Independent Contractor Application

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Independent Contractor Application
Thank you in advance for your interest in applying for an Independent Contractor position with Design Our Travel®. We are an independent travel agency, headquartered in northern West Virginia. Our agency is small but mighty and we truly value teamwork and camaraderie. We are super excited to announce that we are are currently looking to expland our team of travel agents and are looking for highly motivated, detail oriented, sales driven, upbeat personalities, whom are able to work both independently and as part of a team. Potential agents are hand selected and interviewed to be sure that each possesses the high level of integrity, determination, and professionalism that we are seeking. Should you be offered a contract with Design Our Travel®, you will have access to mentoring and training opportunities through our agency and through the vendors we work alongside. We are looking only for highly motivated, sales minded, and goal-oriented Independent Contractors willing to dedicate a minimum of 20 hours each week to their travel business. Our agency sells many destinations and diversified candidates are preferred.

Now that you know about who we are, allow us a moment to share the things we believe YOU should look for in an agency!
- Does the agency carry Errors & Omissons insurance?
- Does the company have a website?
- Is the agency in good standing with IATA or CLIA?
- Is the agency registered in at least 1 of the 4 states that require a Seller of Travel? If the agency does not carry these registrations, it is a red flag that they may not be experienced enough to know they need to register and offer certain consumer protections required by law for you and your clients.
- Is the agency registered to do business in their home state as an LLC or corporation?
- Can you easily access the agency owner? Take the time to speak to him or her by phone. Make sure your personalities mesh. You can learn a lot about a person in a short phone call, and this will be an important skill for building relationships with future clients as well. Reach out to current agents for their experience working for the agency and owner.
- Does the agency have a direct phone number and physical address where they can be reached? While agencies may have a PO Box for mailing purposes and a 1-800 number for clients, the agency should also be able to provide you with a physical address of headquarter operations as well as a direct number to the agency owner.
- Last but not least, know that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is! There are many companies out there seeking Independent Contractors, with attractive commission and incentive offers. Be sure to thoroughly research ANY agency you're considering joining.
We offer:
- Competitive commission levels depending on experience
- Supportive, team oriented environment
- Flexible schedule
- Access to top industry resources
- Work from home with a simple set up
- Exclusive FAM opportunities and agency training
What We Are Looking For:
- At least 2 years experience in the travel industry selling OR extensive personal travel experience. Will also look at applicants with strong sales backgrounds.
- This position is independent and home based. A computer, high speed internet and a smart phone are required.
- Currently we are looking for team members to specialize in All Inclusive Vacations for adults and families in the Caribbean and Mexico. At Design Our Tavel® we are VERY selective on who we partner with on the resort/supplier side.
- A strong work ethic- having the drive and ability to grow a book of clients, while providing exemplary customer service. Professional communication skills, both oral and written, is required.
- At DOT we plan each trip as if it were our own family’s. Personal, first class service is required with a kind heart.
- Excellent research, planning, and organizational skills with the ability to successfully prioritize and manage multiple files simultaneously.
- Our agency runs off of a paperless platform online, so you must be comfortable and familiar with using the internet, our CRM (client database), various apps (What’s App, Travefy, etc), Microsoft Word/Excel, and social media. A social media presence on Facebook is a requirement of this position. Other social media platforms can be discussed.
- A fun attitude while having a professional business attitude.
- Travel agents today are not the travel agents of yesterday. Continuous education through training with the agency, training with suppliers, attending conferences and FAM trips are all requirements of this position. We are an agency known for details, exemplary customer service, and customizing trips and tailoring them to our clients. We are not your grandma's travel agency.
- At DOT we are a family, a fun loving one! So you have to be ok with working as a team but also have the ability to work solo. What you make of this position is up to you and we will help you every step of the way!
- You must be able to travel personally 4 or more times per year.
- Independent Contractor must have the desire to attend agency webinars, trainings, agency conference events and will make this position a high priority. Select training events and destination based training are at the expense of the Independent Contractor and are highly encouraged to help grow your business.
What Organizations and Memberships does Design Our Travel® hold?
- We are an Accredited Travel Agency with CLIA
- Our agency is an affiliate of Travel Leaders Network
- Verified Seller of Travel registration in State of Florida, California, and Washington.
- Our agency is a member of ASTA
- Business is registered as an LLC in the State of West Virginia
- Our agency owner is part of the elite Travel ALLIES Organization
A little more info on our Travel Agent position:

How do I get paid? This is a commission based position. Commission will be based on your overall travel background and sales experience. We do work off a commission scale, so the more sales you have, the higher your commission can go. As an independent contractor, you are paid commission on your bookings after they travel.

Is there a fee to work for your agency? Yes, we do charge a very minimal fee at your hire date, which covers the following: your agency email address, coverage on our Errors & Ommissions insurance, training materials provided by the agency, advertising on our agency website and more. This follows IRS and Department of Labor rules and regulations around Independent Contractors paying for their use of assets within a business they are contracted with.

You will also be required to pay a $50 fee each calendar year to the State of Florida as part of the Independent Contractor requirements for the Seller of Travel certificate we carry in that state. This is paid directly to the State of Florida, along with your application (which we will provide you with from the Florida website). This is a requirement of working for this agency, even if you do not intend to sell to residents of that state.

Do I have access to the agency owner and other team members? Yes! We have a private group Facebook page where all agents can interact, ask questions, take part in training and more, so they are not alone in the process. It's your "virtual office". We are a team and are here each step of the way to help you build a successful business!

Will I be required to recruit agents to be on my team? Absolutely not. We have not nor will we ever operate as an MLM (Multi-Level Marketing) scheme. Travel MLM's are not respected or welcome in this industry and we will never require you to recruit agents to be under you.

