Work-At-Home: Getting Started

Beginning the process of working from home can be a seemingly daunting task.  With the right tools and confidence, you can find the position you are looking for, and the freedom it brings. 

Interest in working at home is starting to rise drastically now that so many companies offer the option and flexibility of telecommuting. More and more people are realizing that with the use of today’s technology, commuting to the office everyday may very soon become a thing of the past. Now that you have made the decision that working from home is an opportunity you would like to pursue, how do you get started?

Most people who are looking for a work from home position have a home office that equals what a basic workstation would be at an employer’s office. Essentials include an updated computer with the latest software such as a word processor, spreadsheet program and email capabilities; fast internet connection, faxing and printing capabilities, and sometimes unlimited long distance and a scanner. The requirements can vary among virtual jobs, but the more complete home office you have available, the better chance you have of securing at home employment.

Now that you have your home office, you will want to look over your resume and make sure it highlights those skills you will be using in the work-at-home positions you will apply to. List your skills at the top of the resume in an easily readable format such as bullets. Be sure to check all spelling and grammar! Employers take an average of 15 seconds to scan a resume and decide if they will look at it further. They must see the skills they are looking for immediately. The resume of a person looking to work from home plays a key part in whether or not they will receive a job offer. Because of the lack of in-person contact, the resume serves as the ‘first impression’ the employer will get of you. If you are not sure how to construct a professional resume, you can use a resume enhancement or creation service.

With your resume complete and your home office set up, it is time to apply for a work-at-home position. First look at your available schedule and family needs. Will you be working in blocks of time, or at intervals throughout the day? Will you need a sitter to care for the children, or are you looking for a job that will allow you the flexibility to work around their schedules. Once you know what your availability will be for positions, it will be easier to narrow your job search down to those positions you can fill. Be sure to apply to only those positions that you are confident and knowledgeable in. Work-at-home positions can be found on job boards, in newspapers, in forums that cater to those who want to work from home, as well as through local employers who allow employees to take their work home with them. Some of the most popular work-at-home positions include customer service, data entry, clerical and administrative work. If you have good writing skills, there are numerous positions open for content writers for websites. Remember, any position that asks you to pay money to work for them, or for more information is not legitimate.

With great skills, a home office and a winning resume, you should be working at home fairly soon. For some people, it takes a while to find just the right position, depending on the kind of hours and what kind of job they are looking for. For others, it can take just a couple weeks of applying to find a position. Take hold of your future today and join the thousands of people that work from home!

Posted:Monday, May 21, 2007