How To Find A Work From Home Job
Working from home or what is called telecommuting, has become extremely popular in recent years. Of course, with the high price of gas, the cost alone is reason enough to avoid a commute. The ability to have a more flexible schedule is another great benefit. Lastly, for those with children, working from home can save a ton on childcare costs.
Yahoo CEO, Marissa Mayer, announced last month that employees could no longer work from home. This has created a firestorm of controversy among the rank and file and has begun a nationwide discussion about the whole concept.
My focus in this article is truly on finding a job working from home. This means you are an employee with at least a base compensation package. This is not to be confused with being self employed working from home. If that is what you are interested in, you may want to consider an Internet based business (one great option).
How To Find A Work From Home (Telecommuting) Job
If you use a job search engine such as Monster, simply use the phrase 'telecommute' or 'telecommuting' in your search and you will find hundreds of options. Some companies will not advertise the 'work from home option' so it might be something to inquire about when you make an initial phone call about the job opening (but more and more are including this in the ad for the job opening). In some work environments, they operate with a hybrid approach, allowing employees to work from home some percentage of the time.
Below is a screenshot from Career Builder.com Customer service, call center, and technical support jobs are all listed as work from home jobs.
Working From Home, Is It Right For You?
I am self employed (created my own job as a writer) and work mostly from home and it usually agrees with me, but not always. My house can be a great place to work but can become unbearable at times. My children are all college age, but they still can create a lot of noise and distraction when they are home (especially if they have friends over). I have a couple of places to find refuge if necessary. I have a small sailboat that I keep at a local marina. The marina has wifi and the boat is one great place to escape to. Another option is the local Starbucks or bookstore. Working from home is not a panacea by any stretch.
Another downside of working from home is that many times I find that I am always working. My office is a spare bedroom and it is only a few steps away from virtually anywhere I am in the house. I have many times disappeared in the middle of watching a movie with my wife to answer a quick e mail and return more than an hour later (= wife not happy). For some people, working from home can make it too easy not to work; in my case it is the opposite. Either way, it does take some getting used to.
More Information On Jobs From Home
Websites With More Information
Online Discussions About Work From Home Jobs
A Word Of Warning
Do not pay for work from home job listings. If you are looking for a job, make sure it is truly a W-2 position that you are applying for. "W-2" is code for being officially an employee vs. a 1099 independent contractor. Let me clarify that I am not against self employment from home (that is my own situation), but if you really need the security of a job with a guaranteed paycheck be sure that is what you set your sights on. The reason you have to be so careful is that the 'work from home' space is fraught with scams, so beware. Also, just because an ad appears on a national well-known job site does not necessarily make it legitimate.
If you have had a good or bad experience in searching for a home based job please share it in the comments section below and we can start a conversation.
James L. Paris
Editor-In-Chief ChristianMoney.com
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