Untapped Telecommuting Resources

by Leslie Truex

Published on this site: October 6th, 2005 - See more articles from this month

The Internet has made working at home easier and more accessible to people. It allows companies to hire the very best workers regardless of where they live. But often, people who are looking for these jobs fail to tap into one of the best telecommuting job resources: the local community. In fact, premium telecommuting positions are more likely to be found in small local businesses. These jobs include the highly coveted typing or data entry work, office support, and customer service jobs.

Here are some tips to finding or creating a work-at-home job in your own backyard.

1. Internet- The Internet is a fantastic resource for finding local work IF you know where to look and how to avoid scams. To find local telecommuting jobs, stick to job searches in your local area. Most job search sites such as Monster.com and Careerbuilder.com give you the option search by state and even city; however, a better bet is to use job search sites that are specific to your area. My very favorite site for finding telecommuting jobs in specific communities is Craigslist.org. Choose a city and then the “Job” search function. Craigslist.org even has a box you can check to search only “Telecommuting” jobs. Most telecommuting jobs posted on Craiglist.org require a local resident but still give the flexibility of working at home. You still need to watch out for scams and biz ops disguised as jobs. Remember, there is never a fee for legitimate employment.
   
2. Local Classifieds – Although you aren’t likely to find jobs advertised as “telecommuting” in your local newspaper, local classified ads are still a good resource for finding work-at-home jobs. Look for jobs in your “help wanted” classified ads that you are capable of doing that could also be done from home. Prepare a resume and cover letter, as you would for any job however, propose a telecommuting option (see proposal below) as part of your submission. Beware of ads with 800# and as always, if there is a fee, it’s not a job.
   
3. Yellow Pages – The very best telecommuting position I ever got was found through the yellow pages. My background is in social work and when my sister told me her adoption social worker was a contact worker I thought, “I could do that.” I used my phonebook yellow pages to find adoption agencies in my area. I mailed a resume and cover letter outlining a work-at-home proposal to eight adoption agencies in my state. One contacted and hired me. You could do the same for your area of expertise.

The key to getting a local company to consider a home-based worker is to focus on the benefits telecommuting offers the employer. Employers don’t care about your childcare hassles or commute. If you can show them that they get more for their money by using a home-based worker, then you will have an active listener.

When you write, send your resume but include a cover letter that not only outlines your skills but also the benefits of telecommuting.

Here are some areas to cover:

1. Outline your qualities and experience that would make you a good candidate for the job.
   
2. List the benefits of telecommuting including increased productivity, savings on real estate and equipment, and decreased absenteeism and burnout.
   
3. Detail any cost savings the arrangement may offer such as reduced benefits. Some companies are eligible for government funding based on their telecommuting programs. Research federal and state incentives available to companies for encouraging telecommuting and mention them in your letter.
   
4. List any equipment or resources you currently have available to you such as a second phone line, computer, manuals etc.
   
5. Indicate how you can be contacted (phone, fax, etc).
   
6. Include information on how you will deal with meetings, deadlines, office activities and emergencies.

Be sure to follow-up your letter with a phone call. When talking to the employer, be professional and focus on how you can help the company.

Telecommuting is growing significantly. Small, local based companies are at the forefront of this growth. You can tap into this great resource of home-based jobs by using the ideas and strategies above to create your own telecommuting arrangement.

Leslie Truex is a work-at-home consultant and author of Jobs At Home: A Complete Guide to Finding or Creating a Work-At-Home Job. Sign up for the 5 Day eJobs At Home eCourse to learn how you can find legitimate work from home. http://www.jobsathomesuccess.com