How to Find a Work From Home Job
Finding a work from home
isn't easy. It's going to take some work and research to find a
legitimate job. First, review the types of work at home jobs that are
available, along with job listings. Then, check out the lists of
companies that are known to be "telecommuting friendly" and hire
employees or freelancers to work from home. Most of these employers list
work from home jobs online.
When people think about working from home, many imagine sleeping in
late, lounging around in their pajamas and long leisurely lunches. “But
what people need to realize is that even though working from home offers
a great amount of flexibility, it is still a professional job and it
needs to be treated as such,” says Holly Reisem Hanna, the founder of The Work at Home Woman, an award-winning blog dedicated to helping women and moms fulfill their dreams of working from home or becoming self-employed.
“Individuals need to learn best work at home practices, like setting
office hours, having a dedicated office space, avoiding home-bound
distractions, and actually dressing as if you were going to an office,”
she says. “This will help keep your mindset sharp and focused.”
Hanna agrees. “It really depends on your personality,” she
says. “I’ve found that to be an effective work at home individual, you
need to have excellent critical thinking, organizational and
communication skills, along with being able to block out distractions.”
As a home-based employee you don’t have the luxury of co-workers
sitting right next to you–so you’ll often have to figure out issues for
yourself. If you’re the type of person who prefers a lot of guidance or
is easily distracted, working at home may not be an ideal situation for
you, Hanna adds. “And even if you are motivated and can stay on task in a
home office, if you’re a social butterfly that requires a lot of social
stimulation, working at home may cause you to go stir crazy or it make
even make you socially depressed.” By knowing your personality and skill
sets, you can determine if working at home is the right choice for you.
“Working from home provides you great opportunities to connect with
some of your core values, like family and community, while still
providing quality service to your company,” says Shawn Mason Spence, an entrepreneur mentor, radio host and author of The Work From Home Bible
(to be released November, 2012). “It requires discipline, focus and
commitment, but the flexibility to define that yourself. You can create a
work culture at home that represents you, not just the culture of your
organization.”
