7 Tips to Landing a Work at Home Job

You've found the perfect work at home job! Now, all that stands between you and your dream of working at home is to stand out from the competition and ace the interview.

Here are 7 tips to help you shine and increase your chances of snagging that work at home job.

1. Be professional.
In all of your correspondence with an employer be the model of professionalism. Every day I get emails from people who think that I hire people and it never fails to appall me how unprofessional they can be. I see everything from "I want this job. Pls send me information" to "workin from home".

I'm not kidding.

Every time you communicate with a potential employer it is an opportunity to WOW them, or to convince them that you are not at all qualified for the job. Use proper grammar, complete sentences and use a spell checker! Even an informal email should be formatted like a letter with a greeting and a respectful closing.

2. Follow the application instructions to the letter.
If the job listing instructs you to send your resume in the body of an email message then do it. Don't send it as an attachment. If it tells you not to send a resume, don't send one. Some employers will ask you to use a specific subject in your email to them. This is often to see if you read the job description thoroughly and can follow directions. If you can't follow directions in the application process then they will think (actually, they will know) that you cannot follow directions in general.

3. Tailor your cover letter.
You should always create a cover letter that is specific to the job you are applying for. Personalize your greeting with the hiring person's name if possible. Stay away from phrases like "Dear Sir". If you are unable to determine the hiring party's name then use something like, "Dear Hiring Manager".

A great cover letter will be short and to the point. It should relate directly to the skills that they are looking for. For example, you might say, "You had mentioned that you were looking for someone with a background in creative writing and journalism. I studied both in college, where I majored in English. I began my career as an assistant editor at the local paper, where I learned to take a hands-on approach to investigative journalism."

4. Have a resume that is specific to the job you are applying for.
As with the cover letter you may want to revise your resume to prioritize your skills and experience to the job you are applying for. If you have a sales and customer service background and you are applying for a job where customer service is the main focus then you'll want to really highlight that aspect of your experience. List customer service related skills first.

5. Make sure your resume is FANTASTIC.
A fantastic resume is never more than one page long. Use action words in your summary: Self-motivated, customer focused, creative problem solver, etc.

Describe your job description rather than just listing tasks. Instead of this:
Wrote schedulesManaged employeesHandled hiring

Use this:
Responsible for all aspects of managing a retail store with an annual volume of $2 million including recruiting, hiring and training personnel while maintaining excellent customer service standards. Achieved a 7% sales increase within the first year. Was awarded the...

This is your chance to really talk yourself up. Include all of your achievements in a concise manner.

6. Follow up.
If you don't hear back after a week, send a short follow up note. One follow up note, no more.

Dear Mr./Ms. Last Name,

I submitted a resume earlier this month for the Web Developer position advertised in the City Times.

I am very interested in working at XYZ Company and I believe my skills, especially my C++ experience at AMR company, would be an ideal match for this position.

If necessary, I would be glad to resend my resume or to provide any further information you might need regarding my candidacy. I can be reached at (555)555-5555 or jsmith[at]foo.com. I look forward to hearing from you.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Signature

7. Always send a thank you note.
After an interview, always send a thank you note, preferably by mail. You should send your note within 24 hours after your interview. Express your enthusiasm to work for their organization. Reiterate (very briefly) how your skills and experience match what they are looking for. If there was a shining moment in your interview, bring that up.

These tips should help you to stand out from the competition in your search for a work at home job.

Sharon Davis, Work At Home expert, writer and consultant, helps people to achieve their goal of working at home, telecommuting or starting a home business.
http://www.2work-at-home.com/
Find free work at home jobs posted daily:
http://blog.2work-at-home.com/WordPress/

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Legitimate Work From Home Opportunities - 4 Companies That Offer Work From Home Call Center Jobs

If you don't mind dealing with frustrated and angry customers or clients, then having to work from home for call center jobs might just be the right opportunity for you. Although the pay may not be great, but it is one of the legitimate work from home opportunities and the prospect of earning extra cash while taking care of the family and loved ones is just too good of an opportunity to pass up.

But before proceeding, you have to make sure that the following requirements are met in order to be qualified for the job.

Requirements:

A home computer that meets the company's expectations.A USB headset with a built-in digital signal processor.A high speed internet access.A telephone with a mute button.A power surge protector.

After you have met all of the requirements, it is now time to apply on either of the following companies:

Alpine Access

There is a flat rate of $45 fee, which is intended for credit and background check, the moment you receive an employment offer. That is the only investment you will be making since the training is free and there will be no more dues to be collected every month.

The starting salary is from $8 up to $12 an hour. Benefits like 401(k) and health insurance are included. There is no health care cost but the company offer a corporate match to the retirement fund. Shifts vary because there is no fixed working schedule. You could be working two hours in the morning and three hours in the afternoon or evening. For five days a week, you have to work at least four hours a day or 20 to 30 hours per week.

Convergys

There will be no fees to be collected when an employment offer is extended, except perhaps providing the necessary equipments as previously describe. The salary scale ranges from $8 to $14 an hour which is accompanied with a host of benefits like health care, life insurance, tuition reimbursement plans, paid vacation, employee assistance program, employee discount program, among others.

Tele Tech

The pay rate is from $8 to $16 per hour with basic benefits such as health care, 401k, perks and commissions. If you are diligent in your job, you will be getting a 75% raise every few months. The interview is easy and all you'll be asked about is your job experience and how confident you are to handle the job. Since the interview is online, you do not have to wear something formal.

LiveOps

The rate is about $8 to $20 per hour and you have to time your shifts in 30 minute blocks. You can choose to work on inbound or outbound calls - there are many options to choose from. A $50 fee will be collected for a background check, and a second phone line is required at your expense.

The above are just few of the legitimate work from home opportunities that you can come across, and if you're interested on being able to work from home for call center jobs, then the above companies might be worth your while.

To find freelance jobs from top freelance sites requires patience and trial & error. You just keep on applying until someone hires you.

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