| How to Train to Be a Driving Instructor Posted: 06 Nov 2017 04:00 PM PST Working as a driving instructor can be incredibly rewarding. If you've got a good driving record and are passionate about teaching others the rules of the road, then this could be the job for you! There are a few basic requirements you must meet, like having a valid driver's license license and high school level education, before you can register for a certification program. Once you've passed the training courses and obtained your license, you can start applying for instructor positions near you. EditMeeting the Basic Requirements - Have a valid driver's license. Before you can train to be a driving instructor, you need to have a valid driver's license in the same class of vehicle you're looking to be an instructor for. This license must be valid in the state or country where you want to teach.
- If your license has been recently suspended or revoked, you are not eligible. When you become eligible again depends on your territory.
- You may also be ineligible if you've received a large number of traffic fines in the past. Contact your local Department of Motor Vehicles office for more details.[1]
- Be at least 21 years old to teach "behind-the-wheel." Most states and countries have a minimum age requirement of 21 for hands-on, in-vehicle instruction. If you're interested in teaching in the classroom only, you should be at least 19 years old. However, these rules vary depending on your location, so check with your local DMV office to confirm details.[2]
- Have several years of relevant driving experience. In most states, you'll need at least 2 to 3 years of experience with a valid license before you can become an instructor. This experience should match up with the type of driving you want to teach. For instance, if you want to instruct commercial drivers, you should have several years of experience driving commercial vehicles.[3]
- Graduate from high school or complete a GED program. If you've already finished your high school education, you will need to show proof to your state or country's government officials to get certified. If you haven't, complete a GED or equivalent training program (depending on where you want to teach) before applying for the certification program.
- Some employers, such as public schools, may require additional education. If you have a future employer already in mind, check with them for additional requirements.[4]
- Be able to pass a vision test and basic health screening. You must pass a vision test to become an instructor, so get fitted for glasses or contacts with an up-to-date prescription, if necessary. A basic physical will also have to be passed. Depending on your location, you may be required to pass a mental health screening, as well.[5]
EditBecoming a Certified Instructor - Decide if you want to teach commercial or non-commercial drivers. The type of certification and training you get depends on whether you want to teach commercial or non-commercial driving. Non-commercial vehicles include standard cars, mini-vans, sports utility vehicles (SUVs), light trucks, motorcycles and mopeds. Commercial vehicles include passenger buses, diesel trucks and ambulances.[6]
- Enroll in an approved training program for your specialization. Approved programs are offered by colleges, vocational schools and government agencies, either online or on-campus. You'll learn the transportation laws and protocols for your area, and receive training for how to teach them to others. Basic training for how to create lesson plans and lead classes will also be provided.[7]
- Depending on your location and desired specialization, training may last anywhere from 2 days to several weeks.
- Once complete, you'll be given a certification to submit when applying for your driving instruction license.[8]
- Pass the written driver instructor exam. Your local DMV or related organization will administer this test. It will cover traffic laws, safe driving practices, operation of motor vehicles, your knowledge of teaching methods and techniques, as well as some basic first aid.[9]
- When you apply for your license, you'll be asked to submit proof that you've passed this exam.
- In some territories, you'll need to pass a practical driving test as well.
- Complete any necessary observed driving hours. Depending on your state or country, you may need to be observed by a qualified driving instructor. In some places, this observation takes place while you drive, to make sure you have the proper driving technique. In others, the observation is focused on your teaching methods, and you'll be supervised while you teach a new driver.
- Apply for your driving instruction license. After passing your tests, apply for your license with your state or local motor vehicle agency. Vision and physical tests will be required at this time. The agency will also do a criminal background check and driving record check. You'll need to submit fees, as well, but these will vary depending on your location.[10]
- Once your application is approved, the state or agency will issue your license.
- In states and countries where instructors can work outside of a driving school, government officials may inspect the vehicle you'll use for teaching.[11]
EditFinding an Instructor Position - Apply for positions relevant to your specialization. Driver-training schools, government agencies, public schools and vehicle insurance companies are just a few of the employers you can start looking into to start your career. Each employer may have their own set of requirements, so be sure to research those closely before applying for the position.[12]
- Depending on your specialization, your students could be high school kids, bus drivers, ambulance drivers, and so on.
