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November 30, 2020

The 14 Best Resume Skills to Land a Remote Job

There has never been a better time to land a remote job. With so many companies shifting their workforce to a remote office, now is the perfect time to target the sought-after work-from-home job.

But what if you don’t have any work at home experience? Not to worry. Finding a remote job without experience has never been easier. Most companies just want to know that you have a solid home office and can be trusted to manage yourself from home. 

Since your resume is the first thing most companies will see, it’s crucial that your resume portrays your ability to work remotely. That means adding the necessary skills that employers are looking for in a work-from-home employee. Below, we will highlight some of the most important resume skills for remote jobs.

 

Soft Skills

When it comes to proving you have what it takes to work remotely, soft skills go a long way. The soft skills that you mention on your resume can either highlight your ability to work remote or erase them entirely.

 

Some common soft skills to include on your resume for remote jobs:

  1. Independent
  2. Self-Motivated
  3. Critical Thinking
  4. Focused
  5. Organized
  6. Reliable
  7. Flexible

These soft skills should be sprinkled throughout your resume. Unlike hard skills, soft skills are usually best explained with a story. If you are uncomfortable talking about yourself, it might be a good idea to hire a professional resume writer.

 

Hard Skills

Hard skills are also important for landing remote work. Each job will have slightly different requirements for hard skills so it’s important that you customize your resume for each job you apply to. If a job posting mentions that they are looking for someone who is familiar with Slack and Zoom, make sure to add those skills to your resume.

 

Some common hard skills to include on your resume for remote jobs:

  1. Written Communication
  2. Verbal Communication
  3. Video Technology (Zoom, Skype, etc.)
  4. Chat Technology (Microsoft Teams, Slack, etc.)
  5. Project Management
  6. Presentations
  7. Microsoft Office

The above list of hard skills is not at all comprehensive. This list is designed to give you an idea of some common hard skills needed for remote jobs. Remember to customize these skills based on the job description.

 

Where to Add Skills on Your Resume

Soft skills and hard skills should be distributed throughout your resume. There are two key locations these skills should be added.

 

  • Add skills in your “summary” and “areas of expertise” sections.

 

Most resumes should have a professional summary and a section for key skills. These are perfect sections to customize slightly for each job, ensuring that you have all of the relevant key skills in your resume.

We’ve provided an example below showing how you can add remote skills organically into the summary and areas of expertise sections of your resume.

 

  • Add skills in your “professional experience” section.

 

Just about every resume will have a portion of the resume dedicated towards past jobs, internships, or projects. This section is commonly referred to as the professional experience section.

We’ve provided an example below showing how you can add remote skills organically into the professional experience section of your resume.

 

Wrapping Up

Landing a remote job is totally achievable. Set up your remote office, update your resume, and start applying.

Just remember:

  • Your resume should highlight your skills.
  • Make sure to include desirable skills for remote workers.
  • Customize your resume to include relevant skills from the job description.

You are going to land the perfect remote job in no time!

 

Author Bio: Mike Podesto is a former recruiter and current Founder & CEO of Find My Profession, a leading resume writing and career coaching company. Mike’s career advice has been featured on sites like Inc., Zety, Motherly, Fast Company, and more. His viral posts on employment have been seen by millions on LinkedIn. He’s even been featured in a variety of career-related podcasts such as the Hired podcast Talk Talent to Me, Strong Suit, and Authors Unite. Mike is passionate about helping job seekers find fulfillment in their careers by breaking down the tedious job search barriers.

 

 

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September 24, 2020

HireMyMom Success Story: Sarah Weeks

Tell us about you and your experience finding work on HireMyMom.

A friend of mine told me to check out HireMyMom because I was looking for a work-from-home opportunity that was flexible with my family schedule. The first day I signed up, I found the position I currently have now! I thought the idea of the site was great and I found success quickly!

What are your top tips for landing a job or jobs on HireMyMom.com?

Top Tips:

  1. Sign up — what do you have to lose?
  2. Create a great profile!
  3. Never give up!

What piece of advice do you wish someone had given you at the start of your work from home journey?

Just be sure to have a dedicated space and keep a good routine, I get more done because I prioritize structure in my life.

What do you see as your greatest success in life?

