Pay the Bills by Working from Home for Companies

Working from home is a wonderful way to avoid the pitfalls of being a commuter, but it takes persistence to find a job worth pursuing. All over the internet there are many sites that offer many different kinds of work, some are legitimate and others are just come-ons to buy things. Here are some tips on finding a home-based job online, that is decent and doesn't cost you anything.

Check around and see what companies are recommended

To see what jobs are better than others, a good idea is to go in chat rooms or message boards of people who work from home. Using internet search, put in the key search terms such as "customer service chat," "home agent websites" or "telecommuting message boards" and just read what people are writing. Ignore the sites that aren't seriously offering useful advice and are merely a place for people with nothing to do, to discuss the weather, latest recipes or local gossip. If you want a serious job, you need to find serious people who take their jobs seriously. Chit chatting about unimportant stuff can come later, once you're employed and have the time for it. Right now, be vigilant and disciplined. It's about the money and finding something that suits you. Take notes, and research any site that is recommended by those in the know. Research will help you to wade through the dime-a-dozen, marketing website quagmire and find real work.

Ignore anything that tells you to pay them for training materials

My rule of thumb is, if the company is for real then they can afford to pay for background checks, training materials and other things. Once you have a job where you need equipment - that is different, because you do need the proper telephone accoutrements (a noise-canceling headset, a phone that is clear and static-free, high speed internet, etc.). The companies normally don't supply those items; those are the tools of the home agent trade and usually are your responsibility. Another expense you may have may be membership of organizations or payment for webpage space if you're a freelancer and need representation online. For most purposes, though, phone jobs (the most common home agent jobs) usually don't require anything more than good equipment and your effort. Companies that mean business, in my experience, pay you for your training time and expect you to attend (electronically) each and every day of training that they provide.

Home agent jobs vary

Different kinds of jobs exist in the home agent industry. Most involve talking on the phone. You can be a remote technician (tech help), where people call and ask your help on how to program their electronics, computer or other items. Customer service is a broad term that ranges from taking complaint calls about business to answering questions for a company. Sales calls are either inbound (the customer calls you) or outbound (you call the customer) and you sell whatever the script is advertising. Sales can give you commissions that make your earnings go higher than just hourly wages. Just make sure that if you choose to work in sales, that you learn all about your product and don't mind doing upsells (extra promotions thrown into the script to score additional sales). Many sales calls nowadays offer upsells, to get as much exposure as possible for their marketing dollars.

If at first you don't succeed..

Keep trying if you are rejected by the company. Many good companies offering legitimate home agent jobs are bombarded with applications and can be very picky about hiring and quick to fire if not happy with your performance. The company that I represent only hires the top two percent of all applicants, and it receives hundreds of thousands of applications every year. It is very clear from the start what is expected of us, and confidentiality is important for our positions in the financial industry. We have extensive background and drug tests before we can be considered for positions. Ask questions and be open to training, it is experience handed to you on a silver platter. If you are initially rejected by the company, make sure to ask the interviewer why, then re-apply later or use the knowledge gained to improve your future presentations. Finding a good job takes persistence and a thick skin. If you plan to work on the phone, then make sure to have a clear and slang-free speaking voice.

When you find the job for you

Take training, attendance and company policies very seriously. Do more than is asked of you and learn as much as humanly possible about the company and your position. You want to become invaluable to your employer, and impress them with your work ethic. This way, they will be happy to have found such a dedicated and upstanding employee and you can go about doing your job with pride. Once you get the hang of working alone, keeping noise down and being disciplined about daily duties then you will have yourself a great job and save a whole lot of money on gasoline. Take care of your computer, because it replaces the car in terms of valuable equipment that needs maintenance, repair and knowledge.

So, get out there and look all over the internet for that job. Good luck, and know that if you want it badly enough, it will come to you in time. Like any job, it's a responsibility but the freedom of working from the comfort of home, is worth it. You too can become a sweatpants and t-shirt wearing professional. It feels good dressing up only when needed, and saving a fortune on expensive work outfits. Keeping the benefits in mind keeps me motivated and has kept me happily working from home for a long time. When the right position comes along, you'll know it. Just don't give up and look hard. Keep your eyes on the prize. You'll be glad in the end that you did.