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bethola
Forum Fanatic
Joined: Feb 21, 2006
Posts: 1485
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 Posted:
Thu Feb 08, 2007 3:30 pm |
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Got home from work today and had a message that there was an instructor's position open in my area. I am to contact the supervisor with a date and time when we can talk. So!! Some questions here!!
1. Are you happy being an instructor? Was it everything you thought it would be?
2. Can you set your own hours?
3. I know you get a discount on Wilton products, but, do you get any actual MONEY for doing this?
4. Would you advise someone to do it?
Thanks!!
Beth in KY |
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Wendoger
Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Jan 28, 2006
Posts: 2432
Location: Washington
Gallery Supporter Member
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Thu Feb 08, 2007 6:47 pm |
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BUMP for ya.....
Have ya found anything out yet??? |
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Nitu
Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 10, 2005
Posts: 602
Location: NC
Birthday: May 28
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Thu Feb 08, 2007 6:51 pm |
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They offered me too, by email personally.
But I know they are not giving any actual money.
You can get experience here that is the important thing.
You can get more info from CC members.
Thanks
Nitu |
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OhMyGoodies
Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Oct 02, 2006
Posts: 2174
Location: Easton, MD
Birthday: Jan 22
Gallery Supporter Member
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Thu Feb 08, 2007 6:55 pm |
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I read somewhere on here that the WI get paid for doing the classes at Michaels and such so I'm bumping ya so you can get some more answers  Good luck. |
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nglez09
Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Nov 04, 2006
Posts: 2599
Location: Berkeley
Gallery Supporter Member
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Thu Feb 08, 2007 6:59 pm |
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I have some really good info on payment that I received from another CC member, if you'd like it, I can forward it to you. |
Last edited by nglez09 on Thu Feb 08, 2007 7:25 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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mthiberge
Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 08, 2006
Posts: 765
Location: Alberta, CANADA
Gallery Supporter Member
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Thu Feb 08, 2007 7:08 pm |
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Melvira is a WMI...PM her your questions, she's always helpfull. |
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nicksmom
Forum Addict
Joined: Feb 12, 2006
Posts: 559
Location: New Jersey
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Thu Feb 08, 2007 7:10 pm |
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here goes....I truely love being an instructor,you meet so many people an d some become friends,and it is a joy to see people get excited because they can actually do this decorating.some people will get discouraged and put themselves down in class, but you have to know how to handle that situation and do some one on one basis with that type of indivisual.I have only seen that with about 3 people in my case.most people are loving it.it really is fun. I love the wilton discount and I get the employee discount at the Michaels I teach at,so theres lots of savings.sometimes I think the money is not worth it but you have to figure that rate is for 2hrs,and for me,the 2hr class I teach once a week (sometimes two) is the amount I make for 4hrs at my real day job and thats all stress!!! the class demos are great pay and you can always hold your own demos but at the hourly store wage and hold extra classes for other technique(spelling?) at first I was making all the cakes real and frosting and it was adding up to what i was making so I got smart and did differently.my account(store) is very flexible with me,whatever nights or hours I want to change and they allow me to do alot of store use for products. sorry long winded  I would say give it your best shot and see what works for you  |
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thin4life
Regular Member
Joined: Oct 30, 2004
Posts: 122
Location: Madison Wisconsin
Birthday: Aug 11
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Thu Feb 08, 2007 7:13 pm |
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I am a WMI and I just love it. I work at a Michaels and the pay depends on how many students you have in class. I have met so many people and made new friends. You don't make a lot of money but making new friends and doing something you love is worth it. You get a 40% discount on all Wilton products and when or if you attend the training seminars you usually get a bunch of free stuff. I set my own hours and teach when I want. What more could I ask for? |
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snowy811
Newbie
Joined: Jan 12, 2006
Posts: 4
Location: Exeter, PA
Birthday: Nov 08
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Thu Feb 08, 2007 7:24 pm |
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Bethola, I am a WMI and I love it! I wouldn't give it up for the world. I can set my own hours pretty much, I not only get the discounts, I get paid for doing it. But as nicksmom said, you get to meet some great people and see their ideas and what they come up with in class. I also work during the day and teach at night so as she said, the day job is stressful, teaching at night is fun for me. The only thing you can do is give it a try and see if it is for you. You get to meet great WMI's as well! All the one's I have met so far are the nicest people.
