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 We research each topic before we put pen to paper - or is that fingers to keyboard? Our research tells us that work at home moms is a very popular topic today. And that makes sense to us because so many women are torn between raising a family and their work careers.
Work at Home Moms Research
So off we went, researching this "work from home moms" topic, trying to find something interesting or compelling about the work at home mom phenomena. We were shocked to see the weak effort given forth by the leading work at home mom websites.
Most of these sites are stuffed with advertising and have very little information on working from home. Many include outdated part time job offerings that involved telecommuting. Others were business opportunities that are advertised are not opportunities for the stay at home mom, rather they are money making opportunities for the website itself.
Work from Home Mom Warnings
The federal government has issued many warnings about work from home opportunities. In most situations, the moms looking for work are asked to pay membership dues or even pay start up kit fees. After sending in the money, the mom finds out the business rules for the opportunity make it nearly impossible to make any money from home.
Unfortunately, the average mom looking to work from home will simply be overwhelmed with bogus offers of opportunity. Even some of the top websites on this topic offer truly useless advice - suggesting that the work at home mom focus on things such as pet sitting and errand running.
While we agree that these are things that work at home moms can do, we think the average mom is looking for other more significant suggestions. And as long as you're going to start a new job, it might as well be a legitimate work at home job.
This leaves moms looking to work from home with just a couple of options:
Carefully Research Your Work at Home Opportunities
If you're still convinced that responding to a work at home advertisement is your best bet, here is our advice. You can look at these promises of the work at home dream, but view them with a skeptic's eye. Ask yourself these questions before taking up an offer:
- Are they asking for money up front?
- Can you talk with other moms about their experiences?
- What are the exact rules on getting payment?
- How long has the company been in business?
Start Your Own Business at Home
That's right; one option you have is to start your own business and work from home. You're probably the best judge of your individual skills. You might be able to write a column for a local newspaper. If you have a way with food, perhaps you are only a cake decorating class away from a business. Are you good at making crafts that can be sold at fairs?
If you're a professional woman that likes the idea of raising her family and still providing some added income to your household, then you might want to take a look at these online resources:
- Online Women's Business Center - Run by the United States Small Business Association, the center provides moms with all the information they need to start their own business at home. Resources include information on financing and starting your own business.
- WomenBiz.gov - the National Women's Business Council's mission is to promote initiatives, policies, and programs designed to support women's business enterprises at all stages of development in the public and private sector marketplaces.
Searching Classified Ads for Work at Home
You're not going to find classified advertisements dedicated to work at home moms. But you can search any of the major job posting websites and look for certain keywords in ads. That is to say when you search through the classifieds you should add terms such as telecommuting, freelance and part time to your search.
Part Time Jobs at Home
If you're a mom that's looking for seasonal or part time work, then be sure to take a look at our article on Part Time Jobs. There you'll find information that can help you get started looking for a part time job including links to websites that specialize in listing part time work assignments.
Evening Courses and Volunteer Work
If you're a mom that needs a quick way to get some experience or gain a skill, the best investment might be in yourself. Check out the local school offerings to see if something sparks an idea. Painting, photography or the culinary arts are good starters.
Invest in yourself; education is something that no one can take from you once you have it. Adult education courses are usually offered through local colleges and universities and the cost is reasonable. The next time your county college sends you their list of adult education courses in the mail, take a look inside because there might just be an opportunity inside.
Volunteer Jobs
The final option for work at home moms is volunteering - especially if you're looking to improve your skills. Volunteer work can be an extremely rewarding experience because not only are you helping your local community, but you're also gaining valuable experience.
Volunteer jobs are also often suitable to the lifestyle that a mother looking for - flexibility. Our article on Volunteer Work contains additional information on this important topic as well as a listing of websites where you can find volunteer opportunities near your home.
About the Author - Work at Home Mom
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