Are There Legitimate Work from Home Jobs?

The dynamics of the family have changed drastically in the last few decades. Gone are the days of a single family income. Most parents find that they have not choice but to put their kids in daycare and go off to work, just to make it by and pay the minimum bills. The search for work at home opportunities may be a necessity to many. The question is which ones are legitimate?

The technology world today offers a vast array of ways for companies and people to connect. Telecommuting is become more popular. It is a win-win situation for both the corporation and the company and the work from home employee. The company benefits from lower costs as opposed to providing space and equipment to an on-site workers. The workers benefit from making a niche in their home, their office; reducing the expenses of commuting or daycare.

With the proper skills there are many opportunities out there for career telecommuters. The essential skills needed to find employment in this field include strong Microsoft Office knowledge. Knowing the ins and outs of Word, Excel, Access, Outlook and PowerPoint can really make you marketable. Proficient English is a must as well as basic spelling and grammar skills. Higher paying positions are available for those with above average writing skills or IT experience. Website development and management is a hot commodity right now.

Employment classified sites, such as www.careerbuilder.com and www.monster.com, have clients that list positions that are exclusively work-at-home. These positions may include bill collecting, telephone customer service, or telemarketing. Freelance writing sites such as www.associatedcontent.com or www.helium.com can help you hone your skills and earn a few bucks on the side.

The best ways I have found to find legitimate, long term work is through freelance sites. There are several on the internet, examples include www.elance.com, www.odesk.com, and www.ifreelance.com. Each of these sites compiles hundreds of freelance positions and projects. They can range from a two hour task to a two year job; some are only part-time, many are full-time.

The way the system works is similar to an auction. The first step is to set up your profile; this is your resume that all the buyers will be able to see. A good profile is essential to being hired. Some sites even give you the opportunity to upload examples of your work. Once your profile is set up, you are ready to go. Review the list of positions or products available and make your "bid" on how much you will do it for. When you are selected, it feels like winning the lottery.

Some websites do charge fees to make the bids. Although this is unfortunate, it is understandable. The fees ensure that only legitimate workers will be bidding on projects and it helps to limit the number of bids. On sites that charge fees, you will find the number of bids from two to thirty. On the free sites, you may be competing against a hundred other bidders.

In the beginning, you must work on building a reputation. Bite the bullet and reduce your rates. Once you have been awarded your first few projects and have proven yourself, the ball gets rolling. You can then gradually raise your rates. If you are a United States citizen, keep in mind the difference in the pay scale. You will be competing against skilled people working in countries that are not as well paid as Americans. By promoting your nationality, you may gain a project or two from buyers that prefer working with someone from the states.

Freelance work from home jobs are fun. You get the opportunity to use a wide variety of skills and work with people from around the world. They may never make you rich, but they are a great way to add to your income. With enough experience, it may replace the income of a traditional job.