Flexible Jobs that Pay well
In the current economic environment, the "traditional" 9-5, 40 hour a week job may be slowly disappearing. As family situations continually fluctuate, more Americans are finding the necessity - and the joy - of working flexible hours. The questions are how to develop a flexible schedule and how to make that schedule pay.
The more entrepreneurial readers of this post will trend towards the concept of starting their own business. There are many programs available to assist in establishing an on line or in person business presence. For those who desire the security of a regular paycheck, or who don't desire to make an investment, this is not a viable option.
The best option for creating a flexible schedule that pays is to enter the world of merchandising, demonstrating and mystery shopping, These type positions are usually offered as a "sub-contractor" type arrangement where the individual is responsible for their own taxes and insurance. Merchandising jobs can range from elaborate display build-outs and full resets requiring building or mechanical skills, to simple product verification or the placement of stickers. Every item placed upon the shelves of the local big box retailer or home improvement store was "merchandised" - often by a third party, independent contractor.
Product demonstration is perfect for those who love to interact with people. Certain demonstration companies only hire young, attractive demonstrators - but most are very open. The work can be as simple as passing out samples of candy or soda, to performing elaborate cooking shows.
Mystery shopping, also known as secret shopping, is an essential means for companies to insure that employees are providing proper customer service and adhering to company standards. In order evaluate employees, mystery shopping companies enlist secret shoppers to act as "spies". Sometimes specific scenarios and/or purchases are required. Companies generally offer payment, but some shops are performed on a reimbursement basis only.
There are several on line sites which list demonstration, mystery shopping and merchandising positions. Two such sites are volition.com and narms.com. As with any field, earnings generally increase with experience and a history of quality work. A benchmark per hour rate is from $9-$10 for those just entering these fields (this includes the reimbursements offered in lieu of payment) with experienced set assemblers making up to $25-$30 per hour. The higher paying jobs often have additional requirements such as tools which must be met, as well. Many companies have a 30 to 90 day cycle on payments, which may put a strain on those with a limited budget. As a result, most transition into this field on a part-time basis initially. While most large metropolitan areas will provide enough opportunities to create a full-time income, many rural or isolated areas may not.
