90 days
Well, at the weekend I went for the part-time freelance Trainee Design job with the interior design company and was offered the job. I met the principal, Steve. He looked at my portfolio and said that he didn't need any convincing - my ability speaks for itself.
So I am to be a design contractor, my title being Representative, visiting potential clients with samples and brochures of kitchens and other joinery items and if they decide to proceed my job will then entail measuring up their kitchen space and designing their kitchen. I will receive a healthy commission once the whole job is finished and the tradespeople have been paid. Quite standard really.
Today I received the basic agreement and Independent Business Application by email, which must signed and witnessed (with proof of my address and ID). I have read it through and it all seems bona fide. Then they will send me samples, brochures and my training manual. I have 90 days to become familiar and competent with everything before I sell and design my first kitchen. At the interview, Steve said I may not sell my first kitchen for 3 or 4 months, so I already knew what to expect, and realistically one can hardly expect to sell or design a kitchen until one is familiar with the products, procedure and expertise.
I am doing really well with my studies though (having just put assignments 5 and 6 to bed) so I hope to get to grips with the design manual when it arrives and become sufficiently competent to unleash my design skills on the unsuspecting public within the next couple of months. A good personal target would be two kitchens a month to start with, especially as I will have to convert the spare room (when we move) into a fully-functional office and design studio and, if I do well, find an accountant who doesn't cost too much to handle my increasingly diverse business affairs.
Catherine.
So I am to be a design contractor, my title being Representative, visiting potential clients with samples and brochures of kitchens and other joinery items and if they decide to proceed my job will then entail measuring up their kitchen space and designing their kitchen. I will receive a healthy commission once the whole job is finished and the tradespeople have been paid. Quite standard really.
Today I received the basic agreement and Independent Business Application by email, which must signed and witnessed (with proof of my address and ID). I have read it through and it all seems bona fide. Then they will send me samples, brochures and my training manual. I have 90 days to become familiar and competent with everything before I sell and design my first kitchen. At the interview, Steve said I may not sell my first kitchen for 3 or 4 months, so I already knew what to expect, and realistically one can hardly expect to sell or design a kitchen until one is familiar with the products, procedure and expertise.
I am doing really well with my studies though (having just put assignments 5 and 6 to bed) so I hope to get to grips with the design manual when it arrives and become sufficiently competent to unleash my design skills on the unsuspecting public within the next couple of months. A good personal target would be two kitchens a month to start with, especially as I will have to convert the spare room (when we move) into a fully-functional office and design studio and, if I do well, find an accountant who doesn't cost too much to handle my increasingly diverse business affairs.
Catherine.