Note: Work-At-Home Success contains advertising along with screened jobs and information. Visit WAHS's Disclosure and/or FAQ page for more information.

Tag Archives: job search

Frustrated by Your Work-At-Home Job Search?

August 31, 2011   LTruex   7 Comments


I get emails daily from frustrated job hunters who are struggling to find work. I know this frustration, disappointment, and stress first hand as I have experienced it as well. Indeed, frustration and disappointment are two of the biggest hurdles struggling work-at-home wannabes face. But there are some things you can do to help deal with the challenges in trying to find a work-at-home job.

1) Have realistic expectations: We live in a society focused on instant gratification, but the odds of deciding to work at home today and actually doing it tomorrow are slim. It can take 6 months to 2 years to find a work-at-home job depending on your skills, experience, and how often you search and apply. Not only do you need to be realistic about the time frame in reaching work-at-home success, but you also need to choose realistic methods. People don’t pay the mortgage doing surveys or reading email. Neither do they simply sign up for something and make money. Working at home takes work. Lots of it!

2) Do your research: The best way to develop a realistic expectation related to working at home is to educate yourself about telecommuting. Research will teach you what it takes and how long it takes to really work at home, help you avoid scams, and keep you focused on the right types of activities. There is tons of FREE information here at Work-At-Home Success. Read it. Use it!

3) Look for opportunities that fit your skills and interests: Too many people look for the fast, quick buck and end up wasting time and money as these opportunities almost always turn out to be scams or deceptive schemes. Instead, make a list of all your skills, experiences, interests and hobbies, and search for jobs that fit what you know how to do. You’re more likely to be successful pursuing your passion than the money.

4) Evaluate your efforts: If you aren’t getting results from a job search have someone look over your resume, and make sure you are qualified to do the job. If you have the qualifications, make sure your resume highlights that. Increase your chances of getting hired by tailoring your resume to fit each job you apply to.

5) Keep on keeping on: I haven’t met anyone that hasn’t spent a great deal of time and effort to work at home. The one thing that separates them from others who aren’t successful is that they never gave up. They kept learning about working at home, searching and applying for the right opportunities, and evaluating their efforts until they finally reach their goal.

There is a saying about the only certainties in life are taxes and death. In the work-at-home world, there are some certainties as well and those are that you’ll be frustrated and disappointed. But these are temporary if you are able to manage the difficult times and forge ahead towards your goal.

Share
Read More

Work At Home Resumes

December 06, 2010   LTruex   1 Comment

The resume is the key to getting a work-at-home job.

A resume and cover letter are your first and maybe only chance to make an impression on a potential employer. That’s a lot of pressure for a one-page document. Despite the resume’s importance, many people simply submit a list of their education and experience. But a resume isn’t a list, its a marketing tool. And like any marketing tactic, it needs to sell you as the best person for the job.

Marketing isn’t about listing features or bragging how great a product or service is. Its about solving people problems. In the work world, a resume needs to do the same thing; it needs to focus on how your skills solves an employer’s problem.  To do that you need to:

1) Identify the key skills the employer is asking for in the job announcement. What tools do you need to have experience with? What tasks do you need to know how to do?

2) Learn about the industry the employer works in. Each industry has its own language and way of doing things. By taking time to learn a little about the industry and use its language in your resume, you can set yourself apart from all the other competitors.

3) Use active verbs in your resume. Don’t say you know how to word process. Instead say, “I type 80 words-per-minute.”

4) Use marketing tactics in your cover letter. Address the employers name if you can find it. Be obvious in how your skills exactly match what the employer is looking for. If a real estate agent is looking for an assistant to help manage his contacts and communications with them, and you know how to do that, tell him. “I can use MS Outlook to manage your list of clients and customers including mailing correspondence, sending email and making follow-up calls.” This sentence shows you know real estate (there is a difference between a client and a customer), and how to use contact materials to stay in touch in a variety of ways.

5) Check and double-check for errors in grammar, spelling and information. A resume illustrates your skill and professionalism. Don’t let it make you look bad by having errors.

If you’re submitting resumes and applications on a regular basis, but aren’t getting results, it could be that your submissions are not standing out from the crowd. Take another look at your resume or ask someone to look at it for you to get feedback on how well it represents you.

Work-At-Home Success does offer resume evaluation services in which your resume is checked for its “wow” factor. Plus you get suggestions about how to improve it and tips on where to submit it. Check out Work-At-Home Success Resume Review Service.

Share
Read More
« Older posts
Newer posts »

  • Work At Home Success Podcast

    Show 196 Kathy Goughenour Expert VA Training

    MP3 File
    Check out previous podcasts plus get the resources mentioned on podcasts.
  • workingmother.com's badge