Let me tell you something about general notary work… it can be nerve-wracking when first starting! I’m talking sweaty palms, a shaky voice, and nervous laughter kind of nerve-wracking. Maybe you’ve experienced this too?! 

At the beginning of my career, I jumped on the opportunity to do a notarization for a neighbor. This neighbor had posted in our neighborhood Facebook group that they needed a notary that night to notarize a document. I commented right away that I was available before thinking twice and talking myself out of it. I knew that I needed to just start with my first notarization and get some experience and I saw this as the perfect moment to do so. Shortly after, I was packing my notary bag and heading out the door. I was excited and eager and panicking a bit on the inside but ready to go!

I arrived at my neighbor’s house early and then waited in my car until it was an appropriate time to go to the door. Not only was I punctual but I also gave myself an opportunity to get even more nervous as I waited creepily in the dark until a few minutes before the appointment. With sweaty palms, I approached the door and threw on the most confident smile I could muster. 

My heart was beating out of my chest and I was sure that my neighbor could hear it too. I didn’t want them to know that this was my first notarization so I was avoiding eye contact as best I could so they couldn’t tell I was inexperienced. Inexperience shows in your eyes, right? Right.

We sat down at the kitchen counter where I first checked IDs and then read through the notarial certificate. I was feeling a little bit more confident at that point after seeing the document itself and making it that far into the appointment. With this newly-found confidence, I completed the notarial certificate and stamped the document only to look down and see that my stamp was upside down. My panic meter was now off the charts as I slid the document back to my neighbor and pretended that everything was fine. I gave a nervous laugh and told them that everything was good to go. I wrapped up the appointment, collected my fee, and bolted it to my car, again not making eye contact. My memorable first notarization was complete! 

In hindsight, I should have definitely corrected my stamp and probably just admitted to my neighbor that this was my first notarization. However, I’m so grateful I was given the opportunity to jump into notary work and loan singing, and have learned and grown so much during my journey! 

Given this experience, what tips do I have for notaries going out for their first notarization appointments? Read below!

1. Stay calm and don’t rush! In general, people are not in a rush and want their documents properly notarized. Taking an extra minute or two to fully read over the documents, triple check everything, and make sure you’re following the steps you need to is worth it in the end and you’re less likely to make any mistakes.

2. Know your state’s notarial laws and be confident you know how to read and complete your notarial certificates! Familiarizing yourself before your first appointment with an acknowledgement or jurat certificate block will bring you so much more confidence and you’ll know exactly what to do when you sit down to notarize your first document. 

3. Lastly, go into the appointment with the right mindset. You are there to help others, provide a service, and verify identities to prevent fraud. Your work matters and you are a professional! Keep your head high and take everything in stride. You’ve got this!

My wish for everyone as they explore this career or even are experienced in the industry is to give yourself some grace and know that you might make mistakes during your notary journey. These will be great opportunities for you to learn, grow, and build an even better business! And don’t forget to find the humor in these situations!

Looking for a guide that can help you prep for your notary appointments and help you avoid the stress and nerves I experienced? Click here to grab my freebie with 3 tips to prepare for all your appointments!