Balancing family and work — both I’m passionate about and give me great fulfillment.

What is something about you that many people don’t know?

I am a mom of three boys, and I HATE bugs, which of course the boys get a thrill over.

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June 18, 2020 0 Comments

7 Tips to Rock Your Remote Job Interview

Whether you already work from home or you’re seeking your first remote job, an online interview is likely part of that process. Believe it or not, many of the interview tips for a traditional office job still apply to work from home jobs.  Here is our advice for your interview success!

Dress Appropriately

Treat this interview as if you were meeting face to face in an office. Wear appropriate casual work attire. Not only will you look professional but dressing the part will help you feel more prepared and put you in the right mind set. Take those few extra minutes to prepare to look your best, as it will help your confidence and help you come across as a true professional!

 

Check Your Background

Make sure there is no clutter, distractions, people walking around behind you, dogs barking or children making loud noises. Plan your interview for a time when you have child care if needed so that you can focus and the interviewer does not have to wonder if that’s the environment you’d be working in if he or she hired you. An employer is going to want someone completely focused on the job. If kids are there, it will lead them to believe you will not be completely focused on their job. Also check the lighting and make sure it’s bright for a clear picture for a video interview.

 

Be Prepared and On Time

It should go without saying, but be on time. Being punctual is still important in the remote world. If your interview is at 2pm, then sign on at 1:55pm. Don’t wait until the interview start time to download the app or go to the chosen platform to see how it works. Get to know the platform you will be interviewing on. If it’s Zoom, take some time practice and get familiar with it.  Same with Skype, GoTo Meeting or whichever platform they are using.

Be prepared — you will impress the employer if you know something about the company you’re interviewing to work for.  Take some time before the interview to visit their website, social media and blogs. Look for things you can talk about in the interview to let them know that you’ve done your research. In addition to learning about the company itself, know something about the industry.  You don’t need to do an in depth dive, but having some knowledge is key, and allows you to answer questions with more clarity and understanding.

And just like a face-to-face interview, eye contact is important. Be sure to look at the person as if you were speaking directly in person.

Lastly, make sure you read the job description again before the interview. Have a good understanding of what the job entails, as well as the skills, experience and personality needed to succeed.

Ask Questions

In any interview, it’s likely that the employer or hiring person will ask if you have any questions.  This is a prime time for you to show interest and gain more insight into the employer. Spend some time coming up with a few questions ahead of time, but here are a few to get you started:

  • What traits do you most value in someone in this role?
  • How will we communicate as a team?
  • How do you measure success for this position?
  • What are the day-to-day responsibilities for this job position (if not specified in the job posting)?
  • What are some of the qualities of successful people in this position or company?
  • What is the timeline for hiring for this position?

Have it Memorized

Make sure you know your resume inside and out! Interviewers will often have your resume in front of them during your interview, and they might pick out older job positions or positions that aren’t super fresh in your mind.

Take some time to review your resume ahead of time, and be ready to discuss every piece on it.  For bonus points, do this with an eye for what’s the most “stand out” and applicable about each resume item for the position you’re interviewing for.

Sell Yourself Confidently

This is your time to shine and tell them why you are a great fit for this role. Share the traits, skills and experience that you feel make you a great fit for the job.  Along with that, it’s important for a company to know that you really want this job!  Express that when you’re talking.

Say Thank You

Common courtesy goes a long way! Before the interview, begin drafting a standard thank you email.  After the interview has been completed, fill it in with details about your conversation. There’s no need to make this more than 3-4 sentences, but personalizing it can make a great impression.

Thank the interviewer for their time, mention a point of conversation from the interview, and continue to express your interest.  From there, be sure to follow up within a few days to a week – being proactive is key! Unless the interviewer gave you a specific time frame for a decision, there’s no harm in checking in.

For additional help with your resume, cover letter or interview skills, check out our Job Seeker 101 Course and our One-on-One Consulting Services.

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February 5, 2020

7 Essentials To An Independent Contractor Agreement

As a business owner, you often take on the roles of many people. You can find yourself working long hours and doing all of the work by yourself to keep your company afloat. When it gets so much that you can no longer keep up, it’s time to hire!

