How To Find A Telecommute Job -

Home
>
Careers, Jobs & Employment
>
How To Find A Telecommute Job

How To Find A Telecommute Job

The answer may be easier than you think, but there's a catch.

The truth is that you find a telecommute job just like you find any other job- with research, persistence and a bit of job search savvy.

The caveat? Ever wonder why more companies don't advertise telecommute jobs? In this competitive job market you'd think more of them would see the benefits of hiring telecommuters. Well, many of them do, they just don't advertise their telecommute positions. The sad fact is that when they do, they are inundated with responses from applicants who aren't remotely qualified for the position. There seems to be a persistent rumor circulating that the desire to work at home somehow qualifies a person to perform a job. This has really turned employers off to posting telecommute positions for the world to see.

With that said, you can see how important it is to be very realistic when applying for a telecommute position. Think of your home-based job search as a "traditional" job search. Keep in mind that many companies are telecommute friendly, even if they don't list that in their job listing or ad. In fact, the company you are currently working for may be willing to allow partial telecommuting. That should be the first place you look. Many companies are testing the waters by allowing employees to work from home on a part-time basis.

If you feel that this is a possibility for your company, the first thing you should do is determine whether or not the job you do is appropriate for telecommuting. If you are a receptionist who does clerical and phone work, then your job could possibly be performed from home, but if you also greet clients then it may not be an option. Here is a good article on how to convince your boss to let you telecommute.

For an external job search, definitely check out the sites that cater to telecommuters. Some good sites are About.com, Gil Gordon's site (http://www.gilgordon.com/), and www.Dice.com. Aside from that, you should identify companies that you want to work for and apply to them. You will find a listing of Telecommute Friendly Companies here at 2Work-At-Home.com.

When I was making a career change, I made a list of the top 10 companies that I wanted to work for. I sent my resume and cover letter to each of them. I ended up landing the job with my first choice. As it turns out, the person I replaced had just been promoted on the day my resume was received. The company's Human Resources Manager was passing my future boss in the hallway. Handing her my resume she said, "Oh, here you go. You'll need to replace yourself!". Timing is everything.

While you do want to inquire about a company's policy on telecommuting and flexible work arrangements, you should not let that be the focus of the interview. You want to leave the impression that you are a quality candidate, not that you are desperate to stay at home. Most companies don't offer telecommuting right off the bat. In most cases, you must work for a predetermined period of time before telecommuting becomes an option.

Take a good hard look at your resume. Companies that hire telecommuters are looking for specific skills and qualities. Make sure your resume highlights those skills. A resume is particularly important for someone who is looking for a home-based position because in many cases, the very skills required to write an effective resume are the skills an employer is looking for. Also keep this in mind when interviewing, as these skills will be evaluated through the interview process. Many employers conduct phone interviews and will get a sense of your communication skills and your professionalism this way.

Even if you don't have the skills that are in demand for telecommute jobs, don't lose hope! It's never too late to learn a new skill. Take a course at a local college, or one of the many online courses that are available.

Whatever your situation, remember to stay focused on finding a job that matches your skills and experience, present yourself in a professional manner, and treat your job search as you would if you were seeking a non-telecommute position.

Sharon Davis is the Mom to two girls, the owner of 2Work-At-Home.Com, Work At Home Articles.net and the Editor of the site's monthly ezine, America's Home. In her spare time she reminisces about what it was like to have spare time.

This article may be reproduced providing it is published in it's entirety, including the author's bio. For a text version via autoresponder, send a blank email to telecommuter@sendfree.com

In The News:

