It was not that long ago that working at home was a relative rarity. Some people have always worked out of their homes, to be sure, but this type of situation was the exception and not the norm.
Now that things are turning around and remote work is becoming more popular, you may be wondering how you can join in on the fun. Landing those coveted work-at-home positions can be tricky business, and here are a few tips for success.
Use the Right Keywords for Your At-Home Job Search
Start by knowing which keywords to search for. Job listings can be vague and confusing, and you could waste a lot of time sorting through them. That is time you could be using to land the job you want, so make sure you know what to search for.
Some work-from-home job listings may use acronyms like WFH or WAH, short for “work at home.” Others may use terms like telecommuting or telecommute, while others may refer to their opportunities as remote positions. Cycling through all of these terms will help you identify the most promising listings while avoiding positions that require a trip to the office.
Where to Find Legit Remote Job Postings
It’s important to know that scams are rampant when it comes to remote work listings. It’s also easy to find yourself in the weeds, as a simple online search can quickly lead you from one website to another and so on.
Therefore, when you’re trying to find work from home jobs, it’s best to focus your search on a few job boards that are known for posting legitimate opportunities. FlexJobs, for example, vets all of its postings for legitimacy. Indeed doesn’t do the same legwork, but many well-known companies with online jobs can still be found there. Remote.co is another site to keep an eye on. You can also sign up to receive job notifications directly on many company websites.
As you venture away from the most popular job boards to sites like Craigslist and Facebook Jobs, you will need to pay close attention to signs of a scam. While there may certainly be legit job postings elsewhere, it can also be easier for scammers to post on these sites.
Recognize the Warning Signs of a Work at Home Scam
The pandemic has vastly increased the number of work at home opportunities, and that is good news for job seekers. Even after the COVID-19 crisis is over, experts expect telecommuting to be, if not the norm, at least an increasingly popular exception.
The fact that work-at-home jobs are now plentiful has created an unintended consequence, however, one that could separate you from your cash instead of helping you earn it. As telecommuting has become more popular, scammers have been emboldened, and job seekers need to view the listings with a healthy dose of skepticism.
Recognizing the warning signs of a work-at-home scam is vital in the current climate. If the supposed opportunity is vague in its requirements, or if the purported employer asks for cash to pay for training or supplies, it is time to run the other way. You do not want to end up on the losing end of a work-at-home scam, and each dead end will further interfere with your ongoing job search.
Highlight Your Independence to Employers
Many remote jobs require an entirely different set of skills than a traditional office-based position. Not everyone can make the transition, and would-be employers will want to know that candidates are able to work on their own.
Stressing a sense of independence and a track record of going your own way is important if you are hoping to work from home. You can do that through your resume, stress it on your cover letter, or use a combination of the two to up your odds of success.
Prepare Carefully for Your Video Interview
The most significant hurdle to getting a work-at-home job is getting your resume to the top of the pile, but there is one additional step that must be considered. Before you can embark on your remote work career, you must first pass the remote work interview, and that requires careful and specific preparation.
If you think an in-person interview is stressful, imagine putting your best foot forward with nothing but a webcam and an internet connection. If you want your video interview to go off without a hitch, you need to practice every step along the way.
That means testing the internet connection to make sure it is stable, checking your appearance in that tiny Zoom window and going over your notes and interview answers with a trusted friend. The more you practice for your video interview the more confident you will be when the call finally comes in.
Use These Tips to Get a Work From Home Job
The world of work has changed enormously in recent years, and that is good news for those who dream of working in their pajamas. While working at home was once a dream, it is now a reality for many people. Now that you know how to go about it, you can seek out the opportunities and land the work-at-home career you seek.
