Question #1: “What are the requirements to get hired?”

VIPKid has two main requirements. The first requirement is that you have a bachelor’s degree. I completely understand that many people have great experience but haven’t gone through the four years it takes to earn a bachelor’s degree. However, this is a teaching job. So it’s understandable that they make this a requirement.

VIPKid’s second non-negotiable is that you have at least one year of experience working with kids. VIPKid is flexible with this requirement because this experience does not have to be formal classroom teaching. It can be homeschooling, volunteering at school, teaching Sunday school, leading groups with children…the list goes on. So, if you can check off these two requirements, continue reading! If not, there are plenty of other ways to earn money with one of my personal favorites being flipping thrifted items on Ebay, check out my post here

Question #2: “Can I really set my own hours with VIPKid?”

Yes!…and no. Let me explain. You can set your own hours but the hours you can set are limited. As I previously stated, our students live in China. Due to the time change, peek hours are going to be when the kids are done with school for the day but before they go to bed. This means that peak times are going to be early mornings during the weekdays and overnights during weekends.

I live in the central time zone, so my options for bookings are from 8pm-9:00am. There aren’t any opportunities to book outside of these times.

VIPKid also indicates what times are “peak” and “peak peak” time slots. Meaning, these are the spots that you have a significantly higher chance of booking. For me in the central time zone, “peak” and “peak peak” ends up being from 5:00am-9:00am during weekdays and 8:00pm-9:00am on weekends.

Keep reading if you want to hear more about a company that pays its employees well and allows them to set their own hours. Yup, you heard me right! BOTH of these things are true when working for VIPKid!

Question #3: “How much do the teachers get paid and what is this based on?”

Teachers get paid anywhere from $17-$22 per hour. This is based on experience (teaching experience and your degree, masters vs bachelors) as well as how you do during the “teaching” component of your interview.

I cannot stress enough how important it is to do well during your interview because of this! But I’ll talk more about how to ace the interview in a future post. Bottom line, take it seriously and plan to practice. If you put time into prepping, I’m confident you can get hired!

Question #4: “Do you actually get bookings/students?”

Yes! There are some tricks to the trade that I’ve learned myself or have found out through other VIPKid teachers that are KEY to parents booking YOU to teach their child. Things such as a welcoming video clip, profile pictures, and bio go a long way! There are also some other tricks you can do with your schedule that increase your chance of getting booked (but again, I’ll talk about that in a future post).

Bottom line…if you are patient you will slowly start getting students. If these students give you good feedback, your schedule will explode!

Take it from me, I was slow to get bookings until I had three parents leave a “five apple” rating (which is the best you can get). From that point on, I haven’t had any issues with bookings. In fact, I’m careful about how many spots I open during “peak” and “peak peak” times because I end up booking too many for my schedule.

Question #5: “Do you lesson plan”

No! And that is why I LOVE this job. My husband has his teaching degree and in previous jobs he’s had, he would come home with stacks upon stacks of papers, books, and other resources in order to put together lesson plans. VIPKid does this all for you. There is absolutely no lesson planning!!!

VIPKid’s website briefly talks about their curriculum and states that it is based on “US Common Core State Standards”. This is meaningful to some people while it makes others gloss over (I’m in the later category).

All I needed to know was that I am not responsible for lesson planning and that VIPKid has already done the hard work for me.

The VIPKid platform has PowerPoint slides for every lesson in their curriculum. There are approximately 30 slides per lesson and the statement is “one slide per minute”. VIPKid knows that some slides will take 3 minutes while others will take 15 seconds, so the one slide per minute is just a reference. I just review the material 1-2 times before I teach. As long as I do this, I feel prepared!

While they have done all the work for me, there are times when I have to “extend” the lesson. This happens for a variety of reasons, including poor time management (which you learn as you go!). But “’extending” is simple, just chat a little bit more with your student about the topic they are learning about or about their life in general!

Question #6: “Do I have to grade the work?”

Yes and no. Let me explain. The lessons are 25 minutes in length, allowing 5 minutes to provide the student/parent with feedback. This feedback is brief and is broken down into four sections:

A section to discuss the lesson (strengths, difficulties, areas to work on throughout the week etc.
An optional section to provide feedback for other teachers who might teach this student in the future
A “check box” section to indicate how the student is doing in a variety of areas
A “check box” section to indicate if the lesson was too easy, too difficult, or appropriate for the student’s abilities.

I realize that this sounds slightly lengthy but if I finish my lesson on time, I never have difficulty completing it in the 5 minutes before my next lesson starts.

And if I want to grab a snack instead of completing my feedback, VIPKid allows for 12 hours to fill in this information. That being said, sometimes I complete it right away while other times I wait a few hours until filling in my feedback.

Question #7: “How long is the commitment?”

Upon being hired by VIPKid, they will send you a contract to sign. Their contracts are six months in length. While I haven’t been working with the company for over 6 months, I did hear that as long as you have a decent feedback rating and not too many cancellations or no-shows, they send you another contract to review/sign.

That being said, it also details in the contract that they request two weeks’ notice if you would like to terminate your contract…so if you sign the contract, you are not legally bound to it for 6 months! There is an “out” if your life plans change!

