Legitimate Work at Home Jobs

Despite what all the advertisers would have you believe, legitimate work at home jobs are difficult to find.  That's because most of the opportunities are really just scams that help put money in the advertiser's pocket, and not yours.  But there are legitimate work at home jobs.  You just have to know how to recognize them.

Three Types of Legitimate Work at Home Jobs

There are at least three ways that you can legitimately make a living at home - telecommuting, freelancing, and running your own business.  We will talk a little bit about each one of these options, but you need to pay careful attention to this last choice: running your own business.

If you're thinking about running your own business, then you need to make sure that you aren't lured into a work at home scam.  You goal here should be to line your pockets with money, not those of someone else.  Move slowly, especially if an offer seems too good to be true.

Telecommuting from Home

Telecommuting is one of those of work at home jobs that has been around for years.  Maybe you didn't even recognize this as a legitimate opportunity because it seems more like a specialized job.  Fortunately, telecommuting is becoming more commonplace for several reasons, but there are still some major obstacles.

There is no doubt that technological advances make telecommuting from home easier every day.  Broadband access, video conferencing, email, and powerful personal computers are inexpensive and everywhere.  In fact, you may have already worked with an IT help desk assistant troubleshooting your problems from the comfort of their own home.

A second reason for the increase in telecommuting opportunities has to do with competition in the workplace.  There are many talented women and men that also want to be closely involved with the raising of their children.  To attract and retain this talent, some companies are increasing their number of telecommuting jobs.

Unfortunately, many telecommuting jobs require the employee to spend at least part of the workweek in an office environment.  This arrangement is commonplace because companies are still not ready to completely "trust" their employees.  Making telecommuters come into the office gives their managers a sense of security and control.

The second reason telecommuters are asked to come into the office is a little more legitimate.  The office is a place of gathering, and many business meetings are best conducted in a face-to-face environment.

Freelance Work at Home

Some people like the idea of working as a consultant for companies on an as-needed basis.  Freelancing from home is becoming more popular because many companies are hesitant to hire professional staff to address what appear to be short-term or low-volume problems.

For example, if you have a number of office locations, then you might consider hiring a freelance safety officer.  If most of your employees are working behind a desk, then the volume and frequency of safety paperwork, inspections, and complaints about the office environment probably do not justify the hiring of a full time safety professional.

This is just one example, but most professionals can act as freelance consultants and work from the comforts of their home.  If you have a skill that was valued by your former company, then chances are there are more companies interested in what you have to offer.

Running Your Own Business at Home

No doubt there is some crossover between freelance work and running a business from your home.  In this example, we are talking about running a more complex business structure than consulting.

When it comes to running a business at home, you're likely to see many opportunities advertised on utility poles, street signs, and even over the Internet.  Finding the legitimate opportunities can be difficult.

You can pursue your own business without the help of others.  If you have a talent for decorating, crafts, baking, cooking (you get the point), then there is usually a market willing to buy those services.  Start out by doing some research on several topics, and see what lessons others have learned.  One of the nice things about conducting research over the Internet is that so many people are willing to share their experiences with others.

Once you've chosen a business, then you need to put in some "sweat" equity.  Hard work, and a little luck, goes a long way in helping a new business succeed.  Just remember not to rely too much on good luck - sometimes you can make your own luck through some hard work.

Finally, the best part about running your own business is that you are investing in yourself.  You're the boss, and all decisions are yours alone.  Now while that may sound challenging to some, the rewards that come from your efforts are also yours to keep.

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