- Become an independent contractor. You don't necessarily have to work for an agency or specific employer in this field. Independent contracting is also an option! Independent contracting essentially means you'll be self-employed and act as your own boss.You'll be responsible for promoting your services and obtaining clients through marketing strategies, just like any other business owner.[13]
- Check with your local DMV and training officials for more information about how to get started.[14]
- Create a professional website for your business. A solid website is extremely important for independent contractors, since most customers will find you through a Google search. Prepare a polished website with plenty of information, pricing, contact information, and a list of services offered.[15]
- Use search engine optimization (SEO) to make your site easily searchable. Create keywords like "driving instructor + [your location]," "defensive driving," driving instruction," and so on.
- Make sure your homepage tells visitors right away that you are a licensed professional.
- Use social media platforms to advertise your business. These days, social media is crucial when it comes to marketing your business and generating customers. Create a Facebook page for your business and post frequently. Focus on your skills and services in your posts. Sign up for Facebook ads to reach even more potential customers.[16]
- Occasionally hold contests and special promotions to get more attention.
- Tailor your posts to your potential customers. For example, if you usually teach teenagers, post content that appeals to young people.
- Develop partnerships with local organizations to find customers. Local high schools, driving schools, hospitals, court systems and law offices are excellent organizations to network with and eventually partner with. High schools and driving schools need driving instructors for their students, hospitals need driver evaluation services for EMTs, and court and law-related organizations can point you to clients who need defensive driving courses.[17]
- Consider taking college courses in business and marketing. When you're an independent instructor, you'll have to find your own clients, network in your community, and have a basic understanding of how to run your own business. Look into continuing education courses on business, marketing, and teaching if you want to gain or sharpen those skills.
- Additional education will cost money and time, so you may want to wait until your business has been established for a few years first.
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| How to Silk Press Natural Hair Posted: 06 Nov 2017 08:00 AM PST A silk press is a straightening technique that doesn't require chemicals. Deep conditioning makes the process go easier, and choosing a good quality flatiron means you can do small sections in one pass, minimizing heat damage. Because this style is done through heat instead of chemicals, maintain it by keeping it away from moisture and wrapping it up at night. EditWashing and Moisturizing Your Hair - Shampoo your hair twice with a clarifying shampoo. Before beginning, you need to remove all the dirt and oil from your hair. Lather in a clarifying shampoo and rinse it out, and then repeat the process to ensure your hair is thoroughly clean.[1]
- Condition your hair. Using a wash-out conditioner is important because it helps add moisture back to your hair. Lather the conditioner in well, and then rinse until the water runs clear.[2]
- Choose a conditioner made specifically for hair pressing. These conditioners have added silk to smooth out your hair.[3]
- Steam the conditioner in if you can, meaning you leave the conditioner in for about 20 minutes while applying steam. At home, use the heat coming up from a hot shower to help steam it. If you don't want to stand in the shower, wrap your hair with a towel for 20 minutes, which helps the conditioner set in.
- Add a leave-in conditioner. A leave-in conditioner adds moisture to your hair, and it also helps protect against heat damage from the flat press. Separate your hair into sections, and spray it in before blow drying each area.[4] Alternatively, use argan oil instead of a leave-in conditioner.
EditStraightening Your Hair - Blow out your hair. While blow drying each section, comb or brush it out at the same time. Get your hair as straight as possible before you start using the flatiron, so the flatiron doens't have to do as much work. Doing so prevents heat damage.[5]
- Add a small amount of thermal protectant cream. If you're particularly worried about heat damage, a protectant cream can help. Use a small amount (about a pea's worth) of the cream. Rub into your hands first, and then apply it to your hair. It helps to comb or brush it in afterwards.[6]
- Divide your hair into large sections. Clip back most of your hair so it doesn't get in the way while you're using the flatiron. Try clipping up both sides, as well as the top and the back. Only work with one section at a time.[7]
- Pull out a small layer. On one side of the head, pull out the very bottom part of your hair. Use a comb or clip to make a line across the bottom so you get an even layer. Create a very thin layer of hair, so you only need to run the flatiron over it once.[8]
- Run it through the flat iron. Gather your hair together. Close the flat iron over your hair as close to the head as possible. Gently pull the iron down over your hair at a medium pace. Don't yank it through, but don't go so slow that you burn your hair. Run the iron all the way to the tips. Let that section hang down.[9]
- Give your hair one pass only to avoid heat damage.