Question #8: “Do you really enjoy your job?”

Yes, I really do and I’m not just saying that because I’m writing a blog post about it. I really look forward to teaching. No, I never want my alarm clock to go off telling me it’s time to wake up but once I start teaching, I always wish I had booked more students. I actually find it fun and don’t want to quit in the mornings.

After time, you will get regulars…which is probably the best part! You pick up where you left off and get to know them! You start to learn about their interests and hobbies and build rapport. Sometimes it’s hard to remember that these students are half-way across the world!

Question #9: “How do I get started?!?!?”

It’s simple to get started! Click on this link https://t.vipkid.com.cn/?refereeId=13343095&refersourceid=a01 and follow the instructions! The application will take you 5-10 minutes.

And remember, you must have one year of experience with kids. This year can be pieced together by a variety of experiences, spanning years. However, be sure to indicate that you have this year of experience (even if it was not consecutive)…you will have a spot to explain this later in the application.

Once you have completed the application, there are a few more steps before getting hired! I would be more than happy to help you through each step! I can provide you with detailed information on what you need to know to get hired! If you would like me to “coach” you through this process, use my referral link and shoot me an email at centsiblewife@gmail.com!

I hope this answered all of your questions but if not, feel free to comment below or send me an email! I’d love to help you get hired with the company!

-Kelsey

Make Quick Money on Ebay

April 17, 2018 by Kelsey Leave a Comment

Make Quick Money on Ebay

If you’re looking to make quick money on Ebay, you have come to the right place! I’m going to give you the exact tools and information you need to be successful. If you haven’t already, you can also read my previous post, “Five Top Reasons to Start an Ebay Store”. These two posts will get you well on your way to earning money quickly!

Ebay has been a great money maker for my family and just within a matter of weeks of upping our game of selling/flipping, my husband was able to go from working 4 days (well nights actually) to 3 days a week so that he could spend more time with us at home during our daughters first months of life! This is truly a God send for us because quality time is both of our love language and neither of us were getting what we needed with his crazy schedule!

Now, without further ado, here are my top tips for selling on Ebay and making quick money as well as a list of items you should snatch up if you see at your local thrift stores or garage sales. Keep reading so you can learn from my mistakes and save yourself time and money!

Top Ebay Tips for Growing your Income Fast

1. Check the box before you buy!!!

I cannot tell you how many times I’ve gotten home and opened a box to be surprised by its contents, and not in a good way. That Magic Bullet turned out to be some Walmart knock off brand, that Monopoly ended up being Candyland etc. While it’s not a big deal because thrift stores will typically give you store credit for the items, it’s annoying and a waste of time. Plus, I clearly got my hopes up and already saw the $ flowing in, only to find out I need to return it.

2. Ask to test the item in the store.

There is nothing wrong with finding an outlet and plugging that fan in before you buy it. The store doesn’t want to sell items that don’t work and you don’t want to buy something you have to spend time returning two days later.

3. Save your receipts.

I cannot stress enough how important it is to save your receipts because without fail you will get items that don’t work, or there will be a big scratch that you didn’t see etc. Stores will typically allow you to at least return for store credit if you have the receipt. This has saved me quite a bit of money, especially starting out when I wasn’t quite sure what I was looking for.

4. Do your research.

When you are trying to decide if something is worth the money, take a look at current auctions as well as auctions that have ended with the product selling. All you have to do is go to the “filter” section and click on “sold items”. You are going to do two things here, first you are going to see if what price the current item is being sold for and how many of the item there are available. Next, you are going to check the “sold” section and see how much the item is actually going for and how fast they are selling. Here is what I have found works:

1. It is OK if there are many of the same item already listed, as long as they are also selling quickly. However, know that you are going to have to price competitively in order for yours to catch eyes.

2. If there are fewer items available, you might be able to increase your price slightly, as long as there is a demand for the product (which you can tell by seeing how many have sold recently).

5. Do not blindly sell your thrifted item for the price that Ebay suggests.

Again, do your research…take a look at current prices and how much similar or the same product have sold for recently. Choose your price based on that.

6. Don’t get greedy.

Set a price that is similar or slightly lower than the “going price”. You will always see people listing items for more than they are worth and then they don’t sell. Make sure you have competitive pricing.

7. Choose only “Auction” or only “Buy it Now”.

In order for your listing to be “free” You get a set amount of “free listings”, depending on your account type. However, if you do an auction/buy it now combo, it will cost money.

8. Be aware of Ebay’s limits.

They set limits for all sellers in order to verify that you will not be a fraudulent seller. Typically starts with 10, then 20, and then goes up from there. So don’t plan on making a full time income on one account until you have spent some months proving yourself. Proving yourself appears to be based off of a few things but mostly no negative feedback. There are also opportunities to call Ebay and request higher selling limits. You will have to answer some basic questions like how quickly you ship, if you plan on selling full time, and where you obtain your items from (garage sales, your home, thrift stores etc.)

