WORK AT HOME

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Businesses you can start from your home and enjoy successful self-employment beyond your wildest dreams.

1.        Make and Sell A Food Product:

Paul Newman did it and made millions.  Why should you not do the same?  If you have a favorite recipe and people are continually tell you “you should market that” then what’s holding you back?  There are a few restrictions such as a food handler’s license that could restrict your

 at home production but beyond that there is no reason at all that you should not pursue your passion for food.

Here’s the recipe for your food product success:

Find a product that you have a passion for such as a sauce that you’ve developed, a drink that can be simply bottled or anything else that you can package.

Once you’ve established the product the next step is to find a way to produce this product quickly and simply in your own home.  A simple cocktail mix can be prepared on your stove, bottled, labeled and stored until your first sale. 

Perhaps you’ve discovered a way to freeze dry a product that could be marketed.  Run with it.  The possibilities are endless.  Simply use your imagination to fuel your success.

2.       Arts and Craft Sales:

Thousands of people each day create arts and craft that are sold online and in local shops, flea markets, fairs and garage sales.  If you have a talent for making jewelry, art, photographs, making baskets, figurines or even restoring old furniture you could be sitting on a gold mine.  Even local catalog owners would enjoy presenting your wares for a small cut of the profits.  The marketplace is wide open for hand crafted articles.  If you’ve ever considered selling what you make then you should go for it.  Who knows how much you could earn in a very short time.

Get out your paper, scissors, glue and anything else you might use to create your masterpiece and get going. 

If you doubt that there is a huge market you should go online to the web site http://etsy.com.   It is a site built specifically for people that have hand crafted article to sell.  It’s a great site and you’ll enjoy your visit.  The owner has become a multi-millionaire in a very short time by providing this specialty service.

3.       Bed and Breakfast Business:

Okay, your kids are grown and you now live in a home that has more room than you know what to do with.  How about taking advantage of that situation by starting a bed and breakfast business?  It’s quite simple to do and with an inexpensive license you can be up and running in no time at all.  So how much space do you have available?  Are you able to cook a simple breakfast for more than just a couple of people?  Are you outgoing and friendly?  If the answer to those questions is yes then you are on the doorstep to success in your new bed and breakfast business.  A few simple business cards and some flyers posted in your local stores could get you up and running quickly and inexpensively.  Satisfied customers will return time and time again when they discover your fine cuisine and that homey atmosphere you provide.  They’ll also share their experience with their friends and neighbors so your business could take off and maybe, just maybe you’ll be able to quit that day time job you hate and focus on your own business helping people enjoy their vacations.

Additionally you could add a service that guides people through the interesting sites in your community.  A little extra time is involved with this part of the venture but what the heck, the sheets are changed and laundered, the breakfast dishes done and you have nothing else to do for the rest of the day.  You might as well see the wonder in the eyes of your visitors as they discover the golden nuggets in your area.

Come on, it will be fun.  Give it a try.

4.       Plant Service:

I have a green thumb.  There’s nothing I love more than to take a sick and dying plant and save its life.  To see a plant recover to its former glory is just so rewarding.  You could do this too.  If you are blessed with a green thumb and don’t mind taking a few minutes out of your busy day to love and care for plants, this could be your road to riches. 

Companies pay big bucks for people to come into their establishments on a regular basis to have their plants cared for.  You don’t have to be the one to care for them on a weekly basis but you could.  Additionally you could offer to “save” the plants that aren’t doing so well.  I don’t know of anyone offering this service and really don’t know why it doesn’t seem to exist.  Plant stores could also use your help saving their inventory (plants) and would happily pay you for this service.  They paid a lot of money to buy the product and to see it die before their eyes only means that they are losing money.  Sounds like a great business to me.  How does it sound to you?

