By Stacy Mintzer Herlihy
Today's Parent Writer
In today’s increasingly expensive society, having a two-income family has gone from being a luxury to almost a necessity. For many American mothers, the question is not whether one should go to work after the birth of a baby, but when. Unfortunately, childcare can be difficult to find and expensive, and separation from a newborn can be painful for parents.
Some parents have found a compromise that lets them earn money while enabling them to supervise their children directly: the work-at-home job. A work-at-home job has many advantages, including reduced commuting costs, flexible hours and working in a familiar environment. Some companies gain from telecommuters by having a more satisfied workforce that takes up less office space.
For many parents, the hardest part of a work-at-home job is finding one. Fortunately, whether you’re looking for a full-time position with benefits or just a part-time chance to supplement your income, there are lots of opportunities out there.
Like all job hunts, the search for a work-at-home position should begin with an inventory of your skills and education. Think about what’s on your rèsumè. Do you write well? Can you sew? Are you crafty? Have you taught? Are you a people person? Do you like to sell? Do you have a master’s degree? Are you patient, organized and good with people? Every person has something to offer an employer.
One of the best places to start looking for a job is the Inter-net. The Web is a great source of information, and it’s also a place for commerce. Can you knit beautiful scarves? Are you constantly complimented on your homemade jewelry? Consider selling your products. Two great sources for buyers and sellers are eBay and Esy. EBay is the Internet’s largest retail store. Buyers bid on items in timed online auctions. Selling on eBay is easy, too.
Etsy is another Internet retail site that specializes homemade items. Study the site before you begin. Note which items are selling quickly. Check recent sale prices carefully before listing anything. A good digital camera is a must, because it will allow buyers to see exactly what they’re buying.
If you can’t sew but you can sell, you can sell other items on eBay. Thousands of people earn a nice living from dealing in everything from antiques to used clothing. Many dealers scour garage sales and church sales for items to resell on eBay. Think about your own interests. Do you love clothing? Good-quality clothing sells very well on eBay. You can visit factory outlets online and sell your treasures to buyers all over the world. If you’re not tech-savvy, there are brick and mortar stores that will sell your items on eBay for a small fee.
If you aren’t a salesperson, think about what other skills you have. Do you read books by the dozen? Were you an English major? Did you love to write term papers? Think about starting a freelance-writing career. Freelance writing can be easily done at home. Interviews can be conducted while your baby naps. Rough drafts can be created after bedtime and bathtime. Many publications accept e-mail submissions, so a trip to the post office isn’t even necessary. Google “writing markets,” and you’ll find thousands of magazines that accept submissions from freelancers.
Your education and prior career can also be beneficial. Several companies frequently hire teachers to do online tutoring. These include Sylvan Learning Centers (
http://sylvan-learning-center.com), Brainfuse (
www.brainfuse.com and
www.tutor.com.
Another terrific work-at-home option for those with advanced educational credentials is grading tests. Many standardized writing, science and math tests are graded by scorers working online at home. Tests that are graded this way include the SAT, ACT, CAHSEE and Test of English as a Foreign Language. Scorers are paid per hour or per response. The Educational Testing Service and Pearson Educational Measurement commonly hire scorers during peak scoring times. Applications for ETS can be found at
www.ets.org under the heading “scoring opportunities.” Applications for Pearson can be found at
www.flexiblescoring-act.pearson.com.
If you prefer to be your own boss, think about starting a home-based business. Many working mothers will tell you that good childcare is hard to find. If you love children, starting your own in-home day care can be a good way to bring in income without leaving the house. Check your local legislation carefully before beginning. In-home day-care providers are required to meet certain housing and staffing requirements. The chance to care for small children and babies can be rewarding. Your own children may welcome their new playmates.
Other potential home businesses can include selling Avon or having parties where you sell products at home, such as Pampered Chef.
If your family already has a business, think about offering your skills.
Paula Hanlon works part-time for her husband’s trucking company. She does everything from bookkeeping to dispatching to preparing tax records. Her work saves her company thousands of dollars each year.
But you don’t necessarily need to own your own home business to be an at-home assistant. A good place to find work is with local businesses. Contact them, leave a resume and talk up your skills.
Many companies need workers to do tasks that can easily be done at home, such as word processing. At-home assistants are called “virtual assistants.” There are several online companies that connect workers with companies seeking skilled at-home workers. These include
www.virtualassistants.com and
www.teamdoubleclick.com .
Certain companies specialize in providing customer service. These companies hire people to work at home taking orders for everything from flowers to pizza. A second phone line is often required, but hours are flexible. Applications can be submitted online. Work can be part-time or full-time. Shifts are often available at night and on weekends.
Among the companies hiring at-home phone workers are
www.liveops.com,
www.arise.com,
www.westathome.com, and
www.workingsol.com.
The right work-at-home job can help you earn a living, provide satisfaction and let you live your dream of being a stay-at-home mom.
