Your Questions About Direct Marketing Jobs

Jere answers:

Contact the team(s) directly. The HR dept or whomever answers should be able to direct you. If they don’t know, Ask them would would they do in your situation and feel them out for other suggestions. People are generally willing to help.

Jere answers:

If you’re looking for a work from home JOB (not a home based business), there are lots of companies who hire for call center type positions. And don’t listen to the nay-sayers who say work from home and telecommuting jobs are all scams or that there aren’t real jobs. There are. You just have to know where to look and how to avoid the scams.

Do NOT pay for a list of jobs or pay to get a job. There are a few of the legitimate companies that, after you have qualified for the job, ask you to pay for a background check if you will be handling sensitive information like credit cards. It’s usually $20-$30 and from legitimate companies is a legit fee to pay. Other than that, there is no reason or need to pay anything if you just want a job. Some of the call center jobs, you are an independent contractor (IC) and some you are an employee.

If you want to start a home based business, there will be fees involved and business expenses. There are many legit business opportunities out there in direct sales, multi-level and network marketing. There are great companies to work with, but having a business isn’t for everyone.

For info on jobs, you can check out this comparison chart from RatRaceRebellion.com – it shows a huge list of companies, their requirements, pay, where they are etc. Http://www.ratracerebellion.com/CS_Comparison.html

Also, check out the telecommuting forums at WAHM.com and WorkPlaceLikeHome.com

Jere answers:

Neither one has a legal definition.. But in most cases,

“Factory Direct “: comes directly from the manufacturer, as in ” Factory direct replacement OEM toner for your printer” — which would come directly from HP or Lexmark, Lanier, Dell, etc.

“compatible” : this wasn’t the part originally installed, but it is adequate to do the job.
– you may see that a power supply is no longer available, but a newer model is compatible.

Your computer manufacturer may sell compatible parts like memory or power supplies..
You can order cheap knock-offs directly from the ‘cheap knock-off factory’ therefore, “Factory Direct”.

In the case of most parts, especially Toner and consumables.. OEM (original equipment manufacturer) parts – even if compatible, are sometimes more expensive than that of other manufacturers. They include the brand labeling, research & development, quality control, patent or trademark issues, advertising and tech support expenses.

“knock off” – or “after market” secondary market products are cheaper. In many cases, you can get the exact same parts.. One example is memory; less than a dozen companies in the world actually produce RAM memory chips. Several companies buy them, assemble them on boards, re-label them, or buy the entire component and re-label it. We can buy RAM directly from the producers for a lot cheaper than the brand names. But.. Your computer mfr doesn’t support memory they didn’t sell you.

In the case of printer toner.. The secondary market is widely variable. With OEM toner, you are protected and have a stable, reliable product. There are plenty of counterfeiters.. Look for those holograms and expiration dates.
Ink / toner refills can be close or equivalent to original equipment, but the case may not withstand the extra use. In a few cases, re-manufactured toner has cost customers of mine to replace entire printers.. Without warranty protection because of the after-market toner.
Of course, using these is a big deal.. You could save 75% of the cost of original OEM cartridges… After 3 or 4 savings like these, an average desktop printer might be paid off by the difference.

Jere answers:

There is no easy way into this job market without experience, you just have to keep applying.

One thing you can do that would help your chances, is to follow up your online job application.

Wait about one week after submitting your application, then telephone the company, to see if you have been given an interview.

At least this way you get to talk to someone, and if you ask nicely, they may be able to give you some advice on how to get a job, or change your resume etc.

Jere answers:

If I were in your position, I would seek out a Marketing Trade Association in Vancouver, and talk to them about opportunities and needs. You may want to start with the Canadian Marketing Association:

http://www.the-cma.org/

They post positions on their site as well as provide a lot of great information.

Best wishes on your move!