Materials you might use in your venture are inexpensive.  They would include a basic gardening kit which could cost as little as $10.00. Then you need some pots into which you will transplant the poor plants that need rescuing (I’ve found pots for as little as $3.49.)  A little potting soil such as Miracle Grow (about $5.00) makes saving plants almost guaranteed as you watch the new plants sprout into healthy displays of God’s creation.

5.       Move-In Service:

This business can be a little demanding but well worth the effort.  And I have a secret; you don’t have to do the work!

The last time I moved I was stressing out over the fact that I had so much to move and no help.  I simply could not do the heavy lifting and packing that was involved.  I called some local movers and found that they charged an average of $85.00 per hour, per worker.  No Way!  So, after a little more research, I found that local college students were always looking for extra income but didn’t have time to work full-time because of their studies etc.  I checked with the local community college and found that they would allow me to post a “help wanted” ad on their online bulletin board and on their on-site boards.  I listed exactly what I needed done and what price I was willing to pay ($10.00 per hour, per person I thought was reasonable) and after posting this information I was swamped with offers to help. 

You could do this too.  You don’t have to be the one moving.  People all over your community need moving services and with today’s economy in the dumps you can rest assured of a constant source of people needing your service.  It’s inexpensive to start and could be very lucrative to you as a new business owner.

Well there you have it.  Ideas that won’t make you rich overnight… no business can do that and if they say you can I only have one word for you:  RUN!  All they want is your money and care nothing about you.

I hope these simple ideas have helped.  There are hundreds of other small businesses you can start and work from the comfort of your own home.  So, take a good dose of “get off your butt ambition” and get going.  Success is right around the corner.

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Why a Job Working From Home is Better than a Job Working Outside the Home?

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In the today's economy a large number people have found that employment working from home provides some distinct advantages over an employment outside the home. These advantages can make the difference in the reduced earning power that is the reality of home-based employment, more acceptable.

 At the top of the list of advantages for most home-based workers is the flexibility that working from home provides. Working from home you are not locked to same strict schedule that office-based workers are. If you have a doctor's appointment or you need to have a conference with your child's teacher you don't need to take the day off to keep it. Working from home allows you the flexibility to merge your personal appointments with your work schedule, without losing time from work. Along with scheduling flexibility working from home also saves time on commuting. According to the Department of Labor the average daily commute for workers is 70 minutes. Working from home you eliminate this commute, giving you more time to spend on other activities. In addition by not commuting you will same money on gas, parking, and insurance expenses.

The biggest direct financial savings benefit from working at home is the elimination the transportation cost. Working from home you will also save money on lunch expenses. Many people working outside the home don't back lunches and end up spending $7 - $10 per day eating out. In addition if you are leaving the office for lunch you are more likely to money on miscellaneous items that add up quickly. By working at home you will keep more money in your pocket and eat healthier as well. Working from home you are less likely to get sick, since you are not sharing germs with hundreds of other people in the office and commuting to work. This in turn will also provide saving on medical costs, since you will have fewer doctor visits and spend less money on over-the-counter medications.

 Another advantage of working from home is the fact that some of the expenses incurred by both the employee and employer are tax deductible. Working from home you will be allowed to deduct internet, phone, office supply cost; as well as the square footage that you use for your home office. If you are telecommuting many employers will actually provide the technology hardware to match that being used by the company's office-based employees. Besides the financial reasons for working from home there are the quality of life issues. You will find that working from home generates less stress and anxiety since the competition, gossip, and backstabbing of the office environment does not exist when you work at home. You will also find that your productivity increases since you are not socializing co-workers or clients. It is easier to stay focused and motivated on the task at hand.

The biggest advantage of working from home is the ability to develop a closer relationship with your family. Since you will be home more you have the ability to spend more quality time with your family. Being a home-based worker gives you more quality time with family, something you cannot put a price tag on.

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How to keep your children occupied while you work at home?

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The dog is barking, the kids are hanging around your home office wanting to know what they can do, and you’re unable to concentrate on that work assignment that is due tomorrow. What are you to do to get things under control? Well, it is fairly easy to put the dog outside, but it might not be so easy to come up with a solution for occupying the children.

