There are many reasons why someone may want to work from home. They may be college students that need extra income, a parent who wants to stay home with their child or children, or someone who is working a full time job. I am one of the latter. I was put in a situation where is was “sink or swim” and I needed to find a way to earn income from home because I was unable to find a second job unless I wanted to work seasonally – which would put me in the same situation again a few months later. Like many others I decided (and hoped) that I could use the internet to my advantage and make at least a little something extra.
First, I must warn anyone looking for a job online that you normally should not have to pay money to find information about working at home. Keep in mind they are asking for you to pay about information and not to actually get the job. However, there are some that do ask for money but are legitimate. Before you give them any of your hard earned cash, check them out online and at the Better Business Bureau which will give you a solid idea if the company is real and not a scam. Finally, if they do ask for money to join so you can access their job database make sure you can afford it – never spend money you don’t have in the attempt to make extra money.
Work at Home Moms (WHAM)
Is the second best resource for anyone who wants to work from home – especially for work at home moms. They not only give you access to job information, but tell you how to access grants, how to start a home business, how to get the resources to start a business and a whole lot more. All this information is free, so investigate all the information that is available to you. Also, there are listings of work at home scams – both from the past and recent scams that you may be unaware of. This is a great resource for anyone who is thinking of working at home. Finally, there is a blog and forum as well so you can communicate with those in the same situation as you and you can learn from their experience.
www.wahm.com/
BizyMoms
Very similar to WHAM and is not only valuable to single moms, but for anyone who wants to work from home. WHAM is a good resource, but BizyMoms has a lot more information to access and the site is more professional and a bit more user friendly. Not only do they offer information about jobs and scams that are currently going on, but they give you access free e-courses to help you learn about working from home, and how to start your own home business if that is the route that you want to take. The options that you have when you work at home are almost limitless and so is their source of information – this site covers topics and issues you hadn’t even though of until you found their site. It is the best work at home search and resource tool I have found so far, and is completely free.
www.bizymoms.com/
Telecommuting Jobs
The website itself is not that user friendly and is not that “aesthetically appealing” as it could be but does give you a lot of free information. Also, it is endorsed by the BBBOnLine which is associated with the BBB. (be forewarned there is also the BBB online which is not affiliated with the BBB and is a completely separate entity.) One of the benefits of this site is that it allows you to get online certification which allows employers to see that you are qualified for the job they are offering even though you may not have the experience shown directly on your resume.
www.tjobs.com/
Work-from-home-directory
Contains a mix of free and paid information, but is legitimate. Not only do they give you information on finding a work at home job, but there are a number of links to articles that give you specific information about all the types of work at home jobs that are available. In addition to their site information they tell you how to verify that a work at home site is offering legitimate and valuable information. Not only does it cover work at home jobs, but opening your own business, freelance writing and more. If you can not find what you are looking for specifically on this site chances are there is a link taking you to the information that you need.
www.work-from-home-directory.com/
Virtual Assistants
Even though this is a paid site – it is inexpensive and the payment is to gain access to their job bank information. I have used this site personally, and had a very positive experience. The customer service is very friendly and responds quickly to any questions or concerns that you may have. Everything that they post is 100% legitimate, and if someone emails them about a suspected scam the listing is removed until it is verified. The only downside to this site is that it is geared more toward professionals. If you are new to the job market or do not have a lot of experience with computers, call centers, telemarketing, and medical transcription this may not be the place for you. However, the fee does give you access to other online opportunities that may work. Since I did not have the experience for most of the job listings I used the other resources and they more than paid for the monthly fee that I paid the one month I did use it.
www.virtualassistants.com/
Keep in mind that when you are looking to work from home it is actually work. The resources to find the jobs are out there but you must be prepared – make sure to have an updated resume, cover letter and writing samples available for employers. If you are willing to put in the time and research chances are you will be able to make at least a little additional income from home which is better than no extra income at all.
Written by faith