One of the biggest challenges to getting a work at home job is how long it takes. The most common complaint I hear from telecommuting job seekers is that they’ve been applying for a long time (sometimes years), but never get hired. In most cases, their resume goes unanswered. While I can’t guarantee a work from home job offer will come quickly, there are things you can do to speed up the process and increase your chances of getting hired.
1. Clean up your digital dirt
Employers will do a search of you on the Internet and what they find may influence their decision to hire you. If they find lots of great stuff, particularly items related to your skills and expertise, it will boost your chances. But if they find highly charged, controversial rants, inappropriate photos and even negative comments about your boss, that could get you weeded from the applicant list quickly.
Do a Google search to see what a potential employer would find. It it’s questionable, deleted it if you can. If it’s something on someone else’s site, email and ask if they’ll remove it. Because the Internet never forgets, even the deleted stuff is stored, but you can replace it with good content by actively posting current positive stuff. You can start a blog that showcases your skills and experience.
2. Apply to work at home jobs far, wide and often
If you want a work at home job quickly, you can’t submit a resume and then wait for the response. You maximize your effort by searching and applying for jobs every day. Set 30 to 60 minutes a day to search and apply to jobs. This will not only increase your chances of getting hired since you have more applications out, but also, it will improve your odds that your resume will be seen as you’ll get your application in as soon as a new job is posted.
3. Tailor your resume or application
Matching your skills and experience in your resume to those asked for by the employer is the best way to stand-out and show you’re ideal candidate. Further, focus your resume or application on the employer and how you can help him (benefits oriented). Instead of saying I can type fast, say “I type 60 words a minute to get your documents written quickly and accurately.” In this statement you’ve indicated a skill (type 60 wpm), shown that you know what the employer needs (documents written) and given a benefit (quickly and accurately).
4. Use keywords in your resume and online profiles
Keywords can not only help you find the best telecommute jobs, but also, help your resume and online profiles stand out to potential employers. If you’re looking for a specific type of work at home job, use keywords related to that job in your resume, LinkedIn profile, and other online materials used to seek work. So if you’re looking for virtual support work, use terms such as virtual support, virtual assistant, etc.
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5. Follow directions
The biggest peeve given by employers is applicants’ failure to follow directions. You want to stand out to potential employers, but not in a bad way. Not doing what the job announcements asks shows you don’t know how to follow directions, which isn’t something employers want to hire.
Read the work at home job announcement carefully, and then do what it tells you to do to apply, no more, no less.
6. Prove it
Whenever possible, back up your qualities with proof. Did you win an award? Do you have great references or reviews? This is what makes LinkedIn so great. You can post your achievements as part of your profile. Or consider building a resume-blog and post all the great stuff that can help you get a job, but would take up too much space in a resume.
7. Follow up
You don’t want to be obnoxious or rude, but following up is acceptable unless the employer specifically asks you not to. If the job announcement provides a date or time frame for hiring, wait until after that date or time before contacting the employer. If no date is given, wait a week or even two weeks before following up. When you email, use the person’s name if possible, and inquire about the receipt of the resume or application with a reminder of when it was sent, and something special about you. For example, let’s say Judy saw a work at home job for a virtual assistant for a Realtor, she’d follow up with:
Dear Ms. Smith,
I’m following up on my application for the virtual assistant job posted on the Boston Craiglist site on April 1, 2015. I submitted my resume per your instructions on April 1, 2015 and wanted to make sure you received them.
I’ve been a virtual assistant for ten years specializing in helping Realtors maximize their time and stay connected with their clients and customers.
If you didn’t receive my resume or need further information, please let me know.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Judy Va
8. Keep on Keepin’ On
The reality is that even with follow-ups, you may not hear back regarding your resume submissions and the work at home job market is very competitive. That’s why applying daily to as many places as you’re qualified to work is crucial. But even in that case, it can feel like it’s taking forever. But you won’t get a work at home job if you quit trying. So you need to keep on searching and applying. You might tweak your resume or find new places to search or promote yourself. But whatever you do, don’t quit.
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Those are some good tips for getting hired faster. Following directions really is important, that’s for sure. Last year I was granted an interview for a position that I applied for with over 300 applicants. I was told that I was chosen because I was one of the few applicants who followed their detailed instructions.
I can definitely see an employer being leery to hire someone who can’t even follow the directions on a job posting. By the way, in case you’re wondering, I didn’t get that particular job.
Following up is always one area that I am shy to do. Writing up an email that you send out a couple of weeks later sounds like a good way of following up.
Thanks for the comments, Christopher. Yes, following directions is crucial. Sometimes people try to be clever and send too much or too litter, but it only hurts their chances. Few people follow up so doing so may gain you an advantage as it shows you’re very interested in the job. Just don’t do it too soon or too often. Thanks again.