- Move up the section. As you finish each layer, move up a layer in the section. Iron each layer, and then let it join the other hair at the bottom. Keep going up until you've done all the hair in that section.[10]
- Flatiron the rest of your hair. Moving section by section, use the flatiron all over the person's hair. Don't forget to go layer by layer, so you're only working on a small amount of hair at one time.[11]
EditTaking Care of Your Hairdo - Wrap it in a silk scarf at night. Start by brushing out your hair. Comb it so it wraps around your head. A paddle brush is helpful for this technique. Tie your hair up in a scarf before you go to sleep each night.[12]
- Skip the shampoo. To maintain this hairdo, you must skip washing your hair. As soon as you wash your hair, it will go back to its natural state. Go a week or two without washing, but don't go much longer than that.[13]
- Keep in mind that very steamy showers also make your hair revert back to normal. If you need to, wear your scarf covered by a shower cap into the shower. Keep the scarf on to make it easier to wrap up in the shower cap. Plus, it will absorb some of the moisture that would have reached your hair otherwise.
- Opt for minimal curling. Bouncy curls all throughout your hair is a lot of fun, but often that hairstyle will only last a day or two. If you want your hairdo to last longer, try just curling the very ends and leaving the rest of your hair straight.[14]
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| How to Talk a Car Dealer Down on Price Posted: 06 Nov 2017 12:00 AM PST Negotiating the price of a new or used vehicle with a car dealer has a reputation as a thoroughly unpleasant and confusing task. While it's true that dealers may try to get more money out of you than the car is worth, you can avoid this experience by doing some research before you shop. Then, inspect the vehicle to make sure it's in good condition and to see if there are any flaws you can use to negotiate a lower price. You'll also need to haggle with the dealer (even when buying a new car). Have a firm dollar amount in mind that you refuse to exceed, and don't be afraid to walk off the lot if the dealer will not meet your offer. EditNegotiating the Price - Start out with a phone call. Car dealers want to make buying a car an emotional experience for you, since they can use that state of affairs to manipulate you into spending more money than you otherwise would. Avoid this problem by making your initial investigation over the phone: call the dealership, specify the car you'd like, and ask them if they're willing to sell it for a little lower than your price-point.[1]
- However, it's still likely that many dealers will insist that you come in to the dealership before they talk money.
- Make a strategically low offer first. Make your first offer so that the highest amount you're willing to pay is at the middle of your offer and the dealer's price.[2] For instance, if the dealer wants to sell the car for $3,500, and you don't want to spend more than $3,000, put your first offer in at $2,500. Then, you and the dealer can negotiate back and forth and end up near $3,000.
- If you make an initial offer of $3,000, the dealer will almost certainly expect you to pay more for the car—and they'll likely talk you into it.
- Mention competing bids from other dealerships or online car sites. Before you visit the dealership, call around and check online to see how much money comparable cars sell for. Then, when speaking with a dealer, bring up the fact that you are aware of other locations from which you could buy the car, and perhaps even save money doing so.[3]
- For example, if the dealer you're speaking with insists on $10,000 for a new vehicle, but you can say "The dealership two towns over said they could let me have it for $9,000," your dealer may compromise and lower their price.
- Focus on negotiating the purchase price. Dealers may try to distract you or convince you to pay more by bringing up issues like a trade-in vehicle, financing a loan through the dealership, or setting up a series of monthly payment plans. While none of these topics are bad in themselves, don't get sidetracked until you and the dealer have agreed on a purchase price.[4]
- Dealers will often lower the price of a new car if you trade your old car in. This may not be as good of a deal as it seems at first, though: dealers often subtract less money from the new car's purchase price than the genuine value of the trade-in.
- Mention any dissatisfying problems with the car. If you noticed any problems with the car—whether when visually inspecting or while test driving it—now is the time to bring those up. Make it clear that you believe the problems you've noticed should result in a price reduction.[5]
- Relevant problems would include any scrapes, dents, or rust on the body of the car, and any problems with handling, acceleration, or braking while driving.
