How to Work From Home Legitimately

You have seen the ads: “Crazy Coot” says you’d be crazy not to work from home and make $500, $1,000 or even $6,000 every week. Believe it or not, Crazy Coot is selling you a package of goods that lets him make $500, $1,000 or even $6,000 every week. But you--not necessarily. You can work from home legitimately, and it doesn’t involve clicking ads or selling Crazy Coot’s program to others.

Instructions

1. Gather information. Read articles about jobs you can do from home. They’re everywhere--popular news sites, job and career search sites--all offer lists of legitimate careers you can pursue from your home. A Web search using the search string “10 jobs at home” will give you a long list of articles from respected sources. Read them.

2. Run yourself through an interest inventory and skills assessment. You don’t need a Ph.D. to do this; just ask yourself, “What do I really like to do? What skills do I have? How can I combine the two to earn money from home?” Once you have discovered one or two jobs that you can do from home, take a look at the "Occupational Outlook Handbook" to get a clearer picture of the requirements for the job (see Resources below).

3. Determine if your home is set up for this career shift. Do you have space to create a home office? Is your shop big enough, with the right tools, to do the woodworking or metal working you’re thinking about? You will find it much easier to succeed if you’re properly equipped from the outset.

4. Set your alarm, rise and shine every morning and “go to work.” If you find it difficult to think of yourself as a professional when you’re wearing fuzzy bunny slippers and sweats, put on business clothes. Have office hours, post them and put them on your voice-mail message and your website.

5. Create a professional website to advertise your business. No silliness or schemes--just the lowdown on the work you do, your credentials and the satisfied clients you have worked with.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't fall for "work from home" schemes that sound too good--they may not work to your advantage.