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| Did you know that more than 30 million people perform at
least part of their job away from home? (International Telework Association and Counsel). Quite impressive, and ample evidence that a growing number of
employers are embracing the benefits of telecommuting. It's worth pointing out that as
more and more companies hire home workers, prospective employees will begin to expect
telecommuting as the norm for certain job descriptions. A snowball effect, if you will,
which will push the numbers even higher. |
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The trends are good. As technological
advances are made in the efficiency and reliability of communication, the trends will only
get better.
What is Telecommuting?
There are numerous misconceptions about telecommuting.
Below are a few hard facts about telecommuting along with some suggestions to help you get
started.
Most home workers did not get hired as a telecommuter.
They are full-time employees of a company and were allowed to transfer some or all of
their duties to a home office. They may work at home once in a month, or five days a week
with only occasional visits to the workplace. It all depends on the agreement between the
employee and the company.
If your job is suited for telecommuting you can approach your boss with a proposal. Your
company might just need a little educating to see how beneficial it really is. Click this
link for a few tips:
http://www.homebiztools.com/telecommute.htm
Freelance agents are a fast growing segment of home-based
workers. A freelancer is someone who contracts with a company or client to perform
specified work within a specified amount of time. A freelancer does not receive company
benefits and is responsible for paying their own taxes. Learn more about how you can get
started freelancing at: http://www.homebiztools.com/freelance.htm
Companies who hire full-time, telecommuting employees
generally prefer that you live in close proximity to the job site. There are exceptions
though. For instance, a public relations company might want regional representation in an
area where they are not physically present. In such a case, you might be required to
travel to the corporate location periodically. You can search for potential employers
using local search strategies. For more on this, read this article: http://www.homebiztools.com/howtosearch.htm
It takes longer to land a telecommuting job than it does
to get a traditional job. Telecommuting jobs, especially those which require less skill,
are not as plentiful as traditional jobs and are highly sought after by others just like
you. You must be persistent, patient, and aggressive in your search.
You must have a killer resume and cover letter. Making a
strong first impression is important if you want an employer or recruiter to actually
consider you as a candidate. For help with your resume, go to: http://www.homebiztools.com/resume.htm
 Beyond Telecommuting: Creating Your Own Home Job
You'll increase your odds of finding home employment by
thinking outside of the box. Don't limit yourself to searching for just company hired
jobs. Be open to all opportunities and consider the possibility of starting your own
business.
Follow the trends and capitalize on them. For instance,
home automation is rapidly gaining momentum. Who will get in on the ground floor and
create opportunities? Will it be you?
Sell your stuff and other people's stuff. Ebay is huge and
shows no signs of slowing down. There are lots of people making great money with auctions,
and no reason why you can't join in. Sydney Johnston is one of those people, and her book
is the best I've seen showing exactly how it's done: http://mynas.sitesell.com/
Use your existing skills and knowledge base to start a
business of your own. Certainly you have not been living in a vacuum. There is something
already within you that can be nurtured into a business. It all starts with an idea. http://www.homebiztools.com/idea_business.htm
Do you have a skill you can teach to others? Why not write
a 10 or 20 page report and turn it into an eBook? Heck, you could even sell it on eBay! http://myws.sitesell.com
Look around your community and fill a need. By choosing a
business based on customer needs, rather than what you think people need, you'll be one
step ahead. For instance, in my own community there are many small businesses who have not
created an online presence yet. They've thought about it, but they don't want a fancy site
and they don't want to pay the hundreds of dollars many designers are charging. For more
on analyzing current market conditions go to: http://www.homebiztools.com/analysis.htm
There has never been a better time to create your niche with
a home-based business of your own. Don't limit yourself to thinking you must find someone
to hire you. You are a force to be reckoned with on your own terms, and the options
available to you are only limited by your imagination. Working at home is about
telecommuting... and beyond.
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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| Real-world, common sense strategies
for small and home based business success. Your issues... real answers. |
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