Be Successful Working from Home, Part 1

So, you want to work from home. It is a great thing, and lots of people are doing it, including myself. But there is a lot more to working from home than meets the eye, and you have to be careful. I will give you some helpful hints, and knowledge that, for me, came with time and experience.

What is the difference between a work at home job and a work from home business opportunity? To have a work at home job means you have a JOB, you have made no investment and you have hours and responsibilities. A work from home business opportunity is when you invest in an actual business that you will run.

You have to have money up front and you are depending on sales and residual income. A business opportunity is a GREAT thing, it just wasn't for me, and it might not be for you either. Make sure that you do your research before you make any investments, no matter how good or promising they sound!

A lot of work from home "JOBS" require you to be an independent contractor. This means that you will do your own taxes and you get no benefits. Be prepared to set aside the correct percentage for tax purposes. It is difficult to get a job where there is an employer/employee relationship. But it does happen.

You may want to know how to pinpoint a scam. Sometimes it is very easy. If a work from home "JOB" wants any money from you, it is not a job and is possibly a scam.

If you go on a website and there are sentence fragments, misspelled words, inactive links, or anything that you would not expect from a "JOB", it is a good indication that it is a scam. If they want you to accept offers or purchase anything from their sponsors, again, it is probably a scam! Other times, it is very difficult and you get scammed without even knowing it! NEVER PAY FOR A JOB!!!!!

You wouldn't pay to work outside your home, don't pay to work inside your home. Check the Better Business Bureau, forum based websites, and ask around. Word of mouth is very important when you want to work from home. If someone that you know was successful and they trust the company, it is usually an indication that it is legitimate.

Another thing to watch out for is surveys and reading e-mails. Though it is easy, it does not pay what they say it will! For surveys, you have to win a prize or cash. I did this for two months and never won anything. When telecommuting, time is money, and I need a job not a casino! Reading e-mails for money can be time consuming and the pay is less than expected. They pay as little as ¼ of a penny per e-mail! So, when you see the ad for UP TO $1.00 per e-mail, that ¼ of a penny is included in the UP TO!

When you have made the decision to work from home, it is important to understand that the employers are very different and are looking for different qualities than those in other industries. It is very important to have a telecommuters resume when applying for a work from home position. It is not required, but is impressive and helpful when looking for a work from home job.

The telecommuters resume is loaded with information about your home office. You want your possible employer to know that you have a home office and you are ready to go. You also want them to know that you work well without supervision, are organized, have a professional quiet environment, and other qualities that you may possess that will make you a great telecommuter. It is the only representation you will have of yourself, it is your first impression, make it a good one!!!!

So, remember, do your research, make investments in BUSINESSES ONLY, check with the Better Business Bureau EVERY TIME you want to invest, and NEVER PAY FOR A JOB!!!!!!

After you get a work from home job, a new challenge of balancing it all presents itself! Check back with me for more helpful hints on how to maintain a successful home office and run your family at the same time!