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I thought it would be beneficial
to moms who are considering looking for work
through
HireMyMom.com to hear from both sides of
a business: the employer and a job seeker just
like you. So you're about to read the experience
from Angela, who is my awesome assistant
and from me, an online entrepreneur who runs
several websites. I think you'll find the
insight invaluable. Be sure to check out my tips
on how to get a job through HireMyMom.com at the
end of the article.
Angela: I’m a mother of five children
under five who left a professional position to
be a full-time mom when my twins arrived. I
always thought I’d return to work and balance a
career and my “mommy job,” but just couldn’t
find a position that was flexible enough to
accommodate my busy schedule and all the kids’
activities. That’s when I decided to start
looking for a job that would let me work from
home with hours that I could set – and finding
that position is not as easy as you might think.
In addition to the sites that were blatantly
sketchy, there are several sites meant to
connect employers and job seekers through a
“bidding system.” So I tried that too.
Unfortunately, with each project I “applied” for
I was drastically underbid by someone on the
other side of the world. It’s just impossible to
compete with the going hourly rate in developing
countries!
I thought I had exhausted all possibilities to
of earning a little extra cash for the kids’
college accounts when I read about
HireMyMom.com
in Parents magazine. Well, it was worth a go so
I subscribed to their job list and started
receiving daily updates from employers
advertising “virtual” positions. The big
difference with this site is that it caters to
professional moms looking for a way to go back
to work without leaving their homes. Finally I
had found a solution that looked like it might
work for me.
On
HireMyMom.com you’ll find real employers
looking for qualified employees who will
appreciate your skills are willing to pay
professional moms like you for your experience
and qualifications. I’m happy to say that I
found a part-time job with an employer (Heather)
who both values my skills and pays me well for
the work that I do. After nearly seven months of
working for her, we’ve never spoken in person
but have developed a professional rapport that
makes working for her a pleasure. I’m her
“virtual assistant,” and we communicate
virtually as well – primarily via email and
instant messaging. This works well for both of
us because we are available online most days
throughout the day for questions, assignments
and updates. As a mother herself, Heather
understands the demands of home responsibilities
and is willing to work with my schedule.
Flexibility on both ends makes it a mutually
beneficial working relationship, and thanks to
this job I can spend most of the day with my
kids, taking them to classes, going on field
trips, and playing with them at home, while
dedicating several hours a week to work.
HireMyMom.com has allowed me to earn extra
income and still keep my full-time job as Mom.
If you’re a professional mom looking for
part-time work you can do from home, the right
job for you is out there. Employers are looking
for you – it’s just a matter of getting in
contact with them and finding the right fit.
HireMyMom.com is a great place to start!
Heather: As an employer,
I can tell you what I was looking for when I
hired Angela. I needed someone to do some major
research for a new site. Someone
detailed-oriented who could really take the lead
without having to be micro-managed. I received
emails from several applicants who were
interested. Some were absolutely not qualified
and very unprofessional. The ones that were
qualified, I emailed them with further
information and with any questions I may have
had. Angela did everything right:
She responded to the ad quickly with background
information about her skills; she seemed
enthusiastic about the opportunity; and she
could begin immediately. I am so
happy I chose
HireMyMom.com for my hiring needs.
How else would I have ended up with the best
assistant I have ever had? This
could happen for you, too. Here are a few tips
for moms when applying for open positions with
HireMyMom.com.
1) Explicitly say how you can fill the
employer's needs. Do not send an email
stating you're interested in the position with
no supporting facts about why you are qualified.
Example: Women who would
respond saying, "I'm perfect for this job!
Please tell me more about the position."
Needless to say, I did not respond to those
applicants.
2) Show enthusiasm! Show your personality
but don't be too informal. Remember you're
applying for a job.
Example: This job sounds
like it fits my expertise perfectly.
[Details about how it does.]
I am very excited about
this opportunity and look forward to hearing
more about it.
3) Do your research. If the employer
states the company and/or website that you would
be working with in the posting, do the legwork
so you can speak to company/site specifics.
Example: Your website
[state name] provides an invaluable [service
or product] by offering [state what makes
them special and unique]. It would be
exciting to be a part of something that
really makes a difference in people's lives.
4) Be sure to check for leads often. Many
times, their needs are immediate so jump on
them. If you wait too long, there's a high
likelihood that the position will be filled.
You're going to be competing with several
other candidates so get your email in there
right away.
5) Be sure to have resume up-to-date
since some employers request them upfront.
For safety reasons, remove your address from
there since you're emailing to someone blindly.
6) Make sure you are easily accessible via
email. Most employers prefer email or IM as
the form of communication, although some do need
to speak to you personally on the phone.
Whatever the case, you have to be available to
them have a good communication flow.
7) Don't get discouraged! It takes time to find the
perfect working relationship. You'll know after
the first project if you've found it.
Good luck on finding a job working from home at
HireMyMom.com!
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