Finding real, legitimate work from home can be a challenge for parents and other workers seeking more flexible work options. However, thanks to technology, there are many more choices available today. Here is a review of some of these options.
Telecommuting is a growing trend. Credited with reducing travel time, costs, and stress; while improving work life balance, telecommuting enables employees to combine flexible working hours with the advantage of being able to work from home. Employers that offer this flexibility experience increased retention of key staff.
Interestingly, the best place to look for a telecommuting position, is with your current employer, someone who knows your job, your work ethic and habits. An interesting option to explore if you are a parent that is looking to work from home, rather than return to the workforce... follow up with previous employers and see what is available.
If you have up to date office, web, design or database skills, setting up a home based business as a virtual assistant makes sense, as this is growth industry. Virtual assistants are in demand, they provide alternative staffing solutions to small and home based business owners the world over. They take care of essential administrative tasks that keep business owners from doing what brings in the money. Check out the International Virtual Assistants Association for more information.
Better telephone call routing technology and easier access to broadband now make it possible for telephone based customer service roles to be outsourced to home based workers.
In bound and out bound call center work is a viable option if you have a completely quiet, space to work from. In bound callers may be calling you to take telephone sales orders for your employer. Out bound calls could be you ringing your employer's clients to book or confirm appointments.
Mystery shopping has been around for years, but don't write it off, it is a fun and genuine work from home option! If your motivation is just to earn extra money occasionally, mystery shopping can fit in with the things you need to do anyway while you're out and about... just with one small change. Before you head out the door, you go online to your mystery shopper company and see if there are any jobs you can do in the area you are going to. When it works it's great, download the report forms and go, but if it's not convenient, then you can leave it. If this is something you would like to persue, visit mysteryshop.org for a list of legitimate Mystery Shopper opportunities.
Making money from home from a hobby has been the right choice for many people who are passionate about their hobbies. The best part about turning a hobby into a business is you can try it out, part time, while you are still working at your day job. What do you love to do that could be turned into an income?Click here to see how Darleen Faulkner turned her hobby into a business. As Darleen points out, if you turn your hobby into a business, will you still love it when you are doing it for other people for money, rather than for your own pleasure? Do you have what it takes to work from home?