You’ll want to determine if the job you are hiring for is a contractor role or an employee role. You can learn the definitions on those here and get some additional advice here. 

If you are hiring freelancers or contractors an independent contractor’s agreement will help you outline the details of the work to be performed, terms of the agreement, compensation, and any additional important details. 

In today’s article, we will discuss the importance of a contractors’ agreement and some key components you may want to include when creating one*.

Statement of Relationship

This is the opening of the contract that discloses the parties the agreement is between. The Company name is indicated and from that point on, referred to as “The Company”. The Contractor’s name and his/her company (if applicable) is also indicated and referred to as “The Contractor” from that point on.

This piece of the agreement is extremely important to get right especially when it comes to the contractor being able to prove his or her work status. It protects against employee misclassification.

The contractor-client (Company) relationship is a business relationship, not an employer-employee one.

Scope of Work

This part of the contract highlights the work the Contractor will be doing for your Company. If there was an SOW (Statement of Work) drawn up (which is recommended), it would be included here.

Note: A Statement of Work (SOW) is a document within the contract that describes the scope of work and/or project being performed as well as performance expectations.

Payment and Billing Terms

This is an important part of the contract. Rates agreed upon should clearly be disclosed here along with the terms of billing and form of payment.

The rate of pay should have been discussed and agreed to ahead of time along with any commission rates (if applicable). For payment, it should be discussed with the Contractor how you would like to be invoiced and the payment dates.

Party Responsibilities

This part of the agreement applies especially if there are multiple departments involved within your Company that your Contractor will be performing work for or collaborating with. This is a good opportunity to present the review and approval process, set the standards of communication and to also have your Contractor provide proof of insurance.

Deadlines and Timelines

The Contract term (length) should go in this section of the agreement. If you don’t have one, it’s good to at least set a contract review/renewal date.

If this contract is for a project, the timeline or approximate timeline should be specified. If the project is large enough, milestones can be outlined as well. Clear goals and targets should be outlined. The more details you can include the better. This will ensure clear expectations and communication between yourself and your Contractor.

Termination

Not all agreements work out. Sometimes they have to come to a close. All contracts need to have a termination clause.

The termination clause offers the right for both parties to cancel. Reasons to end the contract should be clearly stated. Some considerations include nonpayment, breach of contract, and business disruption.

When considering the termination timeline most contracts can end with 30 days written notice from either side.

Non-Disclosure/No Compete Clause

Unless your contractor is designated to only working with you at the time of the agreement, having them sign a Non-Disclosure or No Compete clause might be difficult.

If they have more than one client, chances are, at some point, they might be working with your competitors.

You can, however, cater to the non-disclosure specifically in reference to the information you share with them about your company. 

Other Considerations

It’s always advisable to have a legal advisor review your contract before it officially falls into the hands of a Contractor. Once reviewed, it may be able to act as a template for future contract work as well.

 

For more information, see:

 

*HireMyMom.com (HBWM.com Inc.) does not provide tax or legal advice. The material contained herein is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax or legal advice. Readers should consult with their own tax advisor or attorney with regard to their personal and business tax situation.

We have some amazing Contractors right here on HireMyMom. You can see what other business owners are saying about our services here.

Ready to start find a great candidate now? Click here to get started.

 

 

 

 

 

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January 27, 2020 0 Comments

HireMyMom Success Story: Sara Lingenfelter

What’s your success story with HireMyMom.com?

