Join, Train and Work At Home Today!
Although it has been a while, the skills required for today's job market are foundationally much the same as they were in the past. To be professional and successful in today’s business world, you need to know how to write effective communications that get people talking, how to negotiate solutions between parties with differing interests, and how to develop and maintain profitable relationships with clients. However, many people find themselves stuck at home because they don't have any experience from working or because they don't know where or how to start looking for a job.
Before the Internet, people were forced to rely on their local library for information that was relevant to starting a job search. But with today’s Internet, there are a number of online sources that can be tapped into to start your job search and get connected with companies. It is important to remember that what is "hot" right now in terms of job searches and companies who are looking for employees may not remain hot forever. The key is to keep abreast of what's happening today and investigate ways you can contribute. A few great resources to check out are:
The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) is an organization comprised of the nation’s top educational institutions and employers. NACE offers a number of websites that have a wealth of information about college placement, schools, and what recruiters are looking for. The National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) has a massive database that contains information on current events and trends in student affairs related to student activities, human resource management, curriculum development, accreditation, youth services administration and many other aspects. The Association of Career Development Professionals (ACDP) has a strong presence on the Web with a vast array of useful information about career development and human resources.
Google offers free job search capabilities. Job search engines like Monster, CareerBuilder and Yahoo! can be customized to reflect your particular interest in specific jobs or industries. These tools can help you uncover potential resources for your career search and learning about the best companies for you to apply to. These online career resouces are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
When conducting your job search, it is also important to check out any professional associations you might be associated with or any help organizations that might be in your town or county.
If you are just starting out on your journey to work at home, know that there are many resources available for you. You just have to be willing to find them and take action.
Another thing that is very important when working from home is to realize that you are responsible for your own productivity, performance and success. If you have the right mindset and a positive attitude, the sky is the limit! There will be times when things may seem slow or unproductive. If this happens, it might be time to re-work your approach and see if someone else can help out with a different skill set.
Sarah Flores
Bonus: Few practical tips about telecommuting: http://www.webcorporation.com/blog/article/3156876.aspx
I have been a telecommuting gal for over 2 years and I LOVE IT!!! Working from home is a Godsend for me. I work very long hours and the stress is high, it's hard to balance my business home life. But what I love most about telecommuting is the flexibility. It's not like working 40 hours or even 1 hour in the office, because I can take care of personal needs during the day when it doesn't overlap with work time. This has helped in my long term planning because I have more control over my time at work now. It's also great when I am working at home, because my husband works from home too. We can watch our son while he naps, and then go back to work.
My tips for telecommuting:
1. Set up a schedule for work time and play time.
2. Turn off your cell phone, so you are in the office time zone only and can focus on work tasks.
3. Play music, not music with lyrics or talk radio, but instrumental music--you can't think straight with lyrics playing in the background! Reading a book or watching TV is fine too; just don't overdo it, you need to concentrate on work tasks sometimes as well!
4. Surround yourself with pictures of your family and pictures of yourself; use them as a focus point during the day.
5. Have a back up system for all the things you need to do, like files and all important documents; I organize my files in three different locations--one at work, one at home, and one in my car--just in case I am not able to get to work for a few days!
6. Schedule blocks of time during the day for meetings or phone calls with your boss or clients that won't interfere with your work tasks.
7. Have clear policy with your boss on being available for calls during work time. The business phone system at my office allows me to do two hours of calls without having to pay extra, so I use that time for calls from family and friends. It's very good because that way, I can handle all calls at home--I don't need to run back and forth between work and home!
8. Follow the work rules at your office; it can make a huge difference in life balance for you!
9. You will find that as you get used to telecommuting, you get into a routine that helps you balance life at work and play during the day.
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Conclusion
The conversation of telecommuting versus working from home is an ongoing debate. There are proponents in both camps, while the majority of people are undecided and unsure of what the 'right' choice is. The truth of the matter is that most jobs allow for a work from home situation, and it's up to you whether or not you take advantage of it. If you are unhappy at work, or even if you love your job but love to spend time with your family, there's no reason not to take the plunge into your own little telecommuting utopia.