- If necessary, bring up the Blue Book value of the car, and also any comparably priced cars sold over CraigsList.
- Don't seem overly enthusiastic about the car. When you first speak with the dealer, and while you're inspecting the vehicle, don't seem too interested in the car. Dealers may take that as a sign that they can charge more for the car. Say that it's alright, but you still have some concerns to discuss before you make a firm decision.[6]
- If you keep talking about how much you love that car, or how you've always wanted that type of car, the dealer will begin to think that you'll pay any dollar amount for the car.
- Don't get too attached to any specific car, and always be willing to walk away if the price gets too high.
- Stay strong on your offer. If the dealer won't meet your price-point, say it's more than you wanted to spend, and that you know you can find a similar car for a better price. Be willing to walk away if the dealer refuses to drop the price to an amount you're willing to pay.[7]
- Remember, there are always other cars out there, and you shouldn't be overcharged for the vehicle you want.
- Sometimes, if the dealer sees that you will walk away, they will match your offer. Dealers have pressure on them to make sales, so they may give in and lower the price after enough negotiation.
EditResearching Before You Buy - Find the Kelley Blue Book value of the car you want to buy. The Blue Book is a great resource for anyone looking to purchase a used car. You can specify the year, make, and model of the vehicle in question in order to find out an accurate assessment of its value. Access the Blue Book online at www.kbb.com.[8]
- This way, when you speak to a dealer about a car, you'll have a good estimate of how much it's actually worth.
- Check Craigslist and other local classifieds. This will allow you to see how much money cars similar to the one you'd like to purchase are selling for. Used vehicles don't always sell for the exact Blue Book value, and knowing how much comparable cars actually sell for will help you negotiate with the car dealer.
- Craigslist and other classified ads can also reflect pricing differences based on region. For example, while a pickup truck would be practical (and so cost less, due to its availability) in an agricultural region, it would be a detriment (and so cost more, due to its scarcity) in a large city.
- Go to the dealer with cash. Especially if you're negotiating for a used car, dealers are much more likely to go down in price if you have cash.[9] A customer willing to pay in cash will mean fewer complications in the purchasing process for the dealership.
- Set a price-point in your head. Give yourself a certain amount of money that you're willing to spend on the vehicle, and be willing to walk if a dealer demands more money.[10] If you begin negotiating with the dealer without a specific price-point in mind, you'll likely end up spending more than you intended.
- Of course, your price-point needs to be reasonable and well-informed. If you insist that you won't pay over $5,000 for a new $20,000 vehicle, you'll be going home empty handed.
EditInspecting the Vehicle - Look over the outside of the car. Before you start talking money, take a slow walk around the car. Look for any nicks, marks, or scratches—cosmetic details that won't reflect serious damage but may allow you to negotiate a lower price. Then, inspect the entire vehicle frame (including its underside) for rust.[11]
- At this point, you can check out the tires. Look to see if all four tires match and are evenly worn. If not, you'll likely end up needing to buy new tires before long.
- Take a look at the engine. Even if you don't know much about cars, you should still check under the hood. Look to see that there's no rust, and jiggle the hoses and wires to make sure that they're all tight and in good condition. Check the vehicle's fluids—including oil, brake, and power steering fluid—and make sure that they're all full.[12]
- You'll be able to quickly spot any serious problems with the car, and you'll also show the dealer that you're concerned about the quality of the vehicle.
- Test drive the car. Any dealership will allow this, and any person selling their private car should do the same. While test driving, note any problems with the car. For example, note if the brakes feel like they need some work, if the interior needs a good cleaning, or if the car has a few scratches and dings.[13] Use these minor problems to negotiate price with the dealer.
- Get the car out on a large street or highway and accelerate up to at least 60 mph (97 km/h). Make sure that the vehicle accelerates smoothly, and you don't hear any clunking or grinding sounds.
- Dealerships have monthly quotas, so you may be able to talk a dealer down more successfully on days with bad weather or at the end of the month.
- If you're inclined, you could even tell the dealer that you've seen other comparable cars on sale for less money.
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