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If you've
just begun your work-at-home search, you are likely
feeling confused and overwhelmed by all the options
out there. How do you know what's legitimate? How do
you avoid the scams? Are there really jobs you can
do from home? Yes!
So many
people are happily working from home, and you can
too. You just have to know where to look. This
article will explain the types of work you can do at
home, which basically fall into four categories:
Working for an Employer - (This is often
called "telecommuting.") There are many legitimate
companies that hire people to work from their home
offices, and that number is growing every day.
Employers are seeing the benefits of having
employees work remotely, and many more will join
these ranks in the future. (See our list of
companies that hire telecommuters.) Some companies
will hire you as an actual employee; you will fill
out tax forms and the employer will take taxes out
of your paycheck, just like if you worked on
location. Other companies will hire you as an
independent contractor. They will send you a 1099
form at the end of the year, and you are responsible
for paying your own taxes. The employer may require
you to work certain hours every day, or a set number
of hours per week. Pay may be hourly, weekly,
bi-weekly, or per piece (as with data entry type
jobs). Some telephone jobs will pay you per "talk
minute" - in other words, you will be paid only for
the time you are actively speaking with customers.
Freelancing - A "freelancer" is someone who
hires out their skills to various companies for a
specific project. The skills are usually those of a
professional nature, such as writing, computer
programming, web design and graphic arts,
secretarial/administrative and virtual assisting.
Some popular freelance websites are
http://Guru.com and
http://eLance.com.
You can browse the jobs available and bid on them.
If your bid wins, you get the job. Note that these
jobs are usually temporary, for one project only.
However, if you build a reputation for good work and
meeting deadlines, you will often get offered other
jobs.
Home Business Opportunity - You can also
start your own business as a representative for an
existing company. Most of these companies are Direct
Sales or Network Marketing/MLM (Multi-Level
Marketing). You've probably heard of many such
companies, like Tupperware, Mary Kay Cosmetics,
Avon, and Pampered Chef. There are thousands to
choose from. (See our list of home business
opportunities.) There are many benefits to this type
of work at home. You are your own boss, you set your
own hours, and you are in complete control of how
much income you earn (as opposed to earning a set
amount of money each week from an employer). There
are also some great tax breaks for home-based
businesses.
Create Your Own Business - The final option
is to build your own company. The possibilities are
endless. Just about any skills you have can be
turned into a home business. Dog walking/pet
sitting, virtual assisting, catering, bicycle
repair, childcare, crafts and artwork, etc. The most
important thing to consider: is there a market for
what you can do? Would people pay for the products
or services you can supply? If you set your mind to
it, I bet you could come up with dozens of great
ideas for businesses you can do.
Avoid the Scams - The number one thing to
remember about scammers is that they want either
your money, or your personal information. Never,
ever pay a "fee" to begin working for a company.
(Business opportunities do frequently require you to
purchase a start-up kit, however I am referring to
actual telecommuting jobs here.) No matter how great
they make a job sound, do NOT pull out your credit
card and send them money. It is a scam. Rarely, some
legitimate companies might charge you for training,
but more often they will deduct this from your first
few paychecks. If you're really not sure if a
company is legitimate, ask around! Visit work at
home message forums and ask about the company.
Chances are people have heard of them, or can tell
you whether it's a genuine job or not.
Unfortunately, new scammers pop up every day, so
even if you can't find anything negative about them,
proceed cautiously.
Likewise,
if you are unsure whether a company is legitimate,
do NOT give them your social security number, home
address, or any banking information (for direct
deposit). An employer will not need this information
unless they are actually hiring you. I recommend
people to leave those fields blank when applying for
a job. If the employer likes your qualifications and
wants to hire you (and you are absolutely certain
they are legitimate) then you can supply that
information. Real employers will understand your
caution.
The best
way to avoid scams is to listen to your gut. There
are always warning signs. Even if everything seems
on the up and up, and your gut is giving you a
signal that something doesn't seem right, LISTEN to
that. I can't tell you how many times I've heard
people say, "I had a bad feeling but I wanted it to
be for real, so I took a chance." Don't do that. You
have a great built-in warning system. We all do.
It's called intuition. Use it. Outsmart the
scammers.
Professionalism, Patience and Persistence -
Finally, remember that work at home positions have a
tremendous amount of demand. Thousands and thousands
of people are applying for the very same positions
that you are. Make sure your resume is in top form
and clearly details your experience and
qualifications for the job you are applying for.
Consider investing in a professionally done resume
and cover letter. It is well worth the money if it
lands you the job!
If you
haven't heard back after a week or two, why not
follow up with the company and check on the status
of your application? Send a nice email inquiring, or
call them. (Only if the company hasn't requested
that you not do that.) Don't whine or beg, be
professional about it. Express your genuine interest
in working for them. Persistence can pay off, as
long as you're not annoying your potential employer.
Patience
is important, as finding a work at home position can
take many months. If you can't wait, why not
consider starting your own business? Don't let lack
of experience stop you. You can learn anything you
don't know. Talk to other business owners who do
what you are considering. Ask them how they got
started. There are a lot of great people out there
who would be willing to help guide you in the right
direction.
Think
about what you really want in a home-based career.
Do you prefer to be your own boss, or work for
someone else? Do you need flexible hours, or would
you rather have a set schedule? Do you like
telephone work, or internet based? Make a definite
list of what you do want, and what you don't want.
That will make your search much quicker.
Believe
in yourself. You can create the perfect career for
yourself. Many others have done it, so why not you
too?
Wendy
Betterini is a freelance writer, web designer and
owner of
http://www.CreativeWorkAtHome.com, a resource
center for home business owners and telecommuters.
Visit today for information on how to make your work
at home experience successful.
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