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If you are a newcomer in the hunt for a telecommuting
position this information will help you avoid the "not so promising" jobs and
the outright scams.
Once you spend some time browsing for home-based job openings you soon discover there are
gobs and gobs of "jobs" that are... well, not really jobs. In fact,
work-from-home scams are so prevalent that many people simply give up searching. |
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There are real jobs out there for telecommuters, but the playing field
is large and the sharks are plentiful. So if you want to get that job you must be
determined and knowledgeable.
Examine Your Telecommuting Options
You should be clear about what you want before you begin searching for work. Are you
looking for a job as an employee, a freelance contract job, or would you like a start-up
business? Are you looking to be your own boss and invest in an opportunity, or do you need
the predictability offered by an employer? Recognize what you want as a home-based worker
and you are better able to spot what is worth checking into and what you should avoid.
Look at the list below for descriptions of the various ways people work from home. With
this information you can cut through the "job search clutter" and focus on job
options better suited for you.
1) Transitioned Jobs
The vast percentage of today's home-based employees, or "virtual" workers,
transitioned into the home from the job they formerly performed solely in the office. Many
split time between working in the office and working at home. If you are currently
employed and feel your job can be done at least partly from home, you may want to consider
presenting the idea to your boss.
2) "Off-Site" Teleworker Jobs
Many companies have employees of the "off-site" designation. These are
teleworkers who may or may not work in a home office. For instance, their work may involve
some combination of traveling in the performance of their duties, working in the office,
and working at home. You'll find that job postings requiring travel, in fields such as
engineering or sales, are often telecommuter friendly.
3) Telecommute-Option Jobs
While more and more companies are adopting telecommuter friendly policies, the majority of
telecommuters still spend some time in the workplace. You see this in job postings with a
"telecommute option." The option is viewed as a benefit of the job and usually
is not an invitation to work from home every day of the week. So if you're not against
having a traditional job, with the idea of working into a telecommuting arrangement, then
your job possibilities greatly expand.
4) Telecommute-Only Jobs
Companies that hire employees to work exclusively from home are harder to find. Not all
jobs are suited for this arrangement and many employers are simply not comfortable
throwing untested employees into a full telecommuting position. You need to be cautious if
looking for this type of employment. Scams artists love to prey upon telecommute-only job
seekers.
5) Contract Work
According to a survey by the Dieringer Research Group, more than half of all people who
work from home at least one day per month are self-employed. Contract providers, also
known as freelancers, fall into this self-employed group. They work independently and are
paid upon completion of a specified service.
Freelance contracting can provide an exclusively home-based work environment which many
people prefer. You have a greater degree of flexibility in terms of where, when, and how
you work. However, because freelancers are not employees you don't get some of the
benefits a job might offer, such as group health insurance and tax payments to the IRS on
your behalf.
It's worth noting that many companies are recognizing the benefits of
"homeshoring" rather than "offshoring" their outsourced work. This is
especially evident in the teleservices industry, with contractors stepping in to fill jobs
formerly performed overseas. Home-based contractors are utilized by companies such as
Willow, Alpine, LiveOps, and West At Home with great success.
If you can get by without traditional job benefits you may want to follow the lead of
other successful contractors and consider a freelance lifestyle.
Beware Of Opportunities Pretending To Be Jobs
Watch out for people who are looking to make a buck with cleverly worded "job
postings" that are nothing more than advertisements for an illegitimate opportunity.
Opportunity postings are hotbeds for scams.
Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with legitimate opportunities - of which there
are many. However, opportunities are not jobs, and scams are often advertised in ways that
mislead you into believing they are jobs.
How can you tell the difference between an opportunity and a job?
A job pays you. Simple as that. If you are asked to send money, no matter how legitimate
the reason may appear, then it's not a job. A company seeking employees or contract
providers will screen your qualifications through a resume, interview, or portfolio -
while an opportunity promotor doesn't necessarily care who you are or what you know.
Is That Opportunity Legitimate?
When searching for jobs, you'll often run into ads enticing you to "work from home
with your own business." These may be businesses involved in direct sales, with
tangible products such as jewelry, candles, and such. Many of these are legitimate
opportunities.