One might imagine that suggesting a good book might work, but that is only possible if the children know how to read. Even an older child may not be interested in that sort of activity. Armed with a roll of tape, a pair of scissors, some blank paper and a stack of magazines that are headed to the recycling bin, children can cut pictures and words to create their own book. Often children can be entertained with board games, but maybe they have grown tired of those games that have been played over and over again. Introducing children of today to some of the ‘ancient games’ from Grandmother’s day might provide the perfect solution for something new and different. Even drawing on the sidewalk with chalk, can be modernized by using glow in the dark chalk available today.

Think how excited they will be when they go outside in the evening to view their masterpieces aglow. Better yet, why not install a large chalkboard in their room where they can draw a mural. Taking out a box of toothpicks and teaching them to play the old game of pick-up sticks can be equally new and entertaining for most children. Jig-saw puzzles can be challenging and provide hours of fun for younger or older children alike. Building a tent from bed linens or blankets placed over chairs in the dining room can provide a fort for children’s adventures. Sometimes, something as simple as a scavenger or treasure hunt in the house can provide just the touch of adventure that is needed to keep them occupied. If the children are older, you can supply the camcorder to make a video story. Or let them shoot photos for a book that you can have published later, as a keepsake. They could plan party ideas for their next birthday. Have them list what party favors, decorations, type of cake, and games to play. They could plan a makeover of their room, sketching and listing ideas and gathering photos and suggestions from magazines.

 The key is to give the children original or new suggestions that spur activity and creativity. Taking on activities that are different, yet exciting can provide them with a new interest in activities that will keep them entertained, challenged and quiet, while you get your work finished.

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The best and worst of working from home

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When I first took the job of writing about the advantages and disadvantages of having a job that not involve going to a certain place, such an office, or maybe a factory, I realized that I am capable, because in fact that is what I do for a living, and because it is a very well known subject for me, I decided to expose the good things that made me took a "home" job.

The main advantage is that you sit in the comfort of your home, relaxed, maybe in your favorite chair, doing something that you enjoy, without stressful machines, noise, without arrogant colleagues or unbearable bosses. This thing leads to another pro because, once you are in your own territory you are more focused, you work more carefully, and your productivity increases, because of your very good state of mind. The idea of working late in a small office with hundreds of papers stashed on your desk, with no air to breath and a small narrow window through you can't get sufficient sunlight, just makes me say:"Ok, that's it, I quit!".

When you struggle to earn a decent paycheck you are willing to let behind some inconvenient aspects which your employer isn't interested to improve, because you are below him and you need to know that. This is, in my opinion, the biggest disadvantage in the fact of being an employee, you are not your boss, your just a piece in the mechanism, a piece that sometimes doesn't want to be there, or maybe sometimes it needs to be “oiled”, but it all remains at the mercy of the mechanic. For an employer there are financial advantages, because once his employees are working from home they reduce the necessary costs and optimized the profits.

 For the employee the advantage of not going to work every day also decreases the costs for travelling between home and office and this aspect also give him the possibility of saving some precious time. For some kind of people working from home can be a very big inconvenient, because they can’t concentrate without office’s atmosphere, and they tend to relax a little too much and stop improving their work. For this category, working in an office can be for them a relief, because of the socializing environment, which is like oxygen for them, pushing them from behind.

The decision of working from home need first to be very well considered by the employer, and also by the employee, because this has many implications in many fields, such as in productivity, deadlines, psychic, and in relations with other co-workers. So it all depends on what do you think that is more common and appropriate for your type of job.
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How to prepare for a phone interview

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Use a quiet, comfortable, and private space. If you're at home, kick out the kids and the dog close the door. Also have a pad and pen ready for note-taking Turn call waiting off on your phone and be sure to use a land line, not a cell phone, whenever possible. You don't want to have to worry about static or dropped calls.
During the interview, you'll need to sound as professional as you would if you were meeting the interviewer face to face. Don't smoke, chew gum, eat, or drink while you're on the phone. Smile. Smiling will project a positive image to the listener and will change the tone of your voice. Speak slowly and enunciate clearly. Don't speak in run on sentences that will not allow the interviewer to interject or ask more questions. Use the person's title during the conversation (Mr. or Ms. and their last name.). Only use a first name if they ask you to. Otherwise, stick with the formal title.

