Ten Things You Need to Know Before You Work from Home

Working from home is one of the fastest growing trends in America, especially among parents. It is a new benefit companies are now offering employees to make positions more desirable. But there is more to working from home than what meets the eye. I have been working out of my home office for almost 3 years and love it, however, I have to admit, I wish there was a how to guide to prepare for the task. Since there was not, I decided to make one! So, read on and learn!

Top ten things you NEED to know before you work from home.

10. Do you have an office that can accommodate your job? Make sure you have all of the equipment necessary. Make a supply list and go shopping. Aside from your computers, printers, etc., remember a headset for your telephone. A crooked neck all day can get painful! Get paper clips, pens, paper (both lined and for the printer), a file cabinet, post it notes, binders, and other organizational necessities. Remember you want to be comfortable, so make sure the ergonomics in your office are ready for a 6-8 hour day. Most important, have a nice comfortable chair.

9. Are you going to be working for yourself? If you are, make sure you have all of the necessary information on taxes. Speak with an accountant and make sure you are prepared for tax season. Keep all receipts and bills. Remember, a percentage of household bills can be written off if you are in business for yourself, so save all of your bills for your accountant to review. If you are going to work from home for a company, ask ahead of time if they have a reimbursement plan for items you purchase.

8. Just because you are working from home does not mean you will not need your child to go to day care. Make sure all arrangements have been made in advance. If you are working from home and plan to do so while your children are home, make sure they know when you are working and let them know they can not disturb you unless it is an emergency.

7. Make sure that your home office is away from the every day sounds. You can not sacrifice professionalism to work from home. If you have a pet that is noisy, keep them far away from your home office. Make sure you do not have call waiting on your telephone. Pay close attention to every person you speak to and let voice mail get the rest. Do not have the TV or radio on when you are on a call.

6. Working from home provides you with the ability to be flexible, but unless you are the business owner, that flexibility is expected in return. Work around things and do not change the priority of your job just because you are home now. If it was #3 on your list before, it should stay there. Discipline and organization are key when you are working from home.

5. Learning new things can be a challenge. Learning them at home can be even more of a challenge. Be sure that you are able to do this on your own, or schedule on site training for difficult classes. When you are telecommuting, all communications are via e-mail and telephone. This can be stressful at times, and some people really need to get out of their homes sometimes. Be sure that you are not sacrificing your sanity! It has never been below me to run from the house with spaghetti in my hair and a headset falling off of my head! Do not lose your identity or value when you do not get a pat on the back in person.

4. When you are applying for a position, make sure you showcase your talents and skills in such a way that makes employers know that you are work from home material. If you are going to work for an agency that does everything on line, be sure to create a telecommuter's resume and include the details of your home office in the summary of qualifications. On line, you have but ONE chance to impress these employers. Make sure you are 100% satisfied with the information and double check it for accuracy before sending in your resume and applications.

3. Be ready to face difficult questions. Employers need to know about your character before they allow you to work from home. Be confident and let them know you are exactly what they are looking for. Practice talking with a smile and sounding professional before you have a telephone interview. They will be looking for these qualities. If you are not professional and cheery when you have an interview conducted via telephone, they will not consider you for a telecommute position.

2. Working in your Jammie's is a great thing! Sitting with your coffee, sleeping in because you did not have to dress and commute is an excellent benefit of working from home. But, I can not stress enough that you do not lose yourself in the process. Some people can actually go through an identity crisis because so much of what they do and who they are changed in a small amount of time. Make sure you have at least 2 days a week where you get out of the house and dress in nice clothing. Self esteem can drop when you are at home all the time, even if it is your desire to be. Take care of you.

1. If you are looking on line for work, beware of scams! They are rampant and easy to pull off in the on line world. Never give your account information prior to being hired, and never ever pay for a job! A job is a job is a job. They do not differ that much from an outside of the home job. You will not pay to work at WalMart or a hospital....you should not have to pay to work from home. You can expect to purchase software or hardware at times, but the employer should not benefit from the purchase. In other words, if you HAVE to buy it from them or their sponsors, it is likely a scam. Check your sources and the better business bureau if you are not sure. It is better to be 100% sure than scammed!

I have created this list to help you secure and prepare for an opportunity to work from home. Whether it is for an on line employer or contract, an employer near you, or if you plan on opening a business. After reading this and taking the steps outlined above, you should find success and happiness in the world of telecommuting! GOOD LUCK!