sold Mary Kay and jewelry at parties and not only did I not like it, but you have to work a ton to really make money. Truthfully to sell anything like this you have to be extremely outgoing. Anyone that tells you different is just not being totally honest. You will quickly run through friends and family to invite to parties. Yes, in the start you can do quite a few. But once someone has one they don't want to have one again the next month. You then have to find new people to have parties. That is the real reason people quit. OH and absolutely all the home party people say that "they just didn't work their business". That is a line they are taught to say to people to get you in. Can someone be successful at it? Yes, I know two people that are. But they are two of the most outgoing people ever. They could also be considered pushy by a lot of people but they do it with charm I have to say. You have to basically tell every person you meet, day after day and try to talk them into parties. You need to keep that up. Talking to everyone you meet. It is a very very difficult thing to do and keep up and actually make money at it. I sold Mary Kay for two years but truthfully never really made money. You have to re-invest it in product, samples, bags, order sheets etc. I literally probably know 14 women that have done various home products (jewelry, makeup, home decor, candles etc) and only 2 that have had any level of success.

 

[Kellydelly]

How is this different than you going into Target or WalMart to purchase a product? Or going to a restaurant and having to tip your server? You are helping some bigwig at corporate make a buck when you purchase an item from Target. You are helping your server make a buck when you tip them. When you purchase through a home party business, you are helping that mom, wife, sister, etc make a buck to put food on her table, pay a bill, or maybe just have some extra fun money. If you don't need the product, don't buy it. But don't say you won't help someone make a living by buying products. You do it every single day.


.

Because nobody is guilting me into going into Target to buy my toilet paper or deodorant . When a friend starts selling a product through home parties they are asking me to choose to buy their products, which I may or may not need, and are usually overpriced.

 

[RangerPooh]

Depending on where you live though, this can be very hard to do. Certified teachers are getting laid off in droves, and many districts have closed their sub lists.

And depending on the district you might be required to have a bachelors degree or teacher certification. However, to sub as a para-pro most around here just require a HS diploma or a few college classes. And as you mentioned, it can be a tough gig with lots of unemployed teachers out there. I sub occasionally (unemployed teacher who has returned to school)and it's tough, you literally have to check the online database constantly because once a job is posted it's usually snapped up within minutes.

 

[SweetPeasMom2]

Again, if you don't need the product - new cookware, purse, make-up, etc. then don't buy it. You need toilet paper, soap, etc. But I'm talking about the things you don't need but want. I don't try to guilt anyone. I offer it and it's up to them to buy. If they don't, great. I move on.

You will quickly run through friends and family to invite to parties.

Honestly, not many of my friends or family had parties for me. I had to search other sources. I started doing vendor fairs and such. When I started, a friend and I worked together and we'd split the costs and leads. So about $25 on my part at most. Then as my business built out and I was able to afford them on my own, that's what I did. I just did one yesterday. I'd say 95% of my business has come from complete strangers.

A good majority that start a direct sales business will not make it a full time income business. If you are shy and aren't willing to step out of your comfort zone, then honestly I'd rather you not spend the money on the start up kit. It's a waste of your money. But for those that are willing to put themselves out there, then go for it. It is not for everyone and I will never say it is. But it is for some.

 

[Pigeon]

How is this different than you going into Target or WalMart to purchase a product? Or going to a restaurant and having to tip your server? You are helping some bigwig at corporate make a buck when you purchase an item from Target. You are helping your server make a buck when you tip them. When you purchase through a home party business, you are helping that mom, wife, sister, etc make a buck to put food on her table, pay a bill, or maybe just have some extra fun money. If you don't need the product, don't buy it. But don't say you won't help someone make a living by buying products. You do it every single day.

It's entirely different. Target isn't exploiting a friendship to try to sell me stuff. I decide where I shop based on my needs and my desire to obtain good value. I do shop consciously in that I don't shop in places whose business practices I find horribly objectionable (I don't set foot it Walmart, for example), but my primary motivation isn't helping the sales clerk or the CEO or the shareholders of the company to make a buck.

Target doesn't pretend to be my friend, doesn't invite me to waste my evenings listening to sales pitches for crap I neither need nor want, doesn't call me up afterward to pressure me to buy, etc.

I've yet to encounter any MLM scheme that offers good value. It's overpriced crap.