Other opportunities of the "easy work" type are the bad eggs. No doubt you've
likely seen the ads promising huge bucks in such things as stuffing or assembly work and
financial investing. These represent a huge risk if you're not savvy to the ways of the
scam artist.
In the end, a legitimate opportunity is more aptly described as a business start-up
venture, requiring research, planning, and an investment on your part. As such, legitimate
opportunities don't try to tell you otherwise. Legitimate opportunities don't attempt to
mislead you into acting quickly with promises of high pay for easy work.
If you have limited computer expertise, lack marketing knowledge and a marketing budget,
or simply don't have the background or experience with opportunity solicitors to discern
what's real and what isn't, you shouldn't hastily jump into foreign territory. It takes
time, patience, and perseverance to develop a sound business.
The point is to be clear about what you want before you begin searching for work. Are you
looking for a job as an employee, a freelance contract job, or would you like a start-up
business? Are you willing to chase down and research an opportunity or do you want
something less risky and not so time-consuming? Recognize what you want as a home-based
worker, and you'll be better able to spot what is worth checking into and what you should
avoid.
Scam Artists Target Unskilled Workers
If you have expertise in a field you have more job options. With specialized knowledge you
face less competition and command greater earning power. Without specialized knowledge you
encounter more competition, less earning power, and more scams. Specialized skills enable
you to earn a living wage, while low-skilled work is best at providing extra income.
There are thousands of job seekers looking for those elusive low-skilled, high-paying
jobs. The truth is, to be paid well you must bring some skills to the table. But that
doesn't stop people from looking for easy work and high pay. Scams fill the void by
offering false promises to unskilled workers looking for a pot of gold.
Those companies who do have openings for low-skilled work rarely post those jobs,
primarily because the applicant pool is so large. A company can post an opening on a job
board just once and will literally be swamped with applications in a matter of hours -
applicants to last for years.
What's the trick to finding those low-skilled jobs?
Bypass the job listing boards. Ignore the ads floating around the Internet and you can
avoid the scams. Instead, locate and directly contact companies who hire low-skilled
workers.
With a little patience and some online research it's possible to track down the websites
of companies hiring low-skilled workers. The most productive method of doing this is to
network with other job seekers. You will find many seasoned job seekers hanging out at
discussion forums on popular home business websites. Use your favorite search engine to
locate these sites. Get involved in the boards, ask questions, and follow leads.
10 Tips For Safe Job Hunting
Let's boil this down to the nitty-gritty. Pay attention to these points in your search for
home-based employment:
- A job never asks for money. You are the receiver.
- A job pays you if training is required.
- Know what you want before looking for it. Research the type of job you want and the
skills and equipment needed to do that job.
- Know the difference between a job and an opportunity. Beware of those using the J-O-B
word where none exists.
- A job will want to know more about you either through an interview and/or resume. An
opportunity doesn't necessarily care who you are or what you know.
- There is no such thing as easy work and high pay - unless you are Paris Hilton. But then
you wouldn't be searching the job boards would you?
- Jobs smell like roses when you have job skills. Consider technical, vocational, or
college training in your chosen field to improve your chances of getting the job you
desire.
- Be patient, not desperate. Desperation leads to desperate acts. Desperate acts drain the
pocketbook. It takes longer to find telecommuting positions than it does finding
traditional employment. If you need money now you may be better off finding conventional
work while planning for a telecommuting future.
- No matter what your skill level, be persistent while keeping your guard up. Start with
what you know and move forward cautiously. The prize goes to those who step into the
challenge with guarded persistence.
- Network. Get out there and mix it up. Chat with like minded folk, email experts, hit
the forums, post questions, get advice from others, strike up conversations. Approach your
search for work from a position of knowledge.
With this information you can now go forth and job hunt with confidence. Be positive
and assured in your ability to locate the right job for you - without fear of being the
victim of unscrupulous job posters.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Brett Krkosska provides how-to advice on small business and home-based work issues. His
site, http://www.HomeBizTools.com, helps small
businesses reach their fullest potential. He is also the publisher of Straight Talk, a
fresh and original newsletter that offers a unique perspective on today's business issues.
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