Create a mandatory training session for new Experts outlining the what to do and what not to do when answering questions.
Educate the new experts so they know not to overpost, use answers as info requests or be unprofessional. Make sure the experts can spell and test them on this. Small errors are to be expected but a customer shouldn't have to buy a hillbilly handbook to decipher an answer. Make sure new techs know that they shouldn't jump in on another experts questions with one sentence answers just to get the accept after you have worked with the customer. It is time to bring quality back to JA, not quantity.
We’re happy to report that this is under way! We’re currently doing more than ever before to support a smooth transition into the community – we’ve created a handbook, introductory webinars, telephone outreach within the first 3 weeks of admittance, and an email series that explains the inner workings of the site (including things like reports, buzzing, overposting, and more).
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Anonymous commented
Please inform all experts how to access the handbook. Over time we all could use a refresher on what the procedures, rules, requirements are & also what new experts are exposed to so we are aware of what they are being told. We should be complying with those issues also. Possibly an email with a link would reach most of us. Thanks, Steve G.
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Anonymous commented
Also just fyi for the Pearl staff. A USPAP class is not actually supportive of education. It is teaching the terminology to use and the writing format and is specific to real estate appraisers handling federal transactions (usually with the banking community) of transactions over $250,000. Some personal property associations have signed on and require it for their members, but it is actually totally voluntary for the personal property profession as it does not apply to them and is not regulated by the govt. Some pp appraisers use it as a qualification and it is not, it is a guideline for federally regulated appraisals (real estate) and is not a substitute for appraisal education.
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Anonymous commented
Kayla, good for you all! Be sure they also know not to use their own email, name etc. as many new ones do and it is not allowed.
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Anonymous commented
Hurrah! I see it as a new Expert's responsibility to learn the rules and abide by them. Any help that can be given internally will help with that transitional period. It takes valuable time for old Expert's to help to train in new Experts and in the meantime we are losing money and the new Expert is jeopardizing the integrity of the entire system.
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Anonymous commented
Hi, I am a new expert and will say that I've found it difficult to understand what is and isn't allowed. I don't want to go about breaking other rules,
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Anonymous commented
As a new expert, I agree 110%! I keep bumping into TOS violations quite accidentally. Scattered resources for the information is part of the reason. I don't want to go about breaking other rules, so I made the mistake of following my colleagues examples sometimes, and of course, (Boy-o-boy!) that was wrong! Lori is such a gem with clarifying things though. I'd be in a heap of trouble if it weren't for her.
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Tony commented
i agree....ive just reported an expert for copying....he was unrepentent.....as far as im concerned he is winging it and will come unstuck.....his answer style is poor yet ja are taken in by the qualifications....he even locked a question by responding as follows: "hold on a minute" or words to that effect....experience is what counts in my world......
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K. Lane Mullinax commented
It would seem that built into the system is the idea that answering quickly has value. (If not why does one need to lock a question for a limited amount of time?), I would submit that it does, ... that answering quickly has value.
It seems that some experts feel that once they have asked an "asker" for more time that the question is somehow "off limits." O think that this is wrong. If the site wanted that t0 be the case (an not unrelated to that, or if it wanted "askers" to be able to ask questions directly of experts) they would have built the site that way.
I would recommend that the site get back to it's original premise, that questions answered quickly are the best and that askers should be able to select from more than one answer.
Otherwise, the site just becomes nothing than a broker for self-proclaimed experts.
And finally, the customer will continue to determine where value resides ... and many times that is in a quick, accurate, easily understood answer ... AND SOMETIMES it's in giving them enough info and guidance to help them figure it out for themselves (that's the way Socrates would have done it).
Please clarify this.
Thanks
Lane -
Richard Grant commented
I am one of those new experts who did overpost, use answers as info requests and poached a question to a specific expert. All because I really didn't understand the official and unofficial rules. I have since tried to get up to speed, but it has taken a lot of clicking around.
I don't know if it needs to be "mandatory", but simply having a list of "Ways to **** off other experts." would be a big help.
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Drew Tomlinnson commented
Hi, I am a new expert and will say that I've found it difficult to understand what is and isn't allowed. There's bits in forums that I wasn't allowed to view until after my first accept. Then there's this blog that doesn't seem to be part of the JA site (I'm beginning to understand about the rebranding now). The FAQs are minimal. A "new expert" PDF handbook didn't arrive via email until several days after I was accepted as an expert. I still don't understand how "Reports" work in the big scheme. Etc.
However I'm quite comfortable reading and learning on my own and would find a "mandatory" course irritating and inconvenient. I suggest JA/Pearl continue it's attempts to make information clear and available for new experts and see how things go before any "mandatory" requirements are implemented.
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Eric M. Bright commented
I so agree with this suggestion. I am an expert mentor in Home Improvement and used to step in and "help" new professionals understaand the do's and dont's however, I have recently been informed that it is "better" if I just let the new professionals seek me out if they feel they need help. I have not been told not to contact a new professional with suggestions however.
I then ask this... If a mentor is not supposed to contact a new professional whom he sees doing these things, then how is the new professional expected to know that is is stepping out of bounds?
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Chamberlain Maintenance commented
I totally agree with this, I have had a few questions now where a new "expert" has stepped into my question and won the accept, even providing the wrong advice on a few occasions. This does seem to happen on the higher value questions more.
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Ladywolf1953 commented
This is a great idea!!!