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March 24, 2015 0 Comments

3 Tips to Help You Get by While Looking for a Home-Based Job

Whether you’re working as a temp or just waiting to apply for the right job, millions of Americans simply need to keep a roof over their heads until paychecks start rolling in again. Surviving between jobs comes down to discipline, cost-cutting and stretching what you do have to weather the storm. These three tips to help you get by while looking for a home-based job.

Make a Budget

A 2013 Gallup poll found that 67 percent of American households do not have a monthly household budget. The saying goes those who fail to plan, plan to fail, and that certainly rings true when it comes to getting by while unemployed.

First take a financial inventory. Write down all of your monthly bills to figure out what needs to be paid to maintain a minimal standard of living. Now go through everything and figure out how to reduce the monthly obligations. Consider placing a classified ad for a roommate to cut your rent payments. Lower your utility bills by unplugging all appliance and electronics when not in use. Cable or satellite television should either be eliminated completely or reduced to the least expensive package available.

Technology makes it easy to adhere to your new budget. Install a personal finance app like Mint.com or You Need A Budget on your smartphone. These apps enable you to digitally track all expenditures and warn you when you stray from your commitments. Both Mint and YNAB also recommend financial products based on the information you enter.

Generate Income

When employment is hard to come by, you’ll need to get creative to supplement your savings. Try these ideas:

Sell things you no longer need or use. Old clothing can be taken to consignment shops, while your old set of golf clubs can be sold on Craigslist.

Able-bodied individuals with a car can register for work on TaskRabbit. The mobile app matches you with people in your city who need odd-jobs done around their home or office. The more you’re willing to do (i.e., rake leaves, data entry, etc.), the more opportunities you’ll have.

Lyft is another money-making app. Register as a driver and you become part of a community that gives people rides for flat fares.

If you receive regular payments from an annuity or structured settlement, you may be able to sell your future payments to a company like J.G. Wentworth for a lump sum of cash now.
Another option is to participate in clinical studies. Some pay upward of five figures for participants. But keep in mind, the more it pays, the more risk that is likely involved. Make sure to do thorough research.

Prepare for the Future

The one positive that comes from extended employment is a lot of free time. Enroll in courses at an online or local community college. Those enrolled at least half-time are eligible for both Pell grants and student loans. Virtually all medical-related careers, including home health aides, dental hygienists and sonographers, will be in high demand through 2020, according to the Labor Department. All of the aforementioned require only a two-year degree. Computer science and networking courses will also position you for high-demand jobs.

Prolonged unemployment is just another one of life’s great challenges that test your mettle. A positive attitude and commitment to a plan will maximize your chances of gainful employment sooner rather than later. When you use these three tips to help you get by while looking for a home-based job, you’ll soon find yourself armed and ready when you and that job finally meet.

Check out these other great articles about home based jobs as a work from home professional. Also check out our current job postings for mom professionals.

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December 29, 2014 0 Comments

How to Work From Home in the New Year

It’s the time for resolutions, new goals, and aspirations for the upcoming year. It’s the perfect time to take strides in achieving our dreams and goals. For moms, it’s time to create a new year resolution to work from home. For many people, working from home seems like a far away dream that will never truly happen. This doesn’t have to be the case, and you can work your way into a profitable, flexible home-based position!

With a few simple tips, you can be well on your way to working from home, and it doesn’t have to take months and months. By going about it strategically and getting your mind in the right place, you can find a job that fits your lifestyle, skills and expertise.

  • Search in the Right Places: There are numerous sites out there offering home-based positions. Many of them are legitimate and can truly help you find your ideal work from home job. Be sure to do your research on the sites you’re using, and always consider the source of the employers and positions on the site. At HireMyMom.com, employers are individually reviewed and vetted, making the jobs and companies far more legitimate.
  • Change Your Mindset: It’s a common belief that finding legitimate home-based work is challenging and time-consuming. While this is partially true because any job search can be tedious, it does not mean it’s impossible. Go into your work from home job search with a positive, open attitude and watch what happens! When you align your actions with a positive mindset, the opportunities are endless. Check out our current work from home job posts on HireMyMom.com. 
  • Set Aside Your Time: Create time and space in your life to dedicate to the home-based job search. If it’s truly your goal to work from home, it has to become part of your routine for a while. When you have specified time each day to conduct your search, it’s easier to stay organized and proactive about finding the right positions. Put down 30 minutes in your calendar each day to revise your resume, search for jobs, and apply for the right ones.
  • Highlight It: Your resume can be a big asset in your ability to find home-based work! If you’re coming from an office job, highlight the aspects of your past jobs and experiences that would lend themselves well to a home-based position. For example, if you often interview or chat with clients over Skype or conference call, mention those things. Anything that would be a common task in your home-based job is something that needs to be mentioned in your resume and a later interview.
  • Don’t Give Up: Make a new year resolution to work from home in 2015! A resolution can be tough to stick with, but it’s worth it for the results and opportunities. Any job search takes time, but working from home is truly worth it, if it’s one of your goals. Take the time to make your search count, and be sure you’re sending high quality materials (resumes, cover letters, etc.) to represent the best version of yourself. Add a positive mindset to your past experiences, continue to search, and be open to new possibilities for home-based work!

