It is often more of a challenge to find a legitimate online “Work-at-Home” job than it is to find a traditional job. When you are searching for a traditional job you can analyze the reputation and longevity of the business, the presentation of the office and the level of professionalism exuded by the other employees. You can get a quick feel for the job right away. Online, you face many challenges when trying to determine who your potential employer really is and whether or not they are a legitimate business.

If you are searching for a job, you should act as if the search is actually a job. This will help you find the job much quicker and minimize the time you are unemployed. If you are looking for full time work, then you will want to devote full-time effort to finding work. Develop a strong resume and seek opportunities to post it with job search sites that cater to the telecommuter. Keep in mind that working from home will often require the same type of qualifications you would need for an office job in the same field. Just because you are working from home, it doesn’t mean that the employer wants a slacker.

If you just went to Google and searched for “Work From Home” you would be bombarded with thousands of scams that are ready to get either your money, time, or services and leave you with nothing to show for it. You will want to look for sites that are offering employment, not just “get rich yesterday” schemes.

You will want to conduct yourself just as you would if you were applying for employment in a local office. Have your cover letter and resume on hand at all times and keep track of the places you have applied to. Keep in mind the following tips to avoid getting conned: If it seems too good to be true… it probably is, avoid commission unless that is your goal, There is no reason you should have to send money to a prospective employer no matter what story they tell you (who’s hiring who?), Always ask them for references and screen them carefully.

by Scott Brooks