I had only been a member of HireMyMom for 2 months when I landed my first 2 clients! I was only trying to get 1 client, but both wanted to interview me and I thought why not? Besides, I didn’t think they would both offer me the position. But they did, and since neither was a high amount of hours I said yes to both. I learned so fast my responsibilities with my first client grew. We worked together for about 3 years total! I also ended up doing some work for his wife too. It got to the point, I wanted to do business management and he didn’t need that. To this day we are still friends. We even got to meet once at a conference we both happened to attend.
With the second client, after our phone interview, she offered me the job on the spot. She said she didn’t usually do that but after our conversation, she felt I was the right person. She and I worked together about 2 years. Again it was when I was moving onto higher level work and so we parted on a good note. And she and I still talk as well. While working for her, she flew me to an event in Vegas and it was really cool getting to meet her work her event.
After those two, I landed numerous other clients through HireMyMom. Some were just project-based, and during this time I was still working my bookkeeping job from home.  As my network grew, and I submitted really great proposals I was fortunately working a lot. About a year after doing VA work, I realized I could make more money doing that and that it could be a real business. In January of 2013, I decided to quit my job and do VA work full-time. Things had gotten to a point where if I wanted to do more, grow my skills, invest in building a business, I needed to quit my job to focus on this business that I “accidentally” started and just two years prior didn’t even know existed. I know many moms question if they can really make it as a VA. I’m very transparent when asked questions about how I got started, what I learned, and how much money I made. My first 11 months as a full-time VA, I billed out $47,000 which was $10,000 more than my salary as a bookkeeper.
I credit HireMyMom to giving me my start. Signing up was the BEST choice I made when trying to get started. Since starting I have worked with 75+ clients, I’ve really lost track of the exact number. I did eventually take a course to get certified in Online Business Management. The awesome thing about becoming a VA is there are so many possibilities. I ultimately did this work for my son, so he could stay home with me. HireMyMom is connecting clients and VA’s in a way that truly impacts families in an amazing way!

What’s your educational and experiential background?

My parents never went to college, and they always talked about how they regretted it. So I went to college at night after graduating high school. I had to work full-time to put myself through school, so that’s the reason I went at night plus the tuition was cheaper for night classes. I went to Drury University and got a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and Psychology. Then I always had office jobs from the age of 18 to 31. But my plan was to become a Probation and Parole office for the State of Missouri. To be clear, I had NO business background, no entrepreneurial experience, and no training when I started working as a VA.

What is your top tip (or tips) for landing a gig on HireMyMom.com?

I could give many, but I have this top tip and it’s what worked for me! It is, to be honest about your experience. Many clients are looking for certain skills. But when I first started, I didn’t have any experience with the online world. I had just dabbled in Google doc. I didn’t know any software programs. These potentials clients I was sending proposals to wanted people with certain skills that are common for someone that had been working as a VA for a while.
Here’s what I did and you can do too. I had gotten a job as a bookkeeper (prior to working online) but when I went to the job interview I thought I was interviewing to be a secretary. At the interview, I find out the owners of the business changed their mind. A friend referred me to them and told them I was smart. I had experience with money, payroll, and unions but that was it. And it just so happened they needed to replace their bookkeeper more than they did their receptionist. Long story short, they offered me the job. What does this have to do with being a VA? Well in a few months and with a bit of training, I was doing all aspects of bookkeeping for this HVAC company that did average sales of $3.5 million a year. In my proposals to potential clients I explained, that even though I didn’t have experience with the programs they list, I know that if given the chance I was 100% confident I could learn that program or programs. And I gave them the short explanation of how I went from never doing bookkeeping to being able to fully perform all job functions needed and had that job for 10 years. I did payroll, used account/inventory software, created financials and much more.
What does this mean for you? Give an example of a time you learned something and performed it very well! If they understand you can learn, potential clients are often very willing to give you a chance, especially if they feel you are organized, pay attention to details and communicate well. You can’t always teach someone those soft skills but you can teach them a software program or give them a chance to learn it.

What’s your favorite thing about HireMyMom.com?

My top favorite thing is that potential clients realize most of the VA’s applying are moms. I’ve heard negative talk in the past about a mom working from home also having her kids home with her. By having this site, most potential clients understand you have kids and it gets you over that hurdle that can be an issue with some. It makes the process easier and I love that.


What’s one fun fact about you?

I went skydiving when I was 21 but yet I am scared of rides at theme parks. I’ve never been on a roller coaster or any other ride like that, I play it safe, too scared! LOL I have no idea the logic.

Want to be one of our Featured Success Stories? Click here for our form!

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January 20, 2020 0 Comments

5 Tips For a Winning Cover Letter to Get You Hired

Ah, the cover letter – the sister document of your resume! It’s an important but often overlooked part of the job searching process, and one that demands more attention.  Whether cover letters come across as an afterthought, are too lengthy, or simply lack any depth, there can be a number of errors avoided by taking a second look.

