Finding Your Perfect Work@Home

Always wanted to work from home but never thought you could? Well here's your chance. Many companies are hiring telecommuters and now is your chance to start your career. So dig in and enjoy!

First off let's answer a few questions before we get into the meat of it

all.

1. Are you serious about working from home?

This may seem like a crazy question especially if you've been searching for quite some time. However it is important to establish this straight off because there are certain expectations and sacrifices that comes with home employment just as there are with an onsite position.

For example, if you were to apply at let's say IBM and you got hired. HOORAHH for you. Though you do understand that there are things you have to prepare for and this can become an expense before you even get paid. These can range from buying new business clothes to paying for transportation (whether it's the gas in your car or public transportation) to even establishing childcare if applicable. These are all out of pocket expenses and sacrifices that must be made before you even begin work and it is highly understood across the board. Though when someone begins searching for work from home, one does not expect any expenses and is appalled by the notion. Despite varying beliefs, out of pocket expenses when it comes to employment be it a home based business or a job is realistic and should be considered before hand.

If you are serious about working from home, you must ask yourself these questions before beginning so that you do not become discouraged, in the process of finding out you need certain equipment before applying or beginning the job (ie. software applications that may not be reimbursed, home phone line, fax machine, printer, and certain degree levels or skills in the specified field). This differs entirely when discussing home based businesses that often may not require certain equipment, education degrees, or a range of skills to be accepted.

Companies that hire telecommuters are very meticulous when it comes to what they are looking for, even more so due to a varying supply of resumes from all across America.

2. Is your resume flawless?

Understanding that working from home is not for everyone, consider the thought. Is it for you? Think about what makes you different from everyone else who is applying? Whatever skills you have, highlight this on your resume.You want to make sure your resume is easy to read and avoid fancy fonts to boost up your what I'd like to call "you never get a second chance to make a first RESUME impression". Make sure there are no typos or grammar errors.

Once you think you have that step accomplished, you want to make sure that your goal is clearly defined on your resume. You want the HR to not only know what position you are applying for but what you have to offer them as well. And you don't want to assume that your cover letter will stay with your resume or it will even get read. So if the position calls for a writer, and you have experience, you want to start off with that as your goal. Here is an example:

Experienced Virtual Assistant
"Talented and experienced virtual assistant, skilled in all aspects of office management within nonprofit environments."

This is targeted and to the point. No time is wasted and from reading it, the manager has a clear indication of the qualifications of this individual.

Also know that recruiters and hiring managers sort through hundreds of resumes and they hate templates. Templates are hard to read, and the design elements often don't show up correctly on a monitor other than that of your own. They need to be able to scan your document quickly before moving on. If they cannot scan your document within 6-8 seconds, your resume is trash.

You also want to avoid plugging in jobs that are irrelevant to the job just to fill space. In your view, this may make your resume complete, though can easily lead to not getting read or shreader material.

3. Are you going to have many distractions?

You may want to consider this if you have little ones or even family home during the day. Most companies are going to require set hours which may not always be flexible for you. If this is the case, you are going to need a plan in order to make sure your work is done with the minimal amount of distractions.

You may have to look into the following ideas to help you minimize the noise:

a. Make sure your work space is in the most quiet room of the house.
b. Investing in a noise cancelling headset.
c. Make a schedule and stick to it so that you can avoid doing chores or tasks during work.
d. Arrange for some type of child care. While it is not impossible to work at home while children are present, you do not want to negate any of their needs. It will become imperative to have someone present you can trust ensuring all your family needs are met.

Realizing what your expectations are when it comes to home employment will allow you to gain key insight on your goals to better prepare you on your search. It may be a rough road out there. But it is not an impossible one. With hard work and determination, you'll be starting your career in no time.