Thank the interviewer and ask what the next steps in the process will be. Remember to send a thank you note after every interview, regardless of how it is conducted. Since you have to other option, you need to make effective use of your voice and communication skill to achieve your goal. Prepare yourself well before the interview. This will increase your level of confidence. Keep the resume in clear view, on the top of your desk, or tape it to the wall near phone, so it's at your fingertips when you need to answer questions. Have a short list of your accomplishments available to review. If you can't charge your phone fully or expect a really long interview, be sure to have a charger on hand so you can plug in while talking if need be.

Go through the company profile, subject technicalities and your resume. Write down all the possible questions which a person might feel like asking from you. Prepare answers to all those questions. Your answer should reflect your personality in positive light. Any employer looks for an honest, responsible, and confident person who is interested in the company and the vacant job profile. Do not use monosyllabic replies like "yes" or "no" Add some words to make your answer sound better. So, show all the qualities in yourself to the interviewer.

While talking to the interviewer, show your interest in joining the organization and working for the available position with determination and enthusiasm. Also, show your interest in appearing for a face to face interview. When you are done with the interview, write a short thank you letter to the person concerned in the organization. All these things are sufficient to give a positive impression of yours on the interviewer. You can wait for your next call.

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Tips for work at home employees

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For most of history, people worked very near their homes, allowing them to be in contact with their loved ones, and to keep watch over their houses and properties. It also enabled them to have a hot lunch. Today, there is a movement back towards home-based work. It allows the employee flexibility to blend his work and home life.

The work at home employee is free to stay at home to supervise tradesmen, look after his sick child, or even run his laundry. However, there are some downsides to working at home. Some people become too comfortable at home, or find the pressing concerns of the home base too distracting. Being at home to let an emergency plumber in is great, but working at home during a full renovation can be taxing. Following are some tips to maximize your efficiency while working from home. First, many experts say that it is important to have a dedicated space for your work at home. This allows you to lock your kids out while on an important call, have space for your confidential papers, and keep all your equipment up and running. For example, it's hard to be a web tech if your kid in your office fighting over who's toy is whose.

Try an out of the way room, and alert your children that you are working, and need quiet time. Another thing that is important is to clearly demarcate work time from home time. Many people find it helpful to have a special ritual to remind themselves they're working, such as putting on a work suit, or even leaving and re-entering the house at the beginning of the work day. This will remind you to keep focused on the task at hand, like writing reports or taking customer calls, rather than on the siren song of the TV in the living room. Finally, make sure to maintain an active social life outside of work. The office place provides many annoyances but also a certain degree of human companionship. Working at home may lead to feelings of isolation or loneliness. Head this off by joining a new fitness class, a book club, or even just arranging for a standing date with friends.

Make sure that you have someone to whom you can speak about frustrating work issues, something a coworker might listen to. However, you also avoid most of the issues of an office place- no more distractions from coworkers, no more catching colds from everyone's children, and best of all, no more commute. Working from home can be a godsend, but it is best to remember that work and family life should still be kept slightly separate. You want to be professional and focused at work, and of course, you don't want to take your work home with you. By following these tips for setting good boundaries, you can be very successful in a work at home technical position, or even in a call center type position.
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Steps on getting a work at home job

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There are so many offers to work at home on the Internet, and most sound too good to be true--and they usually are. However, there are many legitimate opportunities to be had, if you know where to find them. You can get work at home jobs, as long as you are willing to spend a fair amount of time sifting out the real deals from the scams.