Grab their Attention

Realize the hiring person may get 30-50 resumes (or more on mega job sites). And the resumes that get read are the ones with something that GRABS their ATTENTION!  Something like, “Let Me Take More Off Your Plate!”  Or, “I thrive on being proactive in ways to make your life easier! Hire Me!”

Don’t be afraid to add some personality to your cover letter and show your “go-getter” attitude. No one wants to hire a bump on a log. Also, the P.S. is the most read part of ANY email or letter.  P.S. Your “Go Getter Attitude” so that you stand out

Be Diligent

You want your first impression to be a good one! Be sure that your grammar is perfect, your spelling is correct, and your sentences well-structured. Don’t rush through this because it tells the hiring person you aren’t paying attention to details and aren’t putting 100% effort in.

This doesn’t mean that you can’t inject some personality into your letter, but proper writing rules remain a required element of the job application documents.

Focus on the Company

The number one goal of your cover letter is to show why you would be a great fit for the job!  Your letter shouldn’t go on and on about your accomplishments, but rather convey them in a way that shows relevance to the employer.

You should always look up the company to show that you’ve done your homework and took the time to learn about them. (Hint: Read their “About Us” page and a few blogs to get a feel for the person and company).

Bullets are Key

Begin your cover letter with a brief paragraph or two, then consider using bullet points to highlight key selling points on why you think you’re the best candidate.  This breaks up large chunks of text, allows the employer to see your points quickly and easily, and makes you appear considerate and well prepared.

Show Why You’re a Fit

What do you bring to the table?  List specific character traits, past experiences, and job roles that are a direct fit to this specific position. Have a testimonial from a past client? You may want to consider adding it to your cover letter.

You may have had 10 jobs that you’re proud of, but which jobs, and more importantly, which qualities from those jobs, will allow you to shine in this new role?

By focusing on the company and job position, you’re focusing on the employer’s needs, not your own.  Be sure to include succinct, relevant information that will allow the employer to see what they would get from you immediately.

Lastly, make it easy for them to read, add some personality, and show them your “go-getter attitude”!

Click here to see some of our Newest Job posts.  

Ready to apply? Click here to add your resume and start applying!

What have other Job Seekers said about HireMyMom.com?

Click here for some helpful blogs on resume and cover letter tips.

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January 14, 2020 0 Comments

5 Tips for Setting Achievable Goals for Today’s Entrepreneur

Goal setting is a common practice for entrepreneurs and small business owners like yourself. At the beginning of a new year, we typically feel inspired to be better, to do better. Let’s face it, it is a great time to create goals and ideals for the next twelve months.

Effective goals are those that are able to be accomplished, don’t cause too much stress or strain, and create a feeling of accomplishment. Read along for some actionable tips to set effective goals for an improved year.

Here are 5 tips to help you set achievable goals for the coming year:

Be Specific

The best goals are specific and measurable. For example, “grow my business” is a nice goal, but it’s not very specific or strong. Lay out your ideal job when creating your goal, as this allows you to see it in action more clearly.

Another example would be, “I want to earn more money.” Again, a great goal, but can you assign a specific amount?  The more measurable the goal, the more concrete steps you can take to achieve it.

Be Realistic

Although setting lofty goals is admirable, it’s important that they’re also obtainable. If you hope to get a new client in one week, but you don’t have a plan on how you will do that, it’s not likely to happen.  Although it can be done, goals are more likely to be achieved when the timing makes sense.

Give yourself a push with the goal, but don’t stress yourself out either! Becoming too focused on a goal can cause burnout – do your best but skip the rigid thinking.

Consult the Past

What worked in the past? Maybe you’ll notice that a specific type of goal keeps popping up, or that one goal is always on your list, but never gets done. Consulting your past goals can help you see what works for the future, and what’s likely to get done and propel you forward in the year to come.

Check in Often

Checking in on a daily, weekly and monthly basis keeps the goals fresh in your mind. We tend to create goals at the beginning of a new year and stop thinking about them by the end of the month! Put them in your calendar, on your “to do” list, and every other place that you consult frequently.

Seeing and spending time thinking of your goals keeps them top of mind, which is the first step to successfully achieving them.

