Newcomer to Networking

[franglo]

Hello everyone
Yesterday I posted my 1st message on this website under Global Village - Newcomer but see tonight I have not yet had a reply so wondering if it is not seen so hoping this one will.
By all means please look back on my previous message as it is more detailed and I will keep this one shorter!
Briefly to say I am British, mid 40's (but mostly feel 35! thank goodness!) and have lived in Charente Maritime, France (SW) for more than 12 years hailing from Jersey, C.I. where I used to be a Legal Secretary.
Due to serious illness of my husband I am now having to relook at a different means of income - we are currently running our own Mill complex of gites near to La Rochelle - so fell upon this website by accident almost and got quite interested in learning more about Networking
I have not worked as a full-time sec since over 12 years though although I am on the Net daily and type rregularly and am fast!  
What I would like to know therefore is how I would get started from here - where do you find the availabilities/contacts and as I am a complete novice to this, how would I receive the work.
Also would like to have an idea of the current rates I could earn,e tc etc

Any help or advice much apprecaited, thanks!

[susans]

Are you looking for work within your home or outside?  If you are looking to start secretarial work out of your home it is alot of hard work but we have a section on DeskDemon to help see if it is something you would like to try as well as a section on the message board to ask questions.


http://us.deskdemon.com/pages/us/va/becomeava

If you are looking for re joining the workforce outside the home, there are the normal avenues of looking for a job, friends and contacts, let them know you are looking.   Newspaper and online advertisements,  Networking (if you go to church, get your hair done, any social situation) causally let people konw you are looking for options, temp agencies are great to get your feet back in the water, when I tempted years ago the variety I learned from the different positions really helped me grow.  Temping is one way to see what you are good at and what you like.

I hope this helps a bit.  I am not totally positive on what you want as an end results but this maybe a start.

[mfrance]

My first question is how fluent are you in French for the working environment ?
If you are thinking of becoming a virtual secretary, as you probably being self-employed in France means paying a good deal of taxes.
Sorry to say but trying temping might not be very successfull, the main reason being the fact that you stopped working as a sec for 12 years. 10/15 years ago, temping was much easier, nowadays there are too many secs looking for a job.

I would advise you to go to the nearest " Chambre de Commerce " and ask them the list of companies on the import/export markets.

There is a local secretaries association in Hiersac (16290) called the Club Privilege de Charente. Perhaps, they could be helpful.

Marie-France (in Dijon)
Member of EUMA

[franglo]

Yes I appreciate I have been out of the "workplace" for several years.  Just to clarify though I am not seeking to be a "temp" and work outside of the home but from my home therefore I was interested in "networking"
However I would like to know more about networking, how I would obtain a position, how I would receive the work etc so would really appreciate lots of feedback about this please

Also are most networkers working from their homes or "virtual offices" full or part-time

Will keet a close eye on this form and look forward to your help and advice

Thanks!

[susans]

I would re post this in the VA section or ask questions directly in that forum area.

[Jackie G]

I'm really not clear what you want.

If you mean network marketing (MLM etc) then there's not a lot of money in it and you'd be better advised to find a proper job.

Perhaps you could clarify what you really mean other than just saying 'networking'?

Jackie, Peer Moderator
www.iqps.org

[mariange]

Perhaps franglo is just thinking of working actually using the internet, means being a home sec working for companies from her own PC ??!!
Networking does not really mean the same but it seems franglo would like to try to propose her skills to compagnies which does not have admin or sec staff.
This is not so common in France but from some years compagnies are getting to the idea to delegate some tasks to outside sec, I mean admin tasks.
Franglo being a secretary at home is not so easy because you need first to propose your skills to several compagnies around your region, and some times even further Either you choose to be on your own or you'd prefer to be part of a compagny yourself, while at home in order to get a regular salary.
The most difficult I think would be to make yourself known as a home secretary among all the compagnies you will contact.
Anyway good luck for your idea.
You can find several websites in french from home secretaries.
Only look for telesecretaires on Google or whatever.

[countrigal]

This is also what is called being a Virtual Assistant or VA.  Our forum on VA would answer several question I believe, as would the VA sections of DD homepage.  Being a VA is difficult for those just coming out of a permanent position, so I'm sure it would be really difficult for someone who has been out of the workforce for quite a while.  The main thing is to figure out how you would 'sell' yourself to any potential customers.  With your skills not quite as up-to-date as those who have just left the workforce to pursue a VA position, I feel that you might find it extremely difficult to compete.  I would suggest looking into avenues to brush up on your skills and get up-to-date on the needs and desires of a company before tackling the VA world, but then I'm a bit more conservative than some out there.  Whatever you decide, I wish you all the best, and hope you keep coming here to get advice and suggestions.

CountriGal
Peer Moderator