Finding Work at Home

In the world we live in today, it's much more common for both parents to work. I personally know so many moms (so I'm sure there are many more) who would love to be able to stay home with their kids, but their budget won't allow it. Working at home is an ideal situation in most of these cases. "But it's so hard to find a work-at-home job," people tell me. "Everything is a scam. It's hard to know what's legitimate." Absolutely. Both things are true. But if you're willing to put a little time and effort into it, then there is something out there for you.

First you need to determine what your capabilities are. What are your skills? Do you have a degree or certification that could serve you well in a work-at-home position? What are your physical constraints? Do you have high-speed internet or a second phone line? Are there small children who will be home while you're working or do you have someone who can care for them? Or can you work at night when they're in bed?

These are all things to consider before you begin your search. You can find many types of jobs that are done entirely online, with no phone involved, so it doesn't matter what the noise level in your home is! There are also jobs that center around being on the phone, such as call center positions, and those will be dependent on silence in your background.

Now where to look for these jobs? I strongly believe that the best way to find a job working at home is on a central website designed specifically for that. WAHM.com and Work Place Like Home are two great places to start hanging out. They have a different message board for every topic and type of work at home job. I suggest starting in the Telecommuting Moms folder on WAHM.com. These sites will not only give you great ideas for where to begin, but they'll also help you spot a scam. If you find a potential opportunity that you're unsure about, search for it on these boards. If you can't find anything, post about it - or ask me here. Fellow work-at-home moms are always willing to help.

Finally, you will want to create a resume designed specifically in order to find a work-at-home position. Create one general resume that you can tweak to fit several types of positions, if you're considering multiple courses to begin with. Here is an example of a work-at-home resume. Obviously it's very similar to a conventional one, but you'll want to include skills that relate to working virutally. I also suggest posting your resume on Guru, which is a job site for employers and individuals looking to contract work. I found my very first transcription position there. You can find side jobs and temporary things that turn into long-term work as well.

That should get you started. I have plenty more to say on the topic and I welcome your questions!