Do Something Everyday

Be sure you’re doing something every day that moves you closer to your goals. You’ll be checking in weekly on an official basis, but a daily reminder is even better. Work from a daily, weekly, monthly goal sheet such as the one we’ve created for you. Or create a vision board where you can see your goals visually, or simply work from a positive mindset when working towards career goals.

Setting and achieving goals is a challenging process, but one that is truly important to our personal and professional growth. Follow the steps above when creating your goals for this upcoming year, and you’ll be well on your way to new and exciting things this year!

If your goal is to find your next great hire or to find a great remote job, let us help! You can find great candidates right here on HireMyMom as well as great work from home jobs posted by small businesses and entrepreneurs across the country.

 

 

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June 20, 2019

Do Your Rates Reflect Your Value?

Guest Post by Loren Fogelman

Ready to Raise Your Rates?

You chose to ditch the 9 to 5. As a business owner, you have options that aren’t available to you as an employee. You can flex your hours, do things your way and set your rates. 

Over time you realize you’re undercharging. Your thoughts about pricing raise more questions than it solves. The “raising your rates” dilemma challenges businesses of all sizes. 

Like most entrepreneurs, Nancy started out wearing all the hats in her business. By the end of her second year, her team had grown to seven. As a result, she now straddles between the role of business owner and technician. 

Money isn’t her primary motivator. What drives her is the difference she makes for her clients. She loves calling the shots and the freedom to do things her way. 

Winging isn’t a Business Strategy

Leaving her steady paycheck and benefits took courage. During the past two years, she hustled to grow her business to where it is today. Sometimes she doesn’t juggle her personal and business responsibilities that well. Burnouts beginning to seep in from being overworked and underpaid. 

Nancy admits she’s not a savvy business owner. Her technical skills far exceed her business skills. Until now, she grew her business by winging it. 

Of course Nancy wants to earn more money. Her current fees barely cover operating expenses. We spoke candidly about her rates. They simply don’t reflect her expertise. 

As a new business owner, she set her rates below the industry average. This totally overlooks her years in the industry. Until this changes, the only way to earn more is to work more.  

The Courage to Raise Your Rates

Charging more raises money-specific fears. The decision feels difficult. Her self-worth and beliefs around money influence her prices. 

Her primary concerns include:

  • Nobody will pay those fees.
  • No one else charges that much.
  • I’ll lose my clients.
  • How can I justify this?
  • I don’t have enough experience or credentials.
  • What if I can’t meet their expectations?

Do you share her concerns?

Discover How to Get Paid What You’re Worth

Nancy did all the jobs during the start-up phase. Staff took some things off her plate. But, she continued to remain involved in the day-to-day operations of her business. 

This positioned her as a skilled laborer. Because of that, she rarely had time for higher level advisory services. 

The One Degree Solution

Her business didn’t need a complete overhaul. A couple small, yet strategic changes, immediately brought relief. 

First, Nancy discovered the truth about value. When approached from a service-oriented mindset, it removes the worries about greed or scarcity. Instead of thinking she’s taking money from her clients, she formed a new, positive perspective. She deeply connected with what her clients gain from her services.  Her solution liberates them up from their problems. 

Get Paid What You’re Worth

These 5 steps empower you to get paid what you’re worth:

  1. Start with your strengths.  We started with a strengths list. Nancy discovered how she differed from others in her industry. It’s easier to get paid what she’s worth when clients realize the value they receive is greater than the price they’re paying for her service.  Here’s what I mean: Nancy helps her clients increase their profitability. What they earn from working with her is three to four times greater than what she charges for her services.   
  2. Separate fees from time. Nobody wants a client who watches the clock. Tying her fees to time categorizes her as an expense in her client’s mind. Partnering with her clients for a result, instead of time, positions her service as an investment.
  3. Success is messy. The thought of doubling or tripling her rates brings up fears. “Who will pay for this? How will I justify this? Can I meet their expectations?” Yes, mistakes occurred along the way. Each time Nancy signed on a client at her new rates, her confidence grew. 
  4. Stand out as the go-to expert. Rather than compete for all clients, she now selects to only work with ideal clients. Nancy’s clear about the process she developed for getting consistent results. Everything she talks about focuses on how her clients benefit from going through her system. Nancy is now known as the “go-to” expert. 
  5. Solve a need. This is the #1 action which separates her from the competition. Her consultation highlights the client, and their needs. Nancy’s updated business model solves a specific need. Her clients invest in the solution. 

