As the economy worsens and layoffs loom on the horizon, more people are looking for ways to supplement their family’s income by working from home. If you’ve never worked from home, either for a company or as an independent contractor, it can be difficult to know where to begin. However, it’s easier than you might think. By following a few simple steps, you can find the work at home job that’s right for you and your family.
Avoid Scams
Avoid any work at home job that won’t give you information about the company up front, that requires you to purchase a kit, or that asks for your banking information without other official hiring paperwork. These are typically warning signs of a scam. Be wary of job advertisements that claim that you can make an abnormally large amount of money for a small amount of work. Most reputable companies will be more than happy to give you details about their business.
Decide What Type of Job You Can Do
Before applying to work at home jobs, give some thought to the types of work you’re able to do. Do you have a quiet home environment and the equipment you’ll need to do call center work? Do you have transcription equipment and experience? Do you have free time only around your children’s schedules, making you more suited for by-the-piece work, such as graphic design or freelance writing? When you work from home, you have the option to choose a flexible career that works for you.
Create a Resume
When you’re ready to start applying to online jobs, your first step should be to draft a well-crafted resume and cover letter. As you write these documents, draw from your previous work or life experience. If you’ve worked previously, list skills and accomplishments that will carry over into the field that you’re attempting to break into. If you’re new to the job market and seeking an entry level position, you might be well served by a skills-based resume. This type of resume allows you to highlight the skills and accomplishments you have, without listing out individual employers, and allows you to limit the focus on your lack of professional experience.
Look for Job Leads
Lastly, do some online research for jobs that are open and available in the area that you’ve chosen. Designers can check design forums, while writers might check freelance writing lead sites, work at home sites, or webmaster forums. Most call center sites post their job openings on their individual sites or in online help wanted ads. As you apply for jobs online, keep careful records so that if you receive a response, you’ll know which company you’re dealing with as you draft your follow up email. The company may want to chat with you using an online instant messaging program such as Skype, or they may want to schedule a phone interview. This is fairly typical when hiring remote workers.
Remember to take a look at popular freelance marketplaces- what jobs are people doing for money?
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