Finding a legitimate work at home job is harder than finding a traditional job. First of all, despite all the online advertising you see, there aren't that many of them. Those that are available I would require that you live in a certain area or spend at least some time in the office. Other may be part-time of freelance, so, you will need to be continually seeking potential positions. Keep in mind that the skills needed for home employment are similar to those needed for working in an office. You needed for working and the skills necessary to do the job. You'll also need a home office with phone, fax, computer, printer, software, and other basic office equipment.

To get started, consider, for now, your job search as your job. Dedicate as many hours per week to your search for employment as you would spend working. If you're looking for full-time work, you should be spending full-time hours seeking employment. Networking remains the top way to find a job and it does work. Develop contacts - friends, family, college alumni, even the other job seekers who participate in the job Searching Discussion Forum- anyone who might help generate information and job leads. You can take a direct approach and ask for job leads or try a less formal approach and ask for information and advice. Contact everyone you know and tell them you want to work from home. You may be surprised by the people they know and the leads you can generate.

One good way to do this is to read posts on telecommuting forums. Often, people who are already working at home are willing to give advice about sorting out the good from the bad. work-at-home jobs include sites dedicated to the topic. Just Google "work at home," "telecommuting jobs," etc., and see what comes up. Steer clear of a site if it seems geared towards only one company; most legitimate sites have links to many companies, or to ads for telecommuting jobs on reputable sites like Monster or Yahoo. Landing a work-at-home job doesn't have to mean being committed to one company. Freelance work is a great way to make money from your home, especially if you have a specialized talent or skill. Writing, graphic design, voice-over work, and proofreading are just a few examples.

Some sites require a degree or experience, but many others offer the chance to get your feet wet as an amateur. Another idea is to contact local employers (including your own, if you're currently employed) to see if telecommuting is an option. Call centers; in particular, are finding that work-at-home jobs can be advantageous to their companies, as well as their employees. Since so many people would love to work at home, employers rarely need to advertise to fill these positions, and it isn't likely that you'll find them without doing some digging.
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The Advantages of Working from Home

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In today's troubled financial climate, it is difficult enough to find a job anywhere. Then, when you do eventually find one, if you are travelling any real distance the travel costs (be it due to rising train and bus fares or the increase in petrol prices) work to take a small but significant chunk from your earnings. This, combined with a multitude of other reasons, makes working from home a viable alternative, and more plausible an alternative than you'd think. Especially if you have internet access (although even if you don’t, there are possibilities as explored below).

As with everything else, the internet has changed the workings of the job market too as employers and big businesses have had to move with the times. There are many websites devoted to pointing out jobs you can do from the comfort of ones home. There will also be the occasional opportunity appearing in the actual job centre, but these are few and far between. There are “work from home” vacations to suit every skill and preference, from telephone consultancy (and other technical consultancy vocations) to freelance web content writer to mortgage underwriter, and that’s just after a brief cursory glance of the above link. As with any job, there are varying skill levels requiring different qualifications and levels of experience but working from home making use of the internet and/or the telephone is definitely a viable option for you.

There is also the added bonus of the enhanced levels of flexibility in work hours given by jobs done from the home (admittedly this is partly down to necessity). A dedicated worker with good time management skills? This is the perfect opportunity for you (it is also very difficult for traffic jams to make you late to your own house). If you are running your own business, then take note of this. While you are probably already working from home some of the time, taking on employees to work from home can cut costs attributed to various aspects of keeping the premises open, and cutting health insurance costs almost completely. There could be all sorts of reasons to work from home, ranging from the medical (mobility issues and social anxiety disorders) to the practical (cutting travel costs or needing to keep an eye on small children).

The reason you choose to work from home is unimportant, as if you are a dedicated, hard working individual with good earning capabilities then your workplace is pretty much irrelevant. The levels of people choosing to work from home, be it part time or full time, are on the increase so strike now while the iron is hot. New opportunities are opening up every second. Back to top