Working at home is becoming a convenient choice for many working moms and dads in the workforce today. The benefits of being able to wake up and go to work in your own home is a dream for many employees that prefer to be close to their families and loved ones. We have provided five basic and important tips to help you get going in the right direction.
Get Organized
The most important tip is getting organized. When employees work in an office setting, any disturbances or issues are usually handled by a manager or a supervisor. This allows the employees to focus on their jobs without being bothered by outside influences. Working at home unfortunately does not offer the same benefits. Any problems that arise will have to be handled by you and this may impact your work or your ability to do your job. We highly recommend organizing your schedule so is doesn’t interfere with your work. People who have children that go to school can perform their jobs while the children are learning or after they go to bed at night. If you have children that are not in school yet, you can have a spouse or responsible adult take care of them while you are working.
Purchase the Right Software and Equipment
Buying the right software and equipment is imperative to working at home. You will most likely need a computer or laptop, printer, fax, high speed Internet access, built-in camera, an email address and text editing software such MS Word or Open Office. Other products, equipment and software may be required depending on the type of job you do at home. All items must be in place before you start working so you can be up and running quickly.
Setup a Productive Home Office
Setting up an home office is very important for most employees who work from home. Find a place in your home where you will not be disturbed while working and everything you need is close by for easy access. If your job does not require you to be near equipment, you can work from any location in the home using a laptop – just make sure you can be productive and get the job done in the allotted time.
Create a Good Cover Letter and Resume
Creating a good cover letter and resume is necessary to getting a job. Most people know how to create a good resume for regular jobs, but do not understand how to make one for a work at home job or for telecommuting. Aside from the basic details such as experience and education, you must also include a professional summary that provide skills that can be best used for working from home such as being able to work independently or without supervision as well as a list of your home office software and equipment.
Search and Apply for the Right Jobs
For people who do not have a job already where they are only transitioning from working onsite to telecommuting, you will have to search and apply for jobs that can be done remotely. Finding a work at home job is going to be one of the hardest task and knowing where to look and what to apply for can greatly increase your chances of getting employed quickly. Most major job boards provide work at home or remote jobs in their job listings. We recommend searching for jobs offered by reputable and large companies. Large firms provide complete job descriptions, competitive salaries and benefits that smaller companies do not offer. Jobs that are listed by large corporations are more detailed and will not have as many candidates submitting resumes which will make it easier and faster for you to get hired.
We always recommend job seekers sign up for job alerts and apply for jobs immediately after they are posted to be first in line. If they have what the employer is looking for, the job seeker’s resume will make a good impression and they will most likely get contacted or hired within 10 days, says Marie Surles (CEO and President of HEA-Employment.com, one of the most popular online job sources for work at home job openings.)
Whether you are trying to make a living or just supplementing an existing income, working from home is a privilege for many new and growing families. Being able to commute to work in your own residence will save workers a lot of time and money and following the tips above will make working at home a lot easier.