How to Become a Work at Home Mom

One of the scariest decisions I've ever made in my life was the day I decided to be a work at home mom. It wasn't a sudden decision at all; in fact, my husband and I agreed that when our first child was born, I'd quit my day job and stay home. It was a no-brainer prior to the arrival of our daughter, but when the actual day came, reality hit me full force.

Can I really do this? Do I really want to do it? The questions were endless. Yet, when I gazed into the innocent face of my newborn child, I knew I would do anything for her. So I made good with my promise and quit my job to be a stay at home mom.

For the first few months my days were filled with baby bottles, diapers and an infinite supply of cuddles and smiles. I went through the struggles of adjusting to my new life; from working girl to stay at home mom. When my daughter was almost a year old, I decided to try and earn a little income by working at home. The question was, what would I do and how would I go about doing it?

The WAHM Plan:

1. Make A List - The first thing I did was to buy a notebook where I could jot down any ideas I had. I divided the notebook into four parts; Part 1 is called Ideas Page. Here make two columns; one column is for listing down the skills or talents you have, the second column is for listing all the things you love doing. List down everything you can think of no matter how simple you might think it is. To give you an example, look at this table:

My Skills/Talents:

Writing

Typing and other clerical work

Cooking

Babysitting

Tutoring

Playing the piano

Organizing events

etc.

Things I Love to Do

Reading books

Watching movies

Surfing the net

Travel

Volunteering

etc.

2. Choose One - The next step is to choose one from each column. Why only one? So that you won't be confused by too many options. You can concentrate on a particular skill or talent at a specified amount of time and if it doesn't work, you can go on to your next choice. Look again at our table, let's say you picked writing on column one and surfing the net on column two. Now, think of something you can do that will combine these two skills and write it down. For example, writing + surfing the net = online freelance writer, company blogger, contributing editor, ecard writer, etc.

3. Finding Jobs - The next step is to go about finding possible jobs. Remember your notebook? Part 1 is Ideas Page now Part 2 is the Job Options Page. Here you will list down all the available jobs based on your earlier assessment. Look at your local paper or surf the net for job listings that you can possibly do from your home. Write down the name of the company, contact no., web URL, email address, requirements, compensation and other important info. There are many companies that allow telecommuting, just be cautious of those who ask for payment first before they let you apply. Most of the time, it's a scam. Here is an example of how your entry might look like:

• Name of Site:

• Contact Info:

• Homepage:

• Additional Info:

4. Applying - When you've found an opening for a work at home job you're interested in, the next step is to submit an application. Most companies will ask for a resume, a cover letter plus resume, or if it's an online application, a list of skills, experience and work sample. Remember that anything you put on your resume and the manner it's presented directly reflects on you. It takes only a few seconds to catch the attention of a possible employer so make sure your resume stands out. Here are some links to information on creating an effective resume:

• Resume Writing Basics

• Writing A Resume

• Resume Samples

5. Keeping the Job - Let's say you finally landed a job that you love and the pay isn't bad as well. Congratulations! The next step is to learn how to keep your job. Part 3 of your notebook will now be a place where you can list down things you should do, things you should remember and other duties you need to perform in your new position. I call this my Daily Work Log and this is where I write down all the things I have to do in a given day. It helps keep you organized and ensures that you perform the most important tasks first before continuing on to less important ones.

6. Invest On Yourself - If you want to splurge on something, why not splurge on something that will benefit you in the long run? What I'm referring to is to invest on your intellectual growth, on being a continuous learner. One of the joys of being a wahm is that we have the opportunity to continue our education in the comforts of our own home. There are many accredited online schools where you can enroll at if you want to continue your studies. There are also single courses you can take to further your education. There are many books and ebooks you can buy or download, online and offline, conferences you can attend and my absolute favorite, free online resources that will help you be more knowledgeable in the field you've chosen. Write down everything you've accomplished and learned on Part 4 of your notebook - Personal Growth Page. Now, if you've finished a course you can add that to your resume, imagine how that would appeal to employers!

Keeping a notebook handy is a great tool for wahms; all of your ideas and important information are kept in one place. Try to browse and write down on your notebook everyday, especially on your Daily Work Log and bring it with you so that when inspiration strikes, you can immediately write it down. Follow these six simple steps and you'll be on your way to being a successful work at home mom. Good luck!