Job Responsibilities
I have just become incorporated in starting my own organization
and am applying for non-profit status. I am an Independent
Consultant. My primary works is with a faith-based organization
and another non-profit organization where I am researching and
writing grants. In addition, I am a Reserve Teacher with the
Minneapolis Public Schools which means that I get called to fill
in for a classroom teacher who will be absent for a day. I am
licensed to teach PreK to Adults; whis allows me to keep abreast
in the area of education and what is going on with young and old
people. Grant research takes a lot of time and I do most of the
research through the internet services. What I have learned
through this process is unbelievable; most foundationd and
governments grants can be applied for online and you can register
to receive emails of upcoming grants. Because I am a student and
the cost of tuition at the University of Minnesota is so high; I
also do research on scholarships for older women. I rotate my
days in doing research; so it depends on how my week is filled
with study and completing projects. I usually devoted Tuesday,
Thursdays and Sundays to do my work aan spend about five hours
for each day that I work. Sometimes, I find such facinating
information that I might spend up to five hours in the late
evening on a Saturday beginning at around 11:00 p.m.
Another responsibility which I just gained last month is Health
Coordinator for my Church. A local foundation received a grant
to promote health through community churches. A local church
will sign an agreement of partnership to promote health
activities on a monthly basis, attend monthly meetings, train two
youth in the area of leadership and do other supportive
functions. Well, my Pastor appointed me to this position and the
foundation provides a monthly stipend of $500 for the Health
Coordinator. I have just applied for a grant in the amount of
$20,000.00 to build the capacity of my organization and grants
will be awarded in January 2005. I am hopeful that I will
receive a grant. It is primarily to pay for the cost of
obtaining a 501 (c) (3). If not, I am resourceful and it will be
done.
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Job Requirements
I am enrolled in three classes for the Fall term. Because I am
enrolled in a program for Parent Education licensure; all of
these classes are required. Two classes are three credits and
one class is one credit. The difference in the classes is the
instructor. One three credit class which is held every Monday
evening from 4:05 to 6:35 is taught by a professor with a PhD.
The textbook is mostly researched based and so are the lectures.
In the other three credit class which is held every other Friday
evening and Saturday mornings is taught by one of the developers
of the program and is and Early Childhood Familty Education
Coordinator for the St. Paul, Mn Public School System is more
interesting and less rigid. The instructor as for written
feedback at the end of each class session and adjust the next
class according to the feedback. The reedback is also read to us
at the beginning of each class. What this instructor is doing is
modeling the behavior we should take with us as we lead classes
as prent educators. The grading is A-F for each class. Because
of the nature of the classes there is no problem in the classes
being overcrowded. In one class there are nine students; and in
the other two there are 18 students. The monday evening class
has the greatest workload; where a lot of reading is required
and test is given every other week. The instructor for the
Friday evening and Saturday class having us doing a three-part
project to allows us to know how to plan a parent education class
for a specific target population. For the one credit class we
had to observe an Early Childhood Family Education class Parent
Educator and write a six to eight page report.
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Uppers
Currently, as an Independent Consultant, I am able to determine whom I want to
do business with and set my own time schedule based on the timeline for
submitting proposals for grants. The areas that I have selected to provide
services to the community are one where I have over 25 years of experience. I
enjoy the area of early childhood development and doing parent groups. This is
why using my down time to serve as a Reserve Teacher is so important. It gives
me the opportunity to see is the work done early in a childs life is working.
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Downers
At present,there are no downers. I do suspect that as I become
more developed that there will be times when requests for my
services will come at a slow pace. THis will require me to "beat
the bushes" a little bit more. If I am awarded this grant, I
will be able to hire a consultant to assist me in additional
marketing strategies so that I can become successful. I am at a
point in my life where I know what I enjoy doing and how to make
it work to become beneficial towards my life-long goal f becoming
self-sufficient.
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Lifestyle
Any consultant will tell you that it is one of enjoyment because you are
somewhat your own boss. I work from my home. I have an office set up in my
basement and I have a computer in my bedroom. Sometimes, I get a big ida and I
can just get up and begin work. If I had to wait until I got to an office, I
could not do much of the work tha I do at my home. There is also my family who
is very supportive. I have a 15 year old grandson who is very proficient in
technology; so when I have problems, I can contact him to act as a trouble
shooter. This is cost efficient for someone life myself who is just starting out
in developing a new organization. At home, I dress casual and when I am working
late at night I am in my jogging clothes or pajamas; therefore, I do not have to
worry about a dress code. I have always been one who dressed for the occassion
and when I present myself to a client, I "represent." When you are out in any
public gathering you should always look your best because you knever know who is
present and watching. In my previous position, twelve years ago, I worked with a
bicultural and bilingual staff and we maintain contact with each other; I utilize
these individuals to assist whenever I need any materials translated. In
addition, I have in my office a collection of resources that I have collected
over the past 17 years to further assist me in my work. For any individual
interested in working as a consultant, one must have a specialized areas with a
strong knowledge base and a wealth of resources (human) to be able to rely on for
needed information.
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Compensation
I used the structure I paid consultants who did work for the
programs which I have managed in the past. Consideration has to
be given to struggling organizations. I charge $35 per hour;
sometimes I might not charge for the time spent in research, if I
am writing the proposal for a client. If a client has a large
budget, the cost is $125 per hour. Consultants do not receive
any fringe benefits to the rate is going to be slightly higher.
In addition, I already have a Masters of Arts in Education and
some experience in grant writing; so I can justify the rate.
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Advice to Jobseekers
I woul highly recommend this type of work to anyone who has the
ability to work independently and who is not easily distracted.
There are a lot of individuals who have worked in major fields
and decide that they want more independence, a more flexible work
schedule and to build their own business. This is own type of
work that will always be available because of the need to have
someone outsid of the regular staff to do some independent
research or activity.
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