Mailbag: Supplemental Income, Pregnancy On The Job
Dear Ella,
I have been self-employed for 15 years. I market party favors and other small gift items to corporations for promotional give-aways. Two days ago, I lost my biggest account -- my bread-and-butter account -- due to cost reductions on their end. I can't blame them, but the fact is that I don't think I can sustain myself past December if I don't bring in new business. I've been trying to think of some new ways to generate cash flow as I could conceivably work a part-time job and still keep my small business running. But what?
Whenever I go through the want ads, I see either skilled labor with degrees required or menial labor positions that pay $5 an hour. I need to find something in the middle -- what do you suggest?
Dear What do I Suggest?
Telemarketing. You've been doing it successfully for years; why not do it part time for someone else? With your experience, you could probably earn between $10 and $15 an hour, plus a possible commission. I know it's more of what you've been doing, but right now the markets have no room for inexperience. I would also consider placing a well-written ad in your local paper that lists your most sellable skills -- small- to mid-sized companies are always looking for local, dependable, experienced talent. Hang in there -- you're not alone.
Dear Ella,
I work for a consulting company that provides market strategies to the consumer packaged goods industry. I have just been issued an offer by a smaller consultancy that does the same thing but for the pharmaceutical industry. My dilemma is this: I would take this position if it weren't for the fact that I have been promised a promotion with a raise in the third quarter of this year. The money will be better than this other company is offering me, but I'm thinking that pharmaceuticals is a stronger market in which to work. Should I stay or should I go?
Dear Should I Stay Or Should I Go?
Go. There will be no promotion or raise for you in the third quarter. Manufacturing -- particularly in the consumer goods sector, has slowed considerably. Combine this slowed growth with higher energy and other production- and delivery-cost increases, and you have a bleak showing for second-quarter earnings due out in July. This means that in order to shore up third-quarter earnings statements, your company is more likely to be laying off or freezing any new hires/promotions and halting any other unnecessary expenditures. Pharmaceuticals it is!
Dear Ella,
I have been looking for a new job and just found out that I am pregnant. My husband and I are both very happy about this and he is encouraging me to put the job-hunting on the back burner until after my pregnancy and take a leave of absence from my present employer. Allowing my husband to shoulder all the financial responsibility doesn't sit well with me, but at the same time, I wonder if it's fair to start a new job that I know I am going to have to interrupt in nine months. What is your advice?
Dear What Is Your Advice?
Your concern supports that fact that your position (as it is written) will be impacted negatively during and for some time after your pregnancy. That's a tough sell to any perspective employer, so why depress yourself with all the rejection you're likely to receive and make this a time to enjoy and re-trench?
Re-think your career strategy in the short, mid and long term. Research companies that suit this new career vision and then re-vamp your resume accordingly. Take continuing education classes in your area of endeavor at your local community college or university. School will help you tap into a whole new network of opportunity where you will make valuable new contacts, get those creative juices of yours flowing and increase your knowledge base (what you've got to sell) -- all a good thing. Write everyone in your Rolodex a letter once a month, updating them on the things you are doing, what you're learning and a countdown of the number of days until your return to the workplace. When you keep the lines of communication open, it takes the stress off all sides during the reunification process. Good luck, you creator, you.
Dear Ella,
How important are thank-you letters after you've had an interview? Can you provide some tips on what these letters should contain? Thanks so much for the great tips that you provide. My resume and my interview skills have improved tremendously.
Dear How Important Is A Thank-You Letter?
It's very important -- its good form and should be sent within the first five days of your last meeting. But in order to write an effective thank-you letter, you will need to prepare for it by making a record of all the important and interesting comments you heard and any significant facts you learned related to the company or job during the interview process.
The thank-you letter itself should consist of three paragraphs, with the opening paragraph containing the main idea/reason for sending the letter, i.e. your appreciation for the interview or your delivery of work samples they requested, etc.
The second paragraph should mention your excitement about the opportunity. Include any noteworthy experience that you felt you left out during the interview process and any clarification on any question(s) you answered where you think you may have been unclear or misunderstood.
The last paragraph should contain one or more of the following: your contact information, your availability/schedule to return for a second round of interviews, your confidence that your skill set will add value to their team, and always, always end with a move to action, i.e. "I look forward to next steps and will touch base with you on the 27th of June unless I hear from you in the interim."
Remember, conducting yourself professionally throughout the entire interview experience increases your chances of being the candidate chosen for the job. Don't forget to use your spell check!
Dear Ella,
On Monday, I interviewed with five people all at one company, and now I have to write a thank-you letter. Should I write each one an individual letter ,or would it be OK to e-mail the boss and cc: the rest of the team?
-- Not enough time in the day
Dear Not Enough Time In The Day,
Write one strong letter and then extract information from your interview notes that could personalize the correspondence to each person with whom you met. Fold this information into the body of your original letter and then e-mail them individually. Good luck.
Next week: Mailbag
All rights reserved by Ella Kallish.
Written by Ella Kallish.
For more information on Ella Kallish, go to www.ellakallish.com.
Ella Kallish is also available for corporate and group seminars.
How To Write A Resume How To Market A Resume How To Follow Up On A Resume Sent
Previous Stories:
Healthy Snacks
What Does Your Child Eat For Lunch?
Site Trades Tuition Loans For Part Of Salary