Posted by Kathleen Otting on 8/7/08 11:38am
Msg #259102

GETTING JOBS

CAN ANYONE GIVE ME ADVICE, I'VE SIGNED UP WITH ABOUT 20 AGENCIES ON LINE AND HAVEN'T HAD A CALL IN MONTHS.

Reply by Pete/MD on 8/7/08 11:47am
Msg #259104

BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH........ please remove caps. kthnx.

Reply by Kathleen Otting on 8/7/08 12:31pm
Msg #259123

Thanks for all your input, I just signed on and didn't realized my profile was finshed.

Thanks again,

Reply by LKT/CA on 8/7/08 1:12pm
Msg #259132

Your profile is an extension of you and the level of service you provide. When companies read your profile and see a mishmash of wording - incomplete sentences and grammatical errors - they do not view you as "very professional". In fact, they may not even view you as "professional".

BTW, are YOU very professional or are your HOURS very professional?

Reply by Teresa/FL on 8/7/08 11:54am
Msg #259108

Even people with years of experience are getting less jobs than they did a year ago.

For starters, you could put some information in your profile. Why would anyone want to hire you if you don't at least make that minimal effort.

Reply by elk4us on 8/7/08 11:57am
Msg #259109

With all that is going on with the housing market and the economy, my advise is not to get into the NSA business.

Reply by Tonya Washington on 8/7/08 11:58am
Msg #259110

I'm not going to be as mean and as blunt as the previous replys.......I will tell you though that considering today's market as per a previous reply most people are going out of business or going part-time as Notaries or quitting the business all together. I also have to agree with the previous reply in saying that your profile is completely empty. You should atleast say how many years you've been a signing agent/notary. Good Luck

Reply by Sylvia_FL on 8/7/08 12:05pm
Msg #259113

Kathleen
When I am looking for a signing agent I check the profile out. I pass on those that have no profile. I just looked and there is no information in your profile, so I could have had signings in your area but would have passed on calling you because of the lack of information.

Reply by Yowheelz on 8/7/08 1:07pm
Msg #259129

20 companies is drop in the bucket

I am signed up with at least 200 title, escrow, attorney and signing companies. It takes time and research to build a base and even at that I am down to about 30 signings a month compared to double that a year ago. You have to remember that the company has to have a closing in your area and for some that could be as few as 1 a year.

Reply by LynnNC on 8/7/08 1:33pm
Msg #259134

As others have written, you need to have a good profile in order to catch the interest of companies. Take a look at the profiles of others to get some ideas. Try to write it in such a way that it is not obvious that you don't have much experience, but, don't mislead to indicate that you have...just skirt the issue.

Reply by Loretta on 8/7/08 2:33pm
Msg #259146

Kathleen, first thing I would do is fix your profile. Note how many closings you have done and the types of closings you have done. Also note how many years you have been doing this.

You can note that you are NNA certified but it really doesn't mean much. It's your experience that counts.

Reply by LynnNC on 8/7/08 3:39pm
Msg #259151

I realize that many NSA's on this board don't like NNA, but, I found their training to be helpful and some companies ask if a notary is certified. Also, for a new NSA that doesn't have much experience, the training is an indication of knowing at least the fundamentals of closing a loan.

Reply by MW/VA on 8/7/08 5:03pm
Msg #259174

I agree. It wasn't necessarily a bad thing for the NNA to try to establish a standard for training & bgc criteria. I benefited from it, and can say that I am "certified & bgc". It is still a lot better than starting out clueless & hurting yourself & the industry.

Reply by parkerc/ME on 8/7/08 5:41pm
Msg #259184

I bit on taking the NNA NSA course and also got the whole "certified and background screened" smeel to become a SA, even tho' I've been a notary for 17 years. Had to disregard some of the NNA stuff, based on conflicting rules in our state, but found it very valuable to someone doing signings for the first time. Last week (end of month crunch of course!), every call I got was from companies who got my name off the NNA listing . . and I had to turn down several due to conflicts. . I'm only one person!!! (Of course, everything is practically dead this week, so am doing the online application thing.) Yeah, I know I'm really setting myself up for the sort of replies I'll get to this, having seen other "oh, you're advertising!!" on this forum. I'm no NNA advocate, I'm sure there are other places as good as or maybe better from which to take a course if anyone feels they need one, but I already belonged to NNA anyway.......why change paddles midstream.

Reply by A-1 Signing Agents, LLC on 8/7/08 9:03pm
Msg #259211

Have you been doing signings or been a notary for 5 years? Your profile states 5 years experience. Just wondering because with that much experience, you would know how to get jobs. Am I reading your question wrong? If so, I apologize in advance.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 8/7/08 9:06pm
Msg #259212

Profile says...

"Notary Signing Agent with over 5 years of experience doing loan signings"

Reply by A-1 Signing Agents, LLC on 8/7/08 9:08pm
Msg #259214

Re: Profile says...

I read that. My question really was why with 5 years experience is anyone asking how to get jobs. That is all.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 8/7/08 9:16pm
Msg #259219

Okay - sorry...guess I read your question wrong..

which was "Have you been doing signings or been a notary for 5 years? Your profile states 5 years experience"

Sorry...

Reply by A-1 Signing Agents, LLC on 8/7/08 9:08pm
Msg #259215

Re: Profile says...

I read that. My question really was why with 5 years experience is anyone asking how to get jobs. That is all.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 8/8/08 1:41am
Msg #259245

Re: Profile says...

I think that is the whole point. Why, indeed!

Reply by Kathleen Otting on 8/8/08 6:53am
Msg #259252

I want to thank everyone for their input. It really helped.

Have a wonderful day.