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/12/business/12shifting.html%3Fref%3Dbusinesscid=1256638218ei=NpjySNyiLqjk6gPXwuC7Bwusg=AFQjCNHyJU8Pye-YuWZ3cRQo4gZoqVpm-wShifting bCareers/b In Hard Times, Lawyers Advise Cautious Steps/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fNew York Times,nbsp;United Statesnbsp;-/font nobrOct 11, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1By MARCI ALBOHER AS the turmoil on Wall Street continued, I sat down with two bemployment/b lawyers â€” Zachary Hummel, who represents employers, and Mark Risk, b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.ajc.com/business/content/business/stories/2008/10/12/credit_crunch_self_employed.htmlcid=1256964400ei=NpjySNyiLqjk6gPXwuC7Bwusg=AFQjCNETtz3wZkbejYY_XmwzMhELG52f8QAtlanta coupleâ€™s self-bemployment/b hurts loan chances/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fAtlanta Journal Constitution,nbsp; USAnbsp;-/font nobr4 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1By PAUL DONSKY Marsha Middleton and her husband, Willie, have good credit, money in the bank and successful bcareers/b. But the couple has struggled to find a b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2008/10/12/presidential_race_complicates_office_politicscid=1256403378ei=NpjySNyiLqjk6gPXwuC7Bwusg=AFQjCNEic6s2kWGQVCT19eabdgODs832wAimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=6RPMimhCcFAJimgurl=cache.boston.com/resize/bonzai-fba/Globe_Photo/2008/10/10/1223697426_6805/539w.jpg width=80 height=42 alt= border=1brfont size=-2Boston Globe/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/10/prweb1453774.htmcid=1256403378ei=NpjySNyiLqjk6gPXwuC7Bwusg=AFQjCNEqK0x1S-PVxU4ymN1KvQ7eGyCLqwFive Things You Can do to Take Charge of Your bCareer/b During Harsh b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fPR Web (press release),nbsp;WAnbsp;-/font nobrOct 11, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Individuals with a will to succeed enjoy 100% control over their bcareers/b. The bemployment/b recruiting industry is especially booming; In general, bemployment/b b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2008/10/12/presidential_race_complicates_office_politicscid=1256403378ei=NpjySNyiLqjk6gPXwuC7Bwusg=AFQjCNEic6s2kWGQVCT19eabdgODs832wAPresidential race complicates office politics/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrBoston Globe/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1256403378hl=ennobrall 3 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/business/story.html%3Fid%3D360848f9-b8b1-4c31-8234-751fad240daacid=0ei=NpjySNyiLqjk6gPXwuC7Bwusg=AFQjCNFjmDzWLfEbbN1ILsLt6xSbeUrI5Aimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=bpAoymMHHJsJimgurl=a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465/1d/media.canada.com/idl/vasn/20081011/137347-50253.jpg%3Fsize%3Dl width=80 height=80 alt= border=1brfont size=-2Vancouver Sun/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/business/story.html%3Fid%3D360848f9-b8b1-4c31-8234-751fad240daacid=0ei=NpjySNyiLqjk6gPXwuC7Bwusg=AFQjCNFjmDzWLfEbbN1ILsLt6xSbeUrI5AExperts advise patience when seeking first job/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fVancouver Sun,nbsp; Canadanbsp;-/font nobrOct 11, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1About a year ago, the bcareer/b coaches at Youth bEmployment/b Services Montreal began noticing an increase in the number of depressed and anxious job-seekers b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.examiner.com/x-654-Baby-Boomer-Examiner~y2008m10d1-Byebye-to-career-employment-for-Baby-Boomer-mencid=0ei=NpjySNyiLqjk6gPXwuC7Bwusg=AFQjCNFIjKUnIRW0irM9jaG-6ENBgdryFgimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=Y0v3p9n65aUJimgurl=www.examiner.com/images/blog/author/img81paul_briand_photo.jpg width=80 height=67 alt= border=1brfont size=-2Examiner.com/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.examiner.com/x-654-Baby-Boomer-Examiner~y2008m10d1-Byebye-to-career-employment-for-Baby-Boomer-mencid=0ei=NpjySNyiLqjk6gPXwuC7Bwusg=AFQjCNFIjKUnIRW0irM9jaG-6ENBgdryFgBye-bye to bcareer employment/b for Baby Boomer men/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fExaminer.comnbsp;-/font nobrOct 1, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1quot;bCareer employment/b â€“ meaning bemployment/b with a single employer from middle age to retirement â€“ is no longer the norm. So if workers are to remain in the b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://nwitimes.com/articles/2008/10/10/business/jobs_sunday/doc48e66153b8d5b950947014.txtcid=0ei=NpjySNyiLqjk6gPXwuC7Bwusg=AFQjCNGymoV_VOoFcxJ8zfRI_wLYLTWldQbCareers/b without college/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fnwitimes.com,nbsp;INnbsp;-/font nobrOct 10, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1The requirements for bemployment/b in these fields include work experience and on-the-job training. Some employers may desire candidates who have had some b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.examiner.com/x-828-Entry-Level-Careers-Examiner~y2008m10d11-Recommended-reading-The-Nonprofit-Career-Guidecid=0ei=NpjySNyiLqjk6gPXwuC7Bwusg=AFQjCNH8m43FeyC_k3rK4PFmdjhVYXpRLAimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=HhA0NY5T5SMJimgurl=www.examiner.com/images/blog/author/img205heather_huhman_photo.jpg width=80 height=67 alt= border=1brfont size=-2Examiner.com/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.examiner.com/x-828-Entry-Level-Careers-Examiner~y2008m10d11-Recommended-reading-The-Nonprofit-Career-Guidecid=0ei=NpjySNyiLqjk6gPXwuC7Bwusg=AFQjCNH8m43FeyC_k3rK4PFmdjhVYXpRLARecommended reading: The Nonprofit bCareer/b Guide/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fExaminer.comnbsp;-/font nobr12 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1From 1998 to 2005, bemployment/b in the sector grew by 16 percent â€“ three times faster than the rest of the economy. 1. Be directed. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.sundaymail.co.uk/lifestyle/jobs-in-scotland/2008/10/12/a-change-for-the-better-78057-20795624/cid=0ei=NpjySNyiLqjk6gPXwuC7Bwusg=AFQjCNE4MVgpauDXNGD7NhzWKp-4Uv1EowA Change For The Better!/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fGlasgow Sunday Mail,nbsp;UKnbsp;-/font nobr19 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1quot;Now I am known as Mrs Motivator or the Positive Woman, acting as a catalyst for change in people#39;s lives or bcareers/b.quot; Liz, 49, set up her firm Positive b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/12/education/12student.html%3Fref%3Deducationcid=1256661518ei=NpjySNyiLqjk6gPXwuC7Bwusg=AFQjCNHIEFedFpEJxmiHZo2oRbChJbkV0wimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=jgwAoYYra1UJimgurl=graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/10/12/us/12student_span.jpg width=80 height=44 alt= border=1brfont size=-2New York Times/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/12/education/12student.html%3Fref%3Deducationcid=1256661518ei=NpjySNyiLqjk6gPXwuC7Bwusg=AFQjCNHIEFedFpEJxmiHZo2oRbChJbkV0wFinance Students Keep Their Job Hopes Alive/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fNew York Times,nbsp;United Statesnbsp;-/font nobr23 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1â€œMine is a generation thatâ€™s been told from high school onward, â€˜Youâ€™re going to change bcareers/b five or six times throughout the course of your life,â€™ â€ he b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

careers employment - Google News

How To Find A Telecommute Job

Careers, Jobs & Employment