Rafael Said:

Tips on increasing business as a hair stylist or getting freelance work while looking for a career change?

We Answered:

Ways to advertise your hair stylist locally.
1) You need to create your cooperate identity with a custom embroidery company. Create your logo and business name on your cooperate apparel.

2) Put the logo on your Auto

3) Make up business cards and hand them out. Every time you see someone you know hand several of them out. When you give people your business card, always give them more than one and ask them to give them to their friends/coworkers, etc. Print up flyers and post them on public boards if there are any near you and post in a forums that related to your location if there are any!


4) The key for this kind of business is word-of-mouth. Think of some clever ways to encourage your existing clients to tell people about you. Perhaps you could start with a friend or family member to be one of your "spokesperson". I owned a convenience store for 10 years and a lot of business deals started in the checkout line by strangers. Tell everyone about you and ask if they know anyone that could use your service. Ask for a referral from an existing client

5) Start a website as a way to advertise you. Let your website work for you and your clients swap links. When making your own web site do some research on how to optimize your site so that you get a good ranking with a natural search. You do this by embedding smart key words. Your website could show your community involvement and you could have questions and answers on the site.


6) Look for websites that you can advertise for free. Advertise in the Yahoo local. Find free on-line classified web sites for your community. Typically the local chamber of commerce will offer such a service. You can advertise here for free: http://www.hits2u.com/?149843
http://goldbizz.localads.co.uk
http://www.trafficswarm.com/go.cgi?48605
http://www.koolplaz.com/
Post a link to your site for free when it is allowed
Try These:
Craigslist http://www.craigslist.com
Google Base http://base.google.com
Yahoo Classifieds http://classifieds.yahoo.com/
US Free Ads http://www.usfreeads.com/
Text Link Exchange http://www.txtswap.com/
Recycler.com http://www.recycler.com/
Classifieds for Free http://www.classifiedsforfree.com/...
7) A Yellow page ad seems to work great also.

8) Try to get your local newspaper to do a free article on your business.

9) Sponsor local sport teams or ballparks that hang up banners. There are also inexpensive ways to advertise like a local penny saver newspaper, high school yearbooks and newspapers, etc.

10) Call radio show call in and contest and always answer or make the statement with "your name and company name and you have been working hard" free radio ads are great.

11) Telemarketing

Here is a comprehensive list of Classifieds http://answers.yahoo.com/question/?qid=2…

Kim Said:

Career Change at 33 - any tips?

We Answered:

Go to the One Stop Center aka Career Center. All of their services are free. They have branches all over the US.

Danielle Said:

Career change to pastry chef? Any hints or tips?

We Answered:

As stated above, the hours are very different. Depending where you work, the shift could be from 10pm to 6am, or start later in the night/earlier in the morning.

The biggest thing about pastry work is attention to detail and consistency. Regardless of where you work as a pastry chef, people want something they ate last week to look and taste the same this week. Things as little as icing drizzles and sprinkles, and as big as the consistency of the dough before and after baking, need to be the same week in and week out. If you can handle this, you should be fine.

Also you'll need an eye for when things are "done." Poking every cupcake with a toothpick to see if it has solidified is not really a good strategy once you get some experience under your belt.

Judging by your details, though, you have experience with this stuff and I think you would do well!

Tracy Said:

Does anybody have any hints or tips on changing career to Events Management?

We Answered:

Get a degree in Hotel and resturant management. Then hop a plane to vegas.

Constance Said:

Career change- want to be a PA-do I need to train etc? Have you any tips?

We Answered:

To be a PA you do have to be quite skilled and computer literate.

For a PA it is usually necessary to have good GCSES (including an A-C in Maths, English and Science). Employees usually also prefer someone with a Degree - i.e. someone with an English Degree is much more likely to get an interview than someone without.

You also have to have experience - certificates/qualifications if possible in most Microsoft programmes - i.e. Word/Powerpoint/Excel etc - to an intermediate to high level. Skills in Audio Typing, Minute taking and shorthand are also preferential.

I did a NVQ 2 in Secretarial Studies a few years ago which will teach you the basics such as program usuage, touch typing, shorthand, audio and general admin duties. This would be a good base to start from and your local college should offer a course such as this, one you could even attend part time.

Most of all, don't get despondent if you things are slow getting into PA-ing. There are a lot of people out there to compete with (including Graduates), as the role is usually rather well paid. But, there is also lots of scope for job development and training opportunities in being a PA. I started off as an Administrative Assistant and now, six years later and after seizing training opportunities and changing companies, I am an Executive Assistant earning £10k more than when I first started.