If you are a born organizer, you love working in contact with others and you have an entrepreneurial spirit, consider a career as a professional organizer, a figure who helps your clients to create customized systems for ordering their homes, their offices, their paper documents and electronic and their approach to planning and executing their goals. Here's how to work in this industry.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Prepare to Become a Professional Organizer
Step 1. Learn to solve problems
Professional organizers are hired by clients to find solutions to their organization problems and to get a different perspective. Some projects, such as cleaning your home or office or moving to a new home, have a set date, while others, such as working on a business project or implementing a new filing system, may require attention to long term. During your training, think about which field to dedicate yourself to.
- Organization of spaces (houses, offices, etc.). The professional looks around the room and finds the best way to maximize its functionality.
- System organization (finances, documents, etc.). The goal of the organizer is to help a company increase productivity and profits by organizing better.
- Planning and organization of objectives. The professional offers a fresh point of view to the client and teaches him to organize his life to achieve the goals set.
Step 2. You should love working in contact with others
Professional organizers are exceptionally organized (of course!), But they also love being in contact with people. The ability to listen carefully to the concerns of others and to be truly involved in them is essential. Part of the personal satisfaction comes from making the lives of your customers tangibly better.
- Teaching, or coaching, is often key in this job. Not only does the person's home or life get organized, they also need to be told how to keep themselves organized.
- Treating customers with respect and helping them feel heard is the best way to win them over: leaving a good impression will allow you to make yourself known.
Step 3. Think like an entrepreneur
Some professionals work for companies, while others work independently, so they build their business on networking and customer recommendations. They often find a niche in the field by specializing in a certain type of organization, such as that of real estate for sale or meeting rooms. They use marketing strategies and participate in conferences and refresher courses.
Method 2 of 3: Training
Step 1. Join an association of professional organizers such as the National Organization of Professional Organizers or Institute for Challenging Disorganization, so you'll get all the news, network and meet new people.
- Get in touch with your colleagues.
- Ask lots of questions and attend numerous conferences. Make a name for yourself to gain credibility.
- After making yourself known, ask if you can attend a project to challenge yourself and learn new things.
Step 2. Professional organization associations offer various introductory and more specific courses
- Some of them also organize online lessons, which are less expensive than live ones and which allow you to study while dedicating yourself to another activity.
- These classes will not allow you to get a degree, but they will train you and make you feel confident.
Step 3. The training programs run by certain companies often specialize in certain topics, from running a business to personal organization
Make sure you do a lot of research before signing up for a course - training programs are expensive and not always useful. Choose one organized by an association that has a good reputation
Method 3 of 3: Succeed as a Professional Organizer
Step 1. Start organizing
After training, jump into the market. Try to get recommended by your customers - having positive relationships is the key to success.
Step 2. Sell yourself
Like?
- Create a website, a must nowadays. Opt for concise text, professional photos, and samples of work done. Put your contact details in plain sight.
- Use social networks like Facebook or Twitter. Update profiles with interesting trends and images of the conferences you attended.
- Print business cards and take them with you to conferences and training courses. If appropriate, give one to your interlocutor even during the most informal occasions.
Step 3. Obtain a certification recognized by industry standards
It won't be necessary for a career, but it will give you more credibility. To get it you will need to:
- Have a high school diploma or an equivalent level certificate.
- Have 1,500 hours of documented paid work as a professional organizer, 250 hours of which can be replaced with lectures from the university (if you attend a related faculty) or another training program.
- Agree to adhere to the Code of Ethics for Certified Professional Organizers.
- Pass the BCPO certification exam.
Advice
- Professional organization is a very flexible career. Some professionals do it part-time or as an additional business.
- If you're just starting out and want to make yourself known, consider doing some free projects for your friends and ask them to talk about you and your excellent work.