Success occurs from the inside out. Once Nancy owned her value, all the resistance melted away. 

Her new clients value solutions. Over the course of our work together she doubled, and then tripled, her prices. Each change directly improves the client experience and separates her fees from time. Ditching her hourly rate offers the solution she craves – she simply didn’t realize that when we first met. 

Nancy now focuses on supporting her clients growth. The trust she gains from her clients, in turn, supports her business growth. 

The Possibilities are Limitless

Your rates are a reflection of your self-worth. Claiming your value is uncomfortable at first. Doing something new, rather than sticking with something familiar, challenges long-held beliefs. 

Your hourly rate positions you as a commodity rather than an investment. When you lead with what you do, it’s difficult for a potential client to determine why they ought to hire you. It minimizes your expertise. 

Your clients hire you for what you know; not what you do. 

Like Nancy, start to transition from technician to problem solver.  Along the way, you’ll realize where you give your knowledge away for free because you don’t know how to charge for it. 

Leading with value, rather than competing on price, uplevels your business. You deeply connect to the benefits your clients receive from your service. That’s when you no longer need to compete.  What are you ready to let go of to get paid what you’re worth? 

Join the LIVE conversation with Hire My Mom and Loren Fogelman, pricing and profit coach, for an exclusive FREE webinar on How to Raise Your Rates without Losing Clients on Wed., June 26@ 3pm ET / 12pm PT. Register NOW. 

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June 18, 2019

5 Summer Survival Tips for Mompreneurs

Summer is a time to savor, to be joyful and present. A time to enjoy slower mornings, extra cups of coffee, a break from packing lunches and more time spent with family and friends.

For mompreneurs who run a home based business, this can also create some stress trying to adjust to a different routine and more interruptions throughout the day but it doesn’t have to. It is possible to have the best of both worlds during your summer break: time to set goals, work your business and keep the momentum going you’ve worked so hard to build as you work towards the amazing plans God is preparing you for while enjoying quality time with your family.

I hope to inspire you with this post as I share my best 5 tips for surviving the summer as mompreneur: tips to help you balance the passionate creative side of you who loves to work on purpose filled projects and the mom side of you who craves to savor and be present with those who matter most.

1. Embracing Slowness

The foundation of these summer survival tips is to embrace slowness. As a busy wife, mom and mompreneur myself, I whole-heartedly understand how easy it is to look at the word “rest” and be tempted to let out a sarcastic chuckle because slowing down can feel almost impossible most days.

There is always something that demands our time. Something to take care of, something that interrupts the flow of our attention but it’s important to remember that rest is a command God calls us to.

Rest is first mentioned in Genesis 2:2-3 where God rested on the seventh day of creation and if God felt it important to rest, shouldn’t we? When we are aware of our state of busyness and take control of where we focus our energy, we can rest in God’s presence drawing ourselves, our family and our business deeper into Him.

Because the fact of the matter is when we are overworked, tired and weary we are more vulnerable to disobeying God. Hebrews 4:11 reminds us “strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.” We can’t stop the demands of life. There will always be something pulling and tugging at you and for us moms, rest unfortunately doesn’t come naturally for most of us and that is why we have to work to intentionally embrace rest and invite God to refresh our weary spirits. It’s okay to let dishes sit in the sink a little longer and end the day without getting a load of laundry on because you chose to surrender into rest.

2. Stick To A Schedule

Summer will feel less hectic if you stay rooted in a routine. When your day runs as normal as possible versus having your days run together like a free for all, then unexpected changes or plans don’t feel so disruptive. This will also help you easily transition once summer is over and the kids are back in school.

Having a routine for the kids will create more structure and help to cut down on interruptions. Maybe you have a chore and activity chart for them in the mornings where they can earn some electronic or movie time so each morning they know what to expect and you know exactly how much time you will have to work with limited disruptions. A household is usually happier and healthier with a routine.  

