Archive for the ‘Telecommute Jobs’ Category
Telecommuting Myths
If you are interested in telecommuting, you may have heard some of the following statements, which are completely false. Here are some telecommuting myths you may have heard:
There are nothing but scams available. Finding a telecommuting job is probably harder than finding a day job, but it can be done. It’s true that you may have to screen through a lot of scams to find a telecommuting job, but that doesn’t mean there are no legitimate opportunities available. You should never have to pay for a job. Use freelance bidding sites to get started, or network with others who telecommute.
By working at home, you won’t have to work as many hours and you won’t have to work as hard. Chances are, you will have to work just as many hours as you did when you worked outside the home and maybe more. You will have to be self-motivating, organized and disciplined. You may find yourself working a lot harder, just because of having to deal with distractions and demands for attention from family that you didn’t have to deal with in an office.
You will be able to make a full-time income right away. The potential to make better money than you made at a full-time job is there, but it will take time. There are a lot of lessons to learn when you begin to work at home, including how to balance your time, and how to line up enough work to have a steady income.
You won’t be able to make this work. This statement is often made by someone who is afraid to take this kind of risk, and is trying to discourage you before you get started. The truth is a lot of people succeed as telecommuters. There is no reason you can’t succeed too. All you need is persistence, determination and faith in yourself.
Top Sites for a Telecommute Job
When you’re searching for a telecommute job, don’t overlook http://www.craigslist.org This is probably one of the best places to look for a telecommute job, because Craigslist is so easy to navigate, and it’s one of the top sites on the internet. There are a few ways to approach a search on Craigslist.
- In the left-hand search box, type in “telecommute” or “telecommute is ok”, then click jobs from the drop down box just under the search box.
- Repeat this, but click on gigs.
- Or instead of using the search box, you can click on the heading “jobs” or “gigs” from the center of the page. When the next page appears, click in the box labeled “telecommute”. This will filter telecommute jobs for you.
- Repeat the search in major cities besides your own area. Read each posting carefully to make sure the employer doesn’t require you to report in person at least some of the time if it’s not a local company.
- You can limit your search to a particular type of job by clicking on that category.
If you’re serious about finding a telecommute job, Craigslist is a site you should visit daily.
Another way to approach finding this type of job is to visit sites such as http://www.careerbuilder.com and http://www.monster.com and putting “telecommute” in the keyword search.
When you answer an ad for a telecommute job, unfortunately a lot of them are scams. Keep in mind that anyone that asks for money does not have a job to offer you. You don’t have to pay for a job. Also remember that the desire for a telecommute job is very common and you will have a ton of competition. You may not even hear back from some of the places you apply, because the job posters are overwhelmed with the response they receive. Don’t get discouraged. A lot of competition doesn’t mean you can’t succeed. If you are persistent and keep looking, you will eventually find a telecommute job.
How to Find a Telecommute Job
How do you find a telecommute job? Every person that has a dream to work at home starts with that question. Begin by searching job banks as described at http://www.mybesthomelink.com/employmentagencies.html.
Basically, approach your search for a telecommute job like any other job search. If you were looking for a regular forty-hour-a-week job in an office, you would approach it with the following:
- A polished resume that emphasizes your skills and strengths
- You would seek out positions that you were qualified for
- You would follow application instruction to the letter. In other words, if the ad said “No phone calls”, you wouldn’t call. If it said “Apply in person, you would apply in person.”
Although a work at home position probably doesn’t require you to make a personal appearance, whatever instructions are included in the ad must be followed to the letter. If you have none of the traits specified in the ad, don’t apply for it. If the ad specifies that a resume and three references are required, be prepared to provide that information. If it is looking for a particular type of experience that you don’t have, don’t pretend you do.
The competition for a work at home job is enormous, especially with recent trends toward rising gas prices. Improve your chances by approaching this job search with the same kind of professionalism you would bring to searching for a regular job.
Millions of Americans work from home on a full or part-time basis, so finding this type of job can be done. The most important qualities you need for this search are determination, persistence and a little bit of patience.
My next post will discuss writing a resume geared to the goal of working at home.