9. Be sure to charge for shipping appropriately.

Ebay often auto-fills the shipping cost in for you, which can be awesome! But sometimes it gets the weight and dimensions WAY wrong so suddenly that 25 pound box is only 2 pounds according to Ebay and your profit just went out the window. Adjust accordingly and you will be fine.

10. Don’t purchase shipping at the Post Office.

There are MANY online resources for buying postage and you actually save 20-25% when utilizing these options. Hey, every dollar counts right? One resource we use is ShipStation. You can sign up for their free trial here if you want to test it out before you subscribe! If you decide to subscribe, one month is only $9 for the starter version. We have been able to save lots of time and money through buying our postage online through ShipStation!

11. Be sure to send your items “media mail”.

If it is a book, CD, or DVD. This will save you a TON of money due to the post office charging less for shipping these items.

12. Consider splitting items up and selling individually.

For example, take a look and see if you will get more money for an entire set of knives with a butcher’s block or selling the knives and block individually. It might be more work but if the price is right, it’ll be worth it!

13. Download the Ebay App.

You can scan bar-codes or take a picture of the item and search this way. The picture option is GREAT when you have no idea what an item would be called.

OK, now that you know why I sell on Ebay and have heard my top tips, here is a list of the top things I snatch up to sell.

1. Make Money on Ebay by selling Toys from the 90s:

I grew up in the 90s so I love this one! POG Maker, Furby, Pretty Pony, the list goes on…but check before you buy because it could be a replica that was made last year.

2. Make Money on Ebay by selling Kitchen Gadgets:

Knives sell really well if you can find a nice set with a butchers block. Other things I have found sell well are Magic Bullet, Baby Bullet, Keurigs, and any other instant (but brand name) coffee makers.

3. Make Money on Ebay by selling Electronics:

At times, there are some GREAT profit margins to be made here! But keep that receipt and try it out when you get home because electronics can be touchy and you don’t want to lose your money if it does not function properly!

4. Make Money on Ebay by selling Remote Controls:

I’ve heard (although I haven’t found any) that remotes can go for a decent price if they are for a specific TV or DVD player so keep a look out! But don’t even bother looking up a remote if it’s a universal remote. You can pick those up at Walmart for dirt cheap already so nobody is buying a used one on Ebay. Instead, look for remotes for TVs and DVD players such as Samsung, Sony, Vizeo, etc.

5. Make Money on Ebay by selling Phones:

I always, always, always look for phones at thrift stores. Any phones that are specific to helping those with hearing impairment often sell for a significant amount and are great to snatch up. I have one right now that we bought for $5 and we will be selling for around $90! That’ll be an $85 dollar profit for about ten minutes of work! Not all phones will be worth your time…in fact, most phones sitting there you won’t even be able to sell but if they look “fancy” be sure to look them up!

6. Make Money on Ebay by selling DVD players:

This one surprised me because I figured being used would drive the price down significantly and make it not worth my time. But I was wrong! If you see a DVD player that is in good condition AND has a remote control, look it up. Just be aware that if it does not have the remote, you will get significantly less.

7. Make Money on Ebay by selling Printers:

This one is very hit or miss but you can make a good profit so I always check it out. Sometimes you’re lucky to get $10 for a printer and other times you can get closer to $75.

8. Make Money on Ebay by selling Calculators:

Be sure to check the going price if you see a Texas Instrument calculator! You can make some decent money here. I often find older styles selling for $1 and sell them for $10-$15. You’re not making huge money here but they sell fast and are easy to ship, so it’s easy money.

9. Make Money on Ebay by Selling Routers:

Some of these are worth a pretty penny while others aren’t even worth a second glance. Keep your eyes open though because I just picked one up for $6 that I will be listing for $75.

10. Make Money on Ebay by selling Home Décor:

The two things I have found sell best right now are Big Mouth Billy Bass and the Audubon Singing Bird Clock…both items which were popular back in the early 2000s if I remember correctly. They are both currently selling for approximately $20 and I can usually find them for around $4 at our local thrift stores. Again, not a huge profit but they consistently sell so I will buy theme very time! I’m also on the lookout for other home décor items but I haven’t found anything else that regularly sells within a week (which is really my goal so I can avoid multiple listing fees for one item).

11. Make Money on Ebay by selling Clothes:

I haven’t dabbled in clothes too much because I get overwhelmed by the rows and rows of clothes but there are many people who solely sell clothes and brag great profits.

12. Make Money on Ebay by selling Baby Items:

If you have ever been pregnant, you know there are often lists upon lists of items people tell you to buy in preparation for baby. While you will likely get many of these items at showers, there will be plenty of things you will need to purchase on your own, which is why people turn to Ebay. Who wants to go shopping while 8 months pregnant…not me!!! Which is why I even bought a few things on Ebay when I was pregnant. A heated container for the baby wipes, Bumbo, Boppy Pillows…all things you can look for when thrifting.

Now that you have done a little research on Ebay, know my top tricks, and have a list of things to look for, go out and test it all and see what works for you! Once you get started and see how quick you can make money on Ebay, you won’t want to stop.

I’m excited to hear about your thrift store flipping and the gems that you will find! Comment below what have you found in the past or find after reading through this post!