3. Priorities

During the summer you may have to re-evaluate what your priorities are so you are only adding what is necessary to your calendar. This may require you to set tighter boundaries on what you say yes to. A client who wants you to tackle a large project with a tight deadline may not work with your schedule while the kids are out of school.

If it’s not in your best interest or that of your family, be honest with your client so they can find someone who can meet their expectations or see if your client can wait until the kids are back in school for the project to be completed.

Piling too much on your plate during the summer will only leave you feeling weary and resentful in the long run. Before saying yes and committing yourself take some extra time to think and pray about it before saying yes.

4. Savvy Scheduling

In order for the summer months not to stress you out and stay on top of your work while enjoying quality family time, it will require some pre-planning.

For example, if the kids want to hit the local library on Monday morning for some new books to read or one of them has an orthodontist appointment in town, plan to spend the whole day together and take care of any other errands while you are out like the grocery store, dropping off cleaning for the hubby, etc.

This allows you to focus on being productive and getting quality work done Tuesday-Friday which means you won’t feel the least bit guilty about unplugging for the day with your family.

This approach keeps you from running around all week and feeling frazzled about not having time to focus on your work. So Sunday night, plan your week out so you know what days you need to be out and take care of as much as you can. Keep your weekly schedule somewhere visible like the fridge and let your family know that on the day you will be out everyone needs to take care of their to-dos.

5. Limit The Financial Stress

Summer can not only be a time stresser but also a financial one. Look for ways you can have fun without breaking the bank. Check your local paper for free family friendly activities happening in your community, follow your favorite restaurants on social media and keep an eye out for weekly specials, visit a local state park. You don’t have to spend a lot of money over the summer to make it meaningful or memorable. There are tons of ideas on Pinterest for budget friendly family summer activities.

I hope these tips have encouraged you and helped you to feel more empowered about how to tackle summertime as a mompreneur so you can feel productive in your business and stay present as a mom.

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June 10, 2019

HireMyMom Success Story: Monique Muro

Business: Proof Mango / Los Angeles, CA

Tell us a little about your business and why you started it.

I help online course creators edit their online course-related content (from lesson copy to marketing material), and make sure their online course works (I take care of the tech headaches). I originally started out copy editing and proofreading everything under the sun for online business owners. Then one day, a client gave me his online course to proofread, and I LOVED it. I decided then and there that editing online course content would be a niche service I could provide to the millions of online course creators out there profiting from their knowledge and passion.

What is your top advice for entrepreneurs / small business owners?

Never, ever, ever give up. You’ll go weeks without anything good happening in your business, despite working yourself to the bone – and then one day, something magical will happen. Someone will book a call or DM you about your service. The hard work starts paying off in little wood chips and flakes – meaning, it feels like you’re hammering away at something for so long and FINALLY you make a dent and stuff starts flying everywhere. But only because you didn’t give up. That’s my best advice for anyone growing a business – keep chipping away!

What is your top tip for working with a virtual team?

Take your time hiring. I got a ton of wonderful, qualified virtual assistants in my inbox after putting out a job post on Hire My Mom, but I took my time hiring and put them all through a vetting process that worked out wonderfully. First, I starred the candidates that seemed the most qualified. Next, I reached out to the ones I starred and asked them to complete a personalities test + a short survey. From there, I interviewed the ones I liked the most, and I found a great virtual assistant who is perfect for what Proof Mango needs at the moment. 

What’s your favorite thing about HireMyMom.com?

Oh my goodness, what’s not to love? I started out on Hire My Mom in early 2017 to pick up some contract proofreading/copy editing gigs. I ended up working with extraordinary online business owners who taught me to so much and gave me such great work experience. I’d say my favorite thing at the moment is that when you apply for these gigs, you’re not lumped in with hundreds of other applicants – the applicant pool is just small enough for you to stand out. As a business owner, my favorite thing about Hire My Mom is being able to hire such talented people working remotely from all over the country. The service really attracts great people!

What’s one fun or interesting fact about you?

I am a total online course junkie. I am obsessed with buying online courses on editing and digital marketing – those are probably my two favorite subjects. I can’t get enough, and I am guilty of buying new courses before I’ve finished (or started!) the ones I’ve got! I just love having a ton of information in my arsenal as a business owner. 

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