Steps to Finding a Job that Allows You to Work from Home

December 22, 2007 | No Comments

With the growth of the Internet, telecommuting has become an option that many people are opting for. Telecommuting is not a myth and is possible in many jobs and positions. Yes, there are scams that are doing the rounds but if you know they exist and do your research well; you can keep from falling prey to them.

The way to getting a good work-from-home job is to understand what it takes, where to find such jobs, writing and submitting a professional resume and then following it up to eventually get the job.

The first thing that you need to do is to understand all that you can about what you are setting out to do - telecommuting. Telecommuting will not earn you millions in a week, nor will people pay you thousands to do work that can be accomplished by unskilled workers. In short, you are not likely to find a job that involves putting letters in envelopes and other such unskilled work. Yes, the work may involve typing but the employer will also expect you to research the information, organize the data and present it in a report format. Data entry jobs also require you to have computer skills that are beyond the normal. Do you have such skills? Even a transcription job requires you to have a good ear and a fast typing speed matched by no one and here too accuracy of the output is extremely critical.

One aspect of a stay-at-home job that requires to be understood is that real employers never ask you to pay a fee for joining. Those looking for a skill do not try and sell a position. They are people trying to get a job done and not people who are trying to sell you a product or an idea.

While looking for a job, put down all your skills on paper and try and see what you think potential employers may be interested in. Don’t just put your educational qualifications in the list but add all the other skills that you may have like your hobbies, interests and capabilities. You are not applying for a corporate job but exploring all options that you can and so putting down an exhaustive list matters.

The key to searching for jobs to work at home is through normal jobsites. People don’t specifically look for people to do things from home. They are invariably looking at a solution for a problem or someone who can carry out certain responsibilities. A qualified professional is what they are searching for and if you can provide the service from home, you can probably convince them that you are the right person.

Don’t try and be relaxed about your resume just because you are looking at a home-based job. The resume is the first impression that you make on the prospective employer and if the resume is not appropriate you will never be able to convince the employer that you strive for perfection, have the capabilities and can be self disciplined to work from home. Don’t get informal with your curriculum vitae. It needs to reek of professionalism so that it is appreciated by the employers.

Understand how to write resumes and the cover letter so that the employer is forced to check it out. Always submit your resume to a specific person and not just to ‘to whomsoever it may concern’. No one is concerned about your resume. You need to make efforts for it to show that you really need and deserve the position. Always follow the instructions mentioned in the advertisement for the job, If it asks you to mention a reference number at the heading, don’t forget to do so. Following instructions properly is one of the most important aspects of a home-based job. Customize your resume for a specific job. General templates do not work for all.

Last but not the least, don’t give up if thing are tough in the beginning. You are sure to find something that is perfect for you if you keep looking. If you are having trouble with finding a job, evaluate your strategy and change it to see if you get results.

Believe that you can work from home and try hard to achieve that and you will.

Written by Vishal P. Rao of Work at Home Forum.

Posted in Work at Home Jobs