What type of training will I receive if I am brought on to the agency as an Independent Contractor? You will be enrolled in our 6 week virtual / self-paced training academy where you will receive instruction in a group setting with all other new agents. Training will take place one time per week and be delivered via printed materials and a live webinar in which your participation will be necessary. Upon successful completion of our training academy, you will then be moved into our main agency group and be ready to launch your business and begin to work with clients.

Application to Become an Independent Contractor with Design Our Travel®: Please do not submit the application if you are not comfortable with or have not met the terms above. Having sales experience is a plus but we are ultimately looking for people who are able to give personal, caring service to our clients and who truly understand the product lines we cary. Please complete all information. Applications with missing information will not be considered. All information is kept strictly confidential.
Once you've filled out the application, if you move on to the next step, you'll be notified within 7 days to schedule a ZOOM interview with agency owner, Sarah Barlow.

Please understand that not all applicants will receive an invitation to move on to the next step. Should you not hear back from us within 7 days, we thank you for your time in filling out the application and wish you success on your job search!
Personal Information
Name*

First NameLast Name
Phone Number*
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Email*
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Address*

Street Address

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Please provide links to your social media handles Facebook, IG, TikTok, Twitter, Linked In:*
Are you legally authorized to work in the United States?*

YesNo
To work with Design Our Travel®, you must have a background check completed. Do you submit to a background check?*

YesNo
Are you a resident of Florida, California, Washington, Iowa, or Hawaii?*

YesNo
If so, which state?
Do you have reliable internet service and a working home computer or laptop in a home office that you are able to use without distraction?*

YesNo
Design Our Travel® is looking for agents who are interested in a career, not a hobby. We need our team members to dedicate at least 15-20 hours per week in their business.*

Less than 15 hours15-20 hours20-30 hours30-40 hours40+ hours
What is your current availability during the week? Create your ideal schedule below, and be sure to include your current time zone. Remember, this is an independent contractor position, so you make up your own hours and determine how much you would like to work each week.*
Have you ever worked as a travel agent, or are you working as one now? If so, please advise when, with whom, and your current yearly sales volume (or the last year you were an agent).*
If you answered yes to the question above, are you currently contracted with another travel agency?

YesNo
If you have worked as a travel agent previously, currently, or had an out of the industry sales position, please tell us more about your previous sales and marketing history.*
Being an Independent Contractor with Design Our Travel® means that you are essentially a small business owner. This is where a strong work ethic comes into play. One of the key trainings we do at Design Our Travel® is time management. How you run your business daily is up to you, but we give you some great building blocks. On a scale of 1-10, 1 being lowest and 10 being highest, how are you at time management. Please give examples of daily things you do either at your current job or in your home life that shows this.*
What are your most notable strengths as to why we should hire you? What are your weaknesses?*
Leads are not regularly provided at Design Our Travel® (although we may sometimes post leads in our FB Group on a first come first serve basis to qualified agents). As you are essentially operating your own small business you must come up with creative ways to market yourself and make your business stand out. What marketing methods besides social media would you use to gain business? (HINT: friends and family is not the answer)*
What are your long term goals for your business, should you be offered a position?*
How much money would you like to earn as a travel agent? (This is not an hourly position, it is 100% commission based.) *
How did you hear about Design Our Travel®?*

From a current Design Our Travel® agentPast or present Design Our Travel® clientFriendSocial MediaOur websiteOther
If referred by a Design Our Travel® agent or client, please use the box below to share their name. We offer rewards within our referral program for our agents that send us the best of the best in referrals.
Travel Experience
Please check all destinations, resorts, or cruise lines below that you have personally visited or experienced*

MexicoCaribbeanHawaiiWalt Disney WorldDisneylandSandals ResortsBeaches ResortsAMR properties (Secrets, Breathless, Dreams, Zoetry)Karisma Resorts (El Dorado, Palafitos, Azul, Nickelodeon, Generations)AIC Resorts (UNICO, Hard Rock)Other all inclusive resortCruise on NCL, Royal Caribbean, PrincessDisney CruiseEuropeOther
How many vacations have you taken in the past 5 years?*

None1-34-67-10More than 10
It can take many hours per client once you have them booked, above the hours it can sometimes take when initially providing quotes. Since this is a commission based job, you will be paid once the client travels and the money is paid by the resort company. Are you willing to wait from a couple months up to almost a year (dependent on how long until your client travels) to be paid? (Professional planning fees are different and we will discuss at a later date)*

YesNo
Although you set your hours, you must be available at all times when your clients are traveling. Is this something you can commit to?*

YesNo
It can take a few years to get established with a full client base, which comes from successful marketing. Is this something you are comfortable with? How do you plan to generate your bookings and maintain a loyal client base?*
How do you currently plan your vacations? What do you normally do to prepare for them? How do you research and make decisions on them?*
Have you ever used a Travel Agent? Do you use booking discounter sites? Can you explain the difference in them and vs booking direct with the resort company?*
Can you commit to traveling throughout the year, either personal trips or business trips at your expense to get first hand knowledge? What are your thoughts on the need for first hand experiences?*
Anything else you would like to mention?*
Terms & Conditions
Submitting this form means that you are voluntarily providing Design Our Travel® personal information about yourself and your previous work and travel experience. Receipt of this form does not guarantee a position with Design Our Travel®.

Design Our Travel® does not share or sell any of your personal information to third parties. However, submitting this form allows us to keep your personal information on file for an undetermined amount of time. Should positions become available in the future, we will reach out if you are deemed a good fit.
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