Why should I sign-up to work for Soft-Temps?
We provide you with work assignments within your field of expertise for free. You have no obligation to accept any work assignment. By signing up, you simply become part of our national Consultant registry and make your skills available to our customers on a local and/or nationwide basis. The best part is that we will contact you with work at no charge to you. Bottom line: If you're interested in earning extra money, Soft-Temps is a great resource.
Is there any charge to register?
No. Soft-Temps does not operate like an employment agency. Provided you are appropriately qualified in your field and wish to accept work assignments from us within that field, we will provide you with jobs as they become available, on a mutually acceptable basis, completely free of charge. There is no cost to sign up with us, nor to maintain your database file in our registry over time, and there is no charge for any work assignment given to you.
What is the sign-up process?
Everyone with valued and marketable computer skills is welcome to register with us. After you complete the online registration template, your information will be reviewed by our local franchise member and you will then be contacted.
Sometimes we'll need to know more about you or your area of expertise... other times we will simply confirm your registration and then activate your file, thus making it accessible to everyone in our national network. Most of the jobs will originate locally, however it's possible that, on occasion, some assignments may be offered on a long-distance basis where work is done remotely. This will depend on a variety of factors, specifically the types of skills in demand and how they are to be used.
For example, if you are an accomplished programmer trained in a now obsolete language, you might be offered an assignment from someone 1,000 miles away who needs your help to repair or update a critical piece of software. This is just one example... there are many. The point is, jobs can originate from anywhere in our national network. But you ultimately decide if the job is right for you and whether you wish to accept it.
Will I require any special training?
In general, the answer is "no." However, there is one caveat: In order to generate repeat business and create the best possible reputation in the business community, we are an organization focused heavily on customer satisfaction. In other words, we do our level best to accommodate the needs of our clients while generating satisfaction with the job at hand. In business, satisfied customers are essential. Conversely, unhappy clients are most undesirable. So as you might imagine, we like to work with techs who will help us continue to grow and achieve our goals for the long term.
The point is... you should have a mindset that relates to this goal of ongoing customer satisfaction. It's paramount that the customer feels they are getting their money's worth with each assignment... and that they're working with friendly people who put the needs of the customer first. Good communications skills, along with a friendly attitude, are key elements of this... showing up on time and being presentable are also important. If you've worked with any professional organization or in a large corporate environment, you already know what we're talking about.
By now, hopefully, you can gauge the tenor of our company. We want happy clients. So we need you to be a team player. That's all we ask. We're good people, and we have a good organization. We just want everyone on the same page where quality service is concerned. Our clients may ultimately spend a few more dollars with Soft-Temps, but that's only because we try to do the job the way it's supposed to be done.
Will I need to be tested or certified?
Once you sign up in the Soft-Temps online Consultant registry and are accepted by our franchise member on a preliminary basis, you have gained tentative acceptance within our organization. But prior to actually going out on work assignments independently, we'll need verification of your skills at the very least. This can be achieved through our testing & certification process, or you'll need to have prior certification by a recognized authority.
For example, assume your specialty is somewhere within the Microsoft product line. If you are certified by Microsoft within a specific area, then we will verify and accept your Microsoft certification as proof of your competence within the chosen area. However, if you are not yet certified by Microsoft, we'll ask you to take an online test to verify your skills.
There is no charge to you for our testing service. It is paid by your local franchise member. As a rule, the test only requires about a half hour of your time and can be taken at home via the Internet.
Will I work for the Soft-Temps Corporation or a local franchise?
You are signing up with a local franchise member, not the Soft-Temps Corporation itself. As a result, you'll be working with one member of our franchise organization and your work assignments will originate from this person. And as you might expect, you'll also be paid by this individual.
How will I receive my work assignments?
As jobs become available, you will be contacted to determine if you wish to accept the assignment. If you do not wish to accept, then the next person in line will be contacted. If you do wish to accept, then you will be provided with the contact information for the business or residence where the work is to be done. In most cases, you'll call the client to introduce yourself. At that point, you can discuss the problem or the issue requiring your assistance and work out a mutually agreeable time for you to meet with the client, or you'll arrange to work with the client remotely if this is an appropriate method.
In the beginning, chance are you'll meet with the client while being accompanied by the Soft-Temps franchise member. This may only happen in the early stages of your association with our organization as we get to know you. Later, once our franchise member is comfortable with you, you'll probably be asked to travel directly to the client on your own.
In many cases, such as when there is a problem with the client's system that may require follow-up action, you may wish to set up a remote link to the client's computer so that you can make repairs or changes remotely. In this case, the client will log you into their system and provide you access... allowing you to remedy recurring issues or to make adjustments as needed. Obviously, each assignment will be somewhat unique; this is merely a general overview on what to expect.
How will I be paid?
You will always be paid by the local franchise member. You will work out an appropriate pay rate commensurate with several factors: the type of work being performed and the skill level required; the value of that work in your local marketplace compared to others who are available to perform the same or similar work; whether the work is being done on-site or remotely; and perhaps other factors not mentioned here that are area-specific... such as travel in difficult weather (i.e., North Dakota in the winter), long distance travel (i.e., rural service in Montana), etc.
As to the frequency of payment for your services, this is entirely negotiable between you and our local franchise member. The Soft-Temps Corporation does not participate in this interaction between franchise members and independent Consultants. Having said that, you can expect to be paid fairly and promptly. Should you ever experience any difficulties, you are welcome to notify us at the Soft-Temps Corporation. We run a clean ship and expect everyone associated with us to do likewise.
What's the next step?
Now that you've had a chance to learn more about the Soft-Temps organization, we hope you're ready to get started with us. It's easy to sign up to become part of our national online Consultant registry. Just click below and follow the instructions. We do recommend that you read through all 3 pages of this site. Thanks very much.
Questions & Answers