Good Luck! |
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brcorlew
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 24, 2006
Posts: 43
Location: Holland, MI
Birthday: Jul 28
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Thu Feb 08, 2007 7:27 pm |
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I am also a WMI and I love it. I just started doing it last month and I only teach Course 3. The Hobby Lobby where I teach has an instructor that teaches Course 1 and another one that teaches Course 2 and I teach 3. I have meet so many interesting people and it's really fun to see them having fun. The pay could be better, but as someone said earlier if you look at it in 2 hour blocks of time, it's pretty good. And, the 40% off all Wilton products is nice, but it's only from the catalog and you do still have to pay shipping. I would definately give it a shot and if you don't like it or don't think it's worth it, you can always decide to pass later. Hope it goes well for you! Good Luck!  |
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missyek
Forum Fanatic
Joined: Feb 21, 2005
Posts: 1873
Location: Rochester, NY
Birthday: Feb 25
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Thu Feb 08, 2007 7:47 pm |
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I have been teaching for 3 years and love it! For 2 1/2 years, I was the only instructor at the Michael's that I work at, so I did 2-3 classes a week. That is what my personal schedule allowed. At the beginning of 2005 through July, I was able to save all of my paychecks to pay for my trip to the 2005 ICES convention and my mom's portion as well: airfare, rental care, hotel, my food and all the cake toys I bought. If you put effort into the classes and promotiong them, usually you can have a good turn out whcih means more pay. All the factors that you asked about really depend on what account you get assigned to as well. I can speak as a Michael's instructor--even thought I teach Wilton classes, I am employed by Michael's and get my weekly pay check for teaching--that amount is based on how many students sign up for a class. I also get the 25% Michael's discount which is good and the 40% Wilton discount. I get to set my schedule and because Wilton classes are corporate classes, I pretty much get what I want!  
Again, I love it. I don't get rich from it, but it helps me support my cake toy habit. I now have a co-intructor at my store, which works out great because my hubby wanted to cut my hours (well actually quit completely but I said no way! ) So I alternate each month teaching either 1 or 2 classes. When I teach one, the instructor teaches two. Works out great for us. I am still able to get at least a little something each week to put in my cake fund. |
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Nitu
Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 10, 2005
Posts: 602
Location: NC
Birthday: May 28
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Thu Feb 08, 2007 7:50 pm |
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Wow! then I got wrong info about not paying money!
I will check this again. I am always interested being instructor. It was not money matter but I didn't have work permit that time.
Lets see now. I would love to get some experience.
Thanks for this good thread, Beth.
Nitu |
Last edited by Nitu on Thu Feb 08, 2007 7:53 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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TexasSugar
Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Sep 01, 2005
Posts: 4480
Location: East Texas
Birthday: Dec 08
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Thu Feb 08, 2007 7:52 pm |
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I've made numerous posts about teaching. You may want to do a search for more answers.
I love teaching. I enjoy sharing with people and seeing them start from the beginning and blossom into a cake decorator. I have had some great students that have taught me a few things as well.
Yes you do get paid. It is by students, but I do think the different store might pay differently. That is a question you will want to address with the supervisor when you talk to her. Unless you know which store it is for, then maybe somoene from that store can give you more information.
When you teach will depend on when there the classroom at the store is open. If they offer alot of classes there may only be certain times you could teach the class.
You do get a discount from wilton when ordering from them. Michaels gives the WMI the employee discount cause we are Michaels employees. Some stores hire you as independant contractors, so in that case you don't get a employee discount.
Wilton also gives you chances for earning Gift Certificates as well as other incentives and they do you special deals on some products. And ever now and then you will get something free.
Those are the pros to the job.... The other side of the coin...
For course one you have to haul your mixer, a cake you baked and stuff to make icing, to show you to torte and ice a cake. This comes out of your pocket. In course 2 you are suppose to make royal icing. In C3 there is the use of fondant and in the new course there is fondant and gumpaste. Any supplies you see the WMI use in class belong to them and they had to pay for them.
At Michaels you are required to do 5 class previews a year. These are 3 hour demos where you bring a cake or cupcakes to decorate, again this is out of your pocket. But you do get paid for the demo.
They also want to you to do monthly (atleast 1) demo at Michaels as well. They just increased the pay for these, but still what you use in the demo you pay for.
The demos will depend on the store as not all of them require the demos or pay for them.
I am glad I am an WMI, so please don't think I'm trying to talk you out of it. But I think it is fair to let you know everything that is expected of you. Before I decided to take on the job I talked with another WMI and she gave me the pros and the cons, so I knew what to expect going into the job. And was able to make a educated choice on what I was doing.
My best advice is if you are looking for something to pay the bills, this probably isn't the job for you. If you are looking for extra spending money and enjoy meeting all kinds of people, then go for it.
Feel free to PM me if you would like... |
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nglez09
Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Nov 04, 2006
Posts: 2599
Location: Berkeley
Gallery Supporter Member
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Thu Feb 08, 2007 8:05 pm |
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| TexasSugar wrote: |
For course one you have to haul your mixer, a cake you baked and stuff to make icing, to show you to torte and ice a cake. This comes out of your pocket. In course 2 you are suppose to make royal icing. In C3 there is the use of fondant and in the new course there is fondant and gumpaste. Any supplies you see the WMI use in class belong to them and they had to pay for them.
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One of the instructors from a couple of years ago at my Michaels fixed these problems very promptly.
She asked one person from the class to bring in a cake and another to bring in icing for the first course.
In course two, she just got some royal icing from another student.
In course three, she asked everyone to bring in an extra 24 oz. package of fondant for her use.
What a great money saver she was, huh?!  |
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bethola
Forum Fanatic
Joined: Feb 21, 2006
Posts: 1485
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Thu Feb 08, 2007 8:10 pm |
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| nglez09 wrote: | | I have some really good info on payment that I received from another CC member, if you'd like it, I can forward it to you. |
Yes, please PM me!
Thanks
Beth |
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