Home Employment | Home Job

Tough financial times are upon us. The economy is rebounding, yet unemployment is sky high and doesn’t seem to be correcting itself very quickly. If you have been job hunting without success for more than a few months, you are probably very discouraged. Once pessimism sets in, it’s even harder to get hired. Employers seem to smell desperation from a mile away.

Is Your Job Hunt Complete?

Before even considering home employment, make sure you have covered all the job hunting bases. If you’ve spent any time researching the best way to find a job, you know the drill. I won’t bore you with the details. All I ask is that you honestly evaluate whether or not you have committed to the process of finding a job.

Job Hunting Checklist:

• Targeting Employers – Businesses get hundreds of resumes for every opening. Sending resumes to jobs that aren’t a good fit is just creating busy work for yourself.
• Spending Enough Time – Job hunting is a job in itself. Are you putting in your time?
• Networking. People find jobs through people.
• Not Limiting Your Search – Most jobs are found through networking. Still, searching want ads and the internet must be exploited.
• Follow up – Many companies ask that you don’t contact them. If you’re networking, you still might get the name and number of a person inside.
• Resume Review – Not getting interviews? It’s really a good idea to have a professional look at your resume and cover letter.
• Thank You Note – It’s old fashioned but still a good idea. It should be hand written, of course.
• Follow Up (Again) – After the interview and thank you note, call the person with whom you interviewed.
• Ask Why – When you find out you are not the chosen candidate, ask why. Let them know that you want to increase your chances for getting hired for the next job.

Pros and Cons of Home Employment

If you have followed the above job hunting checklist, exhausted all avenues of traditional job hunting and still find yourself unemployed, you may be considering a home job. There are many home employment avenues available. However, it’s not something to jump into quickly. Review the advantages and disadvantages carefully. Just like any other job, it must be a good fit for your success.

Top 5 Advantages Of Home Employment:

Advantage #1: Setting Your Own Schedule. Nine-to-five doesn’t work for everyone. Being able to work when you are most productive and schedule down time, breaks and vacations when you need them lessens stress and increases overall happiness.

Advantage #2: Increased productivity. There are so many distractions in an office environment, from phones, chatty co-workers and endless meetings, to downtime looking for a file someone misplaced. It is much easier to stay focused without the interruptions.

Advantage #3: Reduced sickness. Not only are people who work from home less exposed to colds, flu and other communicable diseases, they tend to eat healthier.

Advantage #4: No Commute. The time saved in commuting can be put to productive use. Even a few extra minutes of sleep can add to productivity and creativity.

Advantage #5: Control Over Income. The phrase, “you get out of it what you put into it” comes to mind. Rather than putting in time in order to climb a set pay structure, people who work from home control income through quality and quantity of work.

Top 5 Disadvantages of Home Employment

Disadvantage #1: Unpredictable Work. While chances are that you can get a full-time, permanent position, many stay-at-home jobs are projects for which you contract. Once the project is complete, you’ll need to find another. Over time, and with careful management of your reputation as a contractor, having continuous projects becomes easier. In the beginning, however, you may find that there is a time lapse between the end of one project and landing the next.

Disadvantage #2: You Must Be Highly Disciplined. It is easy to become distracted when working from home. Family demands and household tasks can distract even the most dedicated.

Disadvantage #3: Self Managed Benefits. No longer do you have the human resources department to manage health and life insurance, in addition to retirement, benefits. Also, there are no paid holidays, sick leave or vacation. Additionally, working as a contractor means that you have to pay self-employment taxes and quarterly estimated taxes.

Disadvantage #4: Isolation. Not having interruptions from coworkers is priceless. However, the social interaction and friendly competition keep some people motivated. You may have to become creative to keep these aspects of working in an office alive while not allowing it to infringe on productivity.

Disadvantage #5: Gap in Your Resume. If you decide to re-enter the job market, working from home may be perceived as a gap by potential employers, making it even more difficult to find a job.

A Home Job is Not For Everyone

Working from home is not for everyone. If you have the discipline, skills and motivation to work at home, then home employment may be the answer to your unsuccessful job search.

If you are up to the challenge, and reward, of a home job, Home Job Group can help. Home Job Group is helping thousands of people like you find real jobs, with no fees, that you can do from home.