Find Work From Home Jobs

The process for getting a work from home job is not that much different from getting a traditional job.  The major difference is that you’ll be applying online and usually interviewing over the phone since the employer is usually far away.  There are some things you’ll want to prepare when you’re ready to make the move to virtual employment, and some things to do to ensure you get the work from home job opportunity that meets your needs.

First, if you still have a traditional job (and by this I mean one where you leave home and go to a place of employment) see if they would allow you to do your current job from home.  Obviously, working in a warehouse is not going to work, but if you work at a call center, or an office where you’re mostly left to your own devices, and the work you do really only requires a computer and a phone line, consider pitching the idea to your employer.  You can offer the idea of trying it out on a temporary basis, for a few weeks, and if you can demonstrate the same or more productivity, then you may be allowed to work from home, and come into the office once in a while for important meetings.  Some call centers may have a work from home program (Convergys is an example).  Or perhaps you work at a call center that contracts with several companies, and maybe they can recommend you for a work from home program from one of those companies.  Your current employer is a good place to start.

Start searching for companies that will be your service providers for phone and internet.  If you live in a rural area, or just moved into a new construction area, the availability of high-speed internet can be limited or non-existent.  Remember that most work from home jobs will require a reliable phone service (land-line or approved VoIP provider), so you’ll want to call ahead to see who provides these services in your area and offers the best value.  The work from home employer you hire with may or may not compensate you for these services.  You’ll also want to inquire about the time it takes to provision those service from the time you place your order.  If you land a great work from home job opportunity that starts next Monday, but you can’t get your high-speed internet installed until Thursday because a tech is required and there are no techs available until then, you could potentially lose the job opportunity.

All employers will have a specific application process that you should follow to be considered for employment.  Many have a website where you fill out an online application, and all of their guidelines and requirements for getting hired are on that website.  Have your resume and up-to-date references prepared.  Most work from home employers will ask for a resume and will be checking references, work history, and some will do extensive background checks.  Since they may not have the benefit of meeting you in person, trust is going to be a significantly more important issue.  Also, depending on the job, a virtual employer may ask for a portfolio with samples of related work that you’ve done such as photography, graphic design, web design, and writing.

You’ll want to apply to several work from home jobs at the same time, just as you would in the “off-line” world.  The hiring process for legitimate work from home jobs  is usually a lot longer than the off-line world, and in some case the employer has a project that is only temporary, or seasonal.  You may end up having to hire with two or more virtual employers to get enough work to meet your income goals since a particular employer may only have two to three hours of work a day, or the project lasts for only a month, etc.

The phone interview should be straightforward.  Work from home jobs that require phone work will often require that you call a number to do a phone audition to gauge the quality of your voice.  Most, if not all work from home sales jobs will require that you demonstrate sales and closing skills during the interview, or there will be an interview to test sales skills only.  For the interview, be sure to be alert, sitting with good posture, and answer questions with confidence and enthusiasm, just as you would in a face to face interview.  Be sure there are no noise or distractions, and have a pen and paper handy to take notes.  Basically, pretend the employer is sitting right in front of you.  Smiling will make a huge difference in projecting your best image over the phone.

Once you’ve finished the application process, continue to correspond with the virtual employer so that you stay in their radar.  A thank you note for the opportunity to apply and interview is not a bad idea, and often you can just send a quick thank-you email since you’ll be corresponding via email a lot of the time.  If you meet all the requirements and have completed the application process, you should expect to get hired provided the employer has work for you.  Landing a work from home job opportunity is not complicated and following the tips outlined above will help you go in the right direction.

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