How to Find a Real Work-at-Home Job

Making money from home can be very lucrative if you keep a few simple rules in mind. For one thing, you must keep in mind that most of those "work from home and make thousands a month" type ads are not worth your time or trouble. You have to decide if you want a home business, or a telecommuting position, and if you choose the latter, understand that you will more than likely have to accept work as an independent contractor, rather than as an employee.

There really are opportunities that are both legitimate and profitable, and you can find them easily with a little work on your own part. If you decide to take this route, register with a reliable freelancing site, and avoid the too good to be true ads you may find in your in-box or on search engines. Keep in mind that most on-line jobs usually are business opportunities, and many may require an investment. Just like with any business venture, there are inherent risks that you may not be prepared to take.

If you decide to take the safer route, you will need to make a search for positions in your area of expertise. Any job search should begin on either a known search engine, such as Google or Yahoo, on a freelancing site, such as Get A Freelancer, or on a reliable job board, such as Careerbuilder or Hotjobs. Even then, you have to be careful, because you MUST carefully screen these entries for frauds a schemes for frauds and schemes . You must research each company before giving them your personal information, especially in this age of Identity Theft and scams. The simplest way to do this is to go to the Better Business Bureau website and check each company for complaints, or to run a Google or Yahoo search with the company name followed by :scam.

Once you have ascertained whether a company has ever had negative feedback, you are ready to contact that company and submit your desire to become part of their organization. Each company has a specific way to apply for positions, so your first step is to go to the company website and research the method preferred by the company. You should also learn a little about the company and what it does, and make notes of any information you feel is important.

Once you have decided to apply for a specific position, you should prepare a resume with very detailed work history, salary history and requirements, and a list of skills that are pertinent to the job for which you are applying. You should also provide a brief cover letter that not only introduces you, but also highlights the skills that you consider your best qualities. You should do this even if the company has an on-line application, since it shows initiative to send these documents to the Human Resources department, and may give you an edge over others that are competing with you for the same position.

Be prepared to do this for several companies. Chances are that you will be competing with several people, and rarely will you land the first position that you apply for. Make sure that you have provided good contact information, and return any emails or phone calls promptly. No matter what, don't be discouraged if you get few responses. This is normal and to be expected.

Your next step is your interview. In the case of an interview in person, make sure you are dressed professionally, and that you arrive early, since most of the time, you will have to fill out another application when you get there. Bring a copy of your resume that is a single page, typed in a standard font, such as Times New Roman 12 pt. The only formatting you should have on your printed resume should be bullet points for your skills and qualifications. Make sure you have gotten plenty of rest the night before, and avoid smoking or eating before your interview, as you want to appear to be fresh and ready to go to work. It is also a good idea to have a list of questions prepared and to plan how you are going to answer any of those difficult questions many interviewers ask, such as what do you consider your weaknesses to be, or what did you not like about your last job. Above all, BE HONEST. This cannot be stressed enough. A lie can come back to biter you later; being truthful emphasizes your integrity and will always make a difference.

Once you have survived your interview, one more step may help insure that you get the job. Take the time to write a short thank you note, and send it right away. Postal mail is preferable, but email will do, especially if this is the only known way of contact.

If you follow these guidelines, you WILL get a great job. Stay focused, and don't give up, and you will do well.

There's no doubt that the topic of working from home can be fascinating. If you still have unanswered questions about working from home, you may find what you're looking for in the next article.