So Much Time Spent On Job Boards And Scheduling

Can any of you share ways you have learned to spend less time on job boards and working out a schedule? At times, it all falls into place nicely. However, there are times I spend a very long time logging into to each company's job board and trying to figure out what jobs are worth taking, how many there might be in a particular area, etc. Any suggestions that might help?

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I use Jobslinger.com, which at least lets me view and search aggregated data from MSC's who use the Sassie platform. Its a real time saver. It also makes signing up with new Sassie shop users a breeze. To me, it's worth the Jobslinger Plus membership for the advanced tools there.I wish there was one service that did that with Sassie, Prophet, Clientsmart, Shopmetrics and others.

Checking job boards gets easier over time. You learn when the companies you work for are likely to post, you recognize what jobs are not worthwhile and which ones are. I routinely check about 30 companies that have had worked in my area recently. Those are all on one bookmark in firefox and can be opened as tabs in a single window. Firefox remembers my login and password so I can be having a job board load while the company on the next tab logs in.

Thanks. I tried Jobslinger a long time ago when I was not seriously shopping. I'll check into it again. I find it hard that you can self assign some jobs and then apply for others, having to wait. I do get the majority for the most part, but planning a full day, or route, takes much time. I wish there were an easier way; like, "Here's your route for the day. Everything is all set up, the guidelines are here, the notes are all written down, the route is set." Hah! Wouldn't that be nice! I have bookmarked my companies, too, in order of preference. But I have about 8 separate bookmarks. Can you do 30 in one window? That many will open at once? I'll give it try.

A lot of it depends on how much memory your machine has and how many other applications you have open. When you select open all in tabs, it may be time to go get a cup of coffee while they open.

I too wondered if there was some secret in not having to spend so much time looking for shops.

However, as time went on, I only check certain companies that I work with that don't call or send an email. When I have time, I periodically check other companies.

I agree that it's time consuming. I'm saving a little time by doing the following:

-I use Jobslinger and I'm testing Jobslinger Plus.

-I use MSPA job search for other companies (It includes 4 companies that I really like).

-I go to the individual website for those not found above, and I have a list of those.

I'm trying to make it easier too!

Over a short period of time you will get down to just certain companies that are worth working for and find your niche in types of shops. I deactivate the email portion on companies that I rarely accept jobs from so that I do not get their emails but still considered a viable worker. This keeps me from getting 100 emails a day from companies that I could care less about. If work is slow I have 26 companies that I have worked for this year that I check their listings. In that I do video shops and auto shops primarily I rarely work for less than $25.00 a shop unless it is my bank shops that I use for fillers to pay for gas. I am fortunate to live in an area that generally has plenty of work. Hang in there and find what works for you. If congress does not reach a solution soon none of this is going matter. I am really ticked off at our legislature. Our pay is already being cut due to the economy and companies that were using MSCs are no longer using them to save money.

I've been shopping since 2004 and my husband used to think I was just sitting back playing on the computer. Now I'm a bit wiser, I have narrowed my companies down to just a few companies who seem to be reliable. I check their boards and then self assign as necessary. When my calendar has space, I will look at Jobslinger and then respond to them. I've learned to not just sit around waiting for jobs that I've applied for unless it's a new fancy restaurant I've been dieing to try out.

I've narrowed my jobs down to Video, banks, gas and groceries. I will occassionally do fast food for more than $10.00 only.

I have cut my scheduling time as I get 50% emails telling me when new jobs come in...yes, I still search, but find the more you do for one MSC, the more jobs come to you. The last two days of the month I do my search it gets easier.

Live consciously....

One other little trick I use saves me lots of time. I have RoboForm installed on both my desktop and my netbook. It quickly plugs in all those pesky passwords and logs me directly into the main page I'm heading for....either the job board or the shop log...whichever I've programmed it for.

It saves loads of time and it's all saved in cyberspace in case of a system crash and can easily be retrieved and reloaded and synched into the computer. I can check a job board in a matter of seconds. I also keep pen and paper handy for developing those routes!

Today I Will Choose Joy!

"Finally, whatever things are good, true, noble, lovely, of good report...if there be any virtue, if there be any praise...think on these things." ....It's a command, not a suggestion!

It will look like a shameless plug, justjoanie, but:

That is the goal at www.msjobboard.com
We're still in testing right now, but we are going to have a bunch of MSCompanies posting work to the same LIVE* board. There will be more features to come, but we already have a map of the jobs out there in your area. The higher-ups are already looking at some more in-depth tools to make, and I can't talk about them yet, but it is going to be really cool!

there are 12 MSCs posting right now, and when the system's official launch happens, there will be at least 30.

*updated every 5 minutes

justjoanie Wrote:
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> Any suggestions that might help?

Alex Eding
Shopmetrics, Inc.
www.msjobboard.com

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