Two years ago my youngest son started attending preschool and after a couple of months I felt I was not able to guide and support him as much as I should. It was at that time I started considering working from home. I had heard about people who were able to work from home in different ways however most of those options required a degree that I did not study for. Some friends also suggested I search the internet as they had heard of a distant cousin or a friend being able to work from home that way. The problem with some of those stories was, it was partially true and part misconception. Usually it would turn out to be an arrangement with the previous company and that he was now a consultant who designs projects at home and sends the completed project thru email. I thought well so much for that, there was no way I was experienced enough to become a company consultant. Other leads that I was able to research online were sales based. In effect you would be out most of the time. This is because although your office was at home your clients were not. That would then defeat the purpose of working from home since I still could not spend a majority of my time with my family. Lastly, even if I did see a “work from home” opportunity online it usually turned out to be a scam. The company would “train” you for a fee or training was free but you had to buy a horribly expensive starter kit. After about three months of searching I just gave up.
Fast forward a year and a half, my son is now older and because I got promoted last year has even less time with me. His academic challenges seem more difficult now and he is actively seeking my help. I had my resignation papers on hand when an acquaintance from our Human Resources department asked me why I was resigning; when she heard my story she referred me to a site her pastor used when he wanted to make extra money. That was the start of my new career and if I knew then what I know now I would have resigned much earlier.
The following are tips I should have applied so that my search would have been more productive: 1. be honest with what you can do. Identify your strengths, skills, and what you were able to learn from past jobs or in school. This will give you at least base line knowledge on the kinds of jobs you can apply for 2. Don’t over value yourself. That was harsh wasn’t it? I was a teacher and a training supervisor for a company with over 1,000 employees and believe you me I had to learn that lesson! When you enter a new field, you start from the bottom or near it. The supervisory job you want, you can apply for later when you’ve proven yourself. One of the reasons finding a job is so hard is because we pass on opportunities. The pay is too low or we have the “that job is beneath me” way of thinking. I’m a manager, supervisor or senior such and such, it would be a waste of my talent, capabilities etc if I take that job. Stop thinking that way and change your outlook. 3. be flexible, nine out of ten you won’t be able to find the exact job you want. In the real world of “working from home” you usually don’t have a lot of options when you are a newbie. At the start, apply for jobs you are qualified for or even over qualified for based on your skills and learning list. Just make sure and this is important, you can at least enjoy or feel content with your choice. In relation to this be ready to “free lance”. Most online opportunities are on a per project basis and will lack the benefits regular employees have. Our trade off however is the convenience of working from home and the being with our loved ones 4. Start searching and researching. There are websites that offer work from home opportunities and job listings. (One wonders why when I typed “work from home” in the search bar it did not pop up) To make life easier for you here are some sites to choose from: www.odesk.com, www.wahm.com, www.workathomecareers.com, and www.elance.com to name a few. Also researching the site or the “buyers”, clients or companies you will do business with or work for is never a bad idea. You can find information on companies and their status with the Better Business Bureau at www.bbb.org/us/Find-Business-Reviews/. The link will take you to the “Check out a Business or Charity” page. Another link you might find helpful if you are really set on the business side of working from home is www.scambusters.org. This site has exposed many scams and saved a lot of potential victims. You can also register and get their alerts for free. 5. Commit yourself. This does not mean you need to slave over your computer or spend countless hours planning your at home business sessions. It simply means you have to set your goals and work toward it. Set schedules and time lines. Also don’t forget about improving your skills. If you feel it is appropriate take online courses or tests do so. It’s a real job even if no one is watching you. There are also numerous people bidding on the same projects. You have to stay competitive even if it is “at your own pace work”. After all the people who get hired are not the ones who have been there the longest but those who are able to bring a little something extra to the table. Be it education, additional skills, experience (more years do not necessarily equate to more experience), passion, enthusiasm or the willingness to improve and do well.
Working from home can be incredibly fulfilling and it’s not just because you can be there whenever your child needs you (although for most of us it was the primary reason). With a positive outlook, determination and the right attitude toward self improvement working from home can provide you the opportunity to grow as a person and as a professional as well.
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