Each week I find hundreds of work-at-home job announcements from companies looking for qualified employees to hire. Despite the abundance of work-at-home jobs, millions of people who want a work-at-home job continue to fall victim to scams and deceptive schemes. If you have been struggling to work at home, here are the three steps you must follow to be successful.
Step One: What can you do?
You wouldn't use a search engine and sign up for the first thing that sounded good in a traditional job search; yet, so many people take this approach to finding a work-at-home job. One of the most important ideas you need to understand is that work-at-home job searches are just like traditional job searches. Employers are looking for people with specific skills and experience to fill specific jobs. You won't simply sign up for a work-at-home job. Instead you'll need a professional resume or application that sets you apart from the competition. All this starts by listing your skills and experiences. Don't limit this list just to job skills. Also include volunteer experience, hobbies, and interests. Note the duties and activities your "jobs" involved and the things you've learned from your experiences.
Step Two: Look for jobs
Most people get in trouble in their work-at-home job search because they look for the wrong jobs in the wrong places. In Step One you learned that work-at-home jobs are no different from traditional jobs and as a result you've made a list of all your experiences. In Step Two you need to begin to search where employers post jobs. You can find work-at-home job announcements on job sites such as Monster.com and Careerbuilder.com by using "telecommute" as your keyword. You still need to watch out for deceptive job ads on general job search sites. The best way to avoid them is to remember two rules: 1) never pay money to get hired and 2) never give or use your personal bank to help a company do business.
If you're serious about finding a work-at-home job, consider using a work-at-home job database. These services are not free (you're not paying to get hired, you're paying for the service of having someone else screen work-at-home jobs and allowing you to access their database), but they make finding jobs fast and easy.
Step Three: Apply, Apply, Apply
A successful job search requires creating a stellar resume or application. Remember, you're competing against hundreds, maybe even thousands of other applicants. You're resume or application needs to set you apart from all of them. You do that by tailoring your resume to the specific skills and experiences the employer is looking for. If the ad is for a transcriptionist to help a public speaker, share how fast you type, whether or not you have transcribed for other speakers or in the topic area the speaker specializes in. Indicate specific equipment or software you have experience with. Fit the resume to the job and you'll be showing the employer you're the exact person he's looking for.
Also, do as the application says, no more, no less. A common complaint with employers is that the applicants don't follow the directions. Don't try to be cute or creative. Use strong, active verbs to outline your skills instead of crazy font or gimmicks.
Finally be ready to apply to many jobs over time. Work-at-home employers are notorious for not getting back to applicants about their submissions, so you need to keep applying, following-up, finding more jobs and applying some more. Successful home-based employees find their jobs by never giving up the search.
With hundreds of employers looking for qualified home-based workers, the would-be telecommuter has many opportunities to find a job. However, like traditional jobs, work-at-home jobs are earned by showcasing skills and experiences.
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Frequently Asked Questions
Getting a job without a degree
By: rny2k | 06-08-2008
My husband is looking for a new job. The problem is he does not have a degree of any kind. He has many years of experience in sales and management but it seems as if most employers want someone who has that degree. How can he get past that?
How do I get an entry level oil driller job?
By: llindacram | 03-07-2008
How do I get an entry level oil driller job?
Hca policy for not eligible for rehire I was ...
By: loyis vasquez | 30-06-2008
hca policy for not eligible for rehire I was fired by an hca hospital, then the manager who fired me was fired. I was coded not eligable for rehire and have not been able to get a job since. what can I do?
Names of individuals at Grady Management, Inc.
By: Mark Dewey | 27-06-2008
I recently applied for the Regional Property Manager position with Grady Management, Inc. out of Silver Spring, Maryland. Their website doesn't give names and numbers of individuals that work at the home office. I am trying to find the names, email addresses and phone numbers of the hiring managers which will likely be the VP of operations. Can you help me with this information?
Job intreview
By: collegestudent007 | 20-06-2008
when you go into a job interview , do they ask you for any documents like your birthcirtificate? Im a U.S. citizen but i lost my birth certificate and believe it takes a month or so for the government to send you another copy but i really need a job right now and I dont have a drivers lisence or passport either..becuase i dont really travel and i never bothered to get a lisence becuase i just cant afford a car right now becuase im a young teenager..help please? I just dont want to look like a fool when i go in for a job interview.
Working from home
By: thinkaboutit0806 | 01-06-2008
I am an at home mom that would like to make a nice amount of cash to help out whil still being able to care for my child. Is there any "non-rip off" at homjobs that are popular or that you know from personal experience? I don't want to pay those crazy prices to start something that I'm really not going to profit from. I need something legit!
Q&A Powered by:
More from Leslie Truex
Quick Holiday Cash Online
By: Leslie Truex | 18/11/2007 | Internet
Thanksgiving is upon us, which means the holiday season is in full swing. Christmas, Hanukah and Kwanzaa are right around the corner and with them the expense of food, gifts and travel. If you're like me and are faced with spending hundreds of dollars in the next few weeks because...
Scam Alert! How To Avoid Work-At-Home Scams!
By: Leslie Truex | 14/10/2007 | Careers
Every year at least three million people fall victim to work-at-home scams. The sad part is that avoiding scams is not that difficult if you heed the advice of work-at-home professionals.
It's my opinion that people fall victim to scams for one (or all) of the following three reasons:
1) A lack...
Frustrated By Your Work-At-Home Search?
By: Leslie Truex | 18/09/2007 | Internet
This week I got a call from someone who indicated that he was doing everything that I and other work-at-home coaches had suggested he do to find a work-at-home job, but so far he wasn't getting results. I could hear the frustration in his voice, and it brought me back...
Do You Have What It Takes To Telecommute?
By: Leslie Truex | 08/05/2007 | Careers
Before you quit your regular job to take a work-at-home job, make sure you have what it takes to telecommute
Home Jobs Online - How to Find and Get One
By: Leslie Truex | 06/02/2007 | Careers
While more and more legitimate work-at- home jobs can be found online, so can scams. Here's what you need to know and do if you are looking for a real work-at-home job online.
Five Reasons You Need to Start a Home Business!
By: Leslie Truex | 16/01/2007 | Home Business
It used to be that going to work for forty years would provide you with enough income to support your family today and a nice pension to support you in your retirement. Those days are gone. Today, the best way to secure your family's finances is through a part-time home based business.
The Six Best Jobs for Working At Home
By: Leslie Truex | 05/01/2007 | Careers
Companies are in need to home-based workers to fill job openings. Here are the six most common work-at-home job types.
Why Wait? Start Reaching Your Work-At-Home Goal Now!
By: Leslie Truex | 21/12/2006 | Home Business
The New Year marks a new beginning where people can re-set their goals and start with a clean slate. Or is it? The reality is that you can start fresh at any time. So why not start now?
Careers 
