I get lots of people asking me where they can find work from home jobs advertised, but when I ask them what they want from a job it turns out a home business would be much more suitable.
Firstly you need to decide if you are looking for a work from home job or a home based business.
Although both these terms are used to mean the same thing at times, they are in-fact very different. A work from home job is simply a regular job that you do at home. You have an employer who tells you the hours you need to work and the activities you need to do. You are answerable to that employer and are obliged to complete the tasks asked of you (to a certain degree!). You are paid an agreed hourly rate or salary and have the same rights as an on-site worker. Most people are also entitled to paid holidays and sick pay.
Work from Home Jobs or a Home Based Business
A home business is very different. There is no boss, no set hours and no-one to answer to. You have complete flexibility to choose when you work and what you do. You are free to take holidays when you choose. Your income is not limited by an hourly rate or salary. Obviously the downside is that you have no guarantee of an income, which is an issue for some people.
For those that are looking for a flexible, exciting and profitable way to be able to enjoy the freedom of working from home, starting a simple home business is the best option and that’s the route most people choose. However if you want a steady, regular income with set hours, work from home jobs would be the best choice for you.
Finding work from home jobs
Do a Google search and you’ll see 100’s of adverts for work from home jobs, however you should be aware that 99% of these are not jobs, but business opportunities you will have to pay join or companies selling access to a list of work from home companies, usually in the US.
However if you ignore all the rubbish out there you can still find genuine work from home jobs. The best place to look is in your local paper and on online job websites like http://seek.com.au.
Work from home jobs are obviously based at home, however employers often like to have their home workers fairly nearby so they can get them to come in to the office every so often for meetings and visit them if required, so they tend to hire locally.
Work from home jobs – Freelancing or Virtual Assistant
B
ecoming a virtual assistant or freelancer is becoming more and more popular as it allows you take the best bits of work from home job and home based business. You get to choose the hours you work and the projects you apply for. Once you find a few regular clients you will be able to secure ongoing work and enjoy a consistent income.
The work you can do depends on your skills and demand from companies wanting to hire. If you have a skill like web design you will have more choice and be able to demand a higher hourly rate. However there are also people looking for virtual assistants who complete administration tasks.
The main problem is the level of competition in what is a global marketplace, there are millions of highly skilled workers in countries like India and the Philippines who are prepared to work for as little as $2 per hour, which can make it difficult to compete.
For more information read our Freelancing and Virtual Assistant Article
Work from home jobs – your thoughts?
Are you currently looking through work from home jobs trying to find something that suits you? Have you tried something which turns out to be a scam? Leave us a comment below – we’d love to hear from you!
About Tom White