Check out these other great articles about home-based jobs as a work from home professional. Also check out our current job postings for mom professionals.

(Image courtesy of gubgib at FreeDigitalPhotos.net)

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September 4, 2014 0 Comments

Five Terrific Jobs for Moms

As a mom, you may want or need to work outside of the home. While you may be qualified for all sorts of positions, you are hoping to find one that gives you the ability to bring in some much-needed income while still having enough flexibility to be there for your kids when they need you — and even when they don’t. With this in mind, the following five jobs for moms are ideal for those who would prefer not to work a typical 9 to 5 schedule:

Real estate agent

Real estate agents usually set their own hours, but they also work some odd times like on weekends and nights, SheKnows notes. If your spouse works a traditional schedule, this can be an ideal situation because chances are good at least one of you will always be home with the kiddos and you won’t have to spend some of your hard-earned money on daycare. Some Realtor moms just list a couple houses at a time, so that they can still devote a lot of their days to their family.

Small business owner

Do your friends freak out when they see the gorgeous postcard-worthy photos you post on Facebook? Are your cupcakes or cinnamon rolls legendary in your neighborhood? It may be possible to turn your talent into a money-making venture by opening up a small business right from home. You can set up a website that sells your products or services, and spread the word via social media and word of mouth that you are now available to shoot family portraits, or pet sit, or cater birthday parties. If you are super crafty, you might also find that a website like Etsy is a terrific place to open your own store on the Internet.

Insurance agent

The insurance industry is great for moms who want to telecommute. Many different companies have jobs that allow people to work from home. Insurance agents also tend to have an entrepreneurial spirit that can be very appealing to moms who are also looking for some freedom in their schedules. Lead aggregation services like Quote Wizard enable moms to pursue life insurance business opportunities in between dropping the kids off and picking them up from school.

School teacher

As Business News Daily notes, working at a school is the perfect way for a mom to be on the same schedule as her kids. In an ideal world, you might also be able to find a position at the same school your kids attend. If you do not want to work as a teacher, there are still plenty of other openings in schools that are ideal for moms; these include working in the school’s library, being a lunchroom and playground aide, assisting in the front office, and being a teacher’s assistant.

Pharmacist

Careers in the pharmaceutical industry can be ideal for working moms who are looking for job flexibility. As Forbes notes, the positions offer an outstanding balance between working and home life, and they typically offer a great salary and benefits.

These are just a few flexible jobs for moms seeking something different than the corporate world.

Check out these other great articles about home-based jobs as a work from home professional. Also check out our home-based job descriptions and current job postings for mom professionals.

 

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June 11, 2014 0 Comments

Keys to Getting a Virtual Call Center Job

Many people have asked me how they can get a virtual call center job from home.  Others have advised they were not hired though their skills matched those requested.  Unlike a call center building, virtual centers have an unlimited area in which to recruit meaning there are 100s seeking the same position as you.  The odds of getting a job change from 1 out of 2 at a center to 1 out of 50 for virtual call center.  Below are seven keys to getting a call center job as a virtual agent.

  • Be professional and smile when you speak with the recruiter.  Although it seems silly, the truth is your voice is friendlier while smiling.  This is very important when the recruiter is sitting 500 miles away and only “knows” you through the phone.  Note the recruiter has 100s of applications to fill very few spots.  You want to shine above the rest.  The recruiter is not your friend and is choosing people who will make her/him look good.  Your professionalism is important.
  • Practice, practice, practice answering questions on the phone with a friend.  Be sure the friend is articulate and honest.  You will need to answer with authority, at the correct sound level, and again, with a SMILE.  It isn’t as easy as it seems, so don’t be afraid to practice.
  • Know your computer.   You will be expected to know how to open several browsers at one time and easily search the internet for answers while speaking with the interviewer.  Remember, this is an interview for speaking with the companies callers, and everything you do should reflect capability, understanding, and quality.
  • Be compassionate and empathize with the caller. “I’m sorry you are having this problem.”  “I’m sorry you had to call for an answer.”  “I’m sorry for ___”  This is the number one reason people do NOT get a virtual call job.  You must show you will be empathetic with the caller.  It does not matter who is at fault, who doesn’t understand, or who performed the negative issue.  Your job is to tell the customer you are sorry for the problem and immediately advise you will be “happy to help them”.  There will be several recruiting questions that are tied to the above, so practice this with your friend.  Make it automatic.  Many potential agents think they didn’t cause the problem so why should they say sorry.  Because that is YOUR job, so be prepared to do it

Caller … I dropped my computer on the floor and it does not work.

Agent … I am sorry you are having this problem.  I will be glad to help you.

Caller … I have called several times and the issue is not resolved.

Agent … I am sorry you are having this problem.  I will be happy to help you.

Caller … My dog ate the owner’s manual.

Agent … I am sorry this happened to you.  I will be happy to help you.

Get it? Do it!

  • Answer questions honestly and succinctly.   A good answer is complete but does not need to be long.  Plan on every question taking no more than 2 sentences to answer.  When an answer becomes longer, it wanders off topic and brings up questions in the recruiter’s mind.  You want to answer the question and then stop.  Silence is your friend.  If the recruiter needs more information (Can you give me an example?) then give a short example.
  • Prepare for the trick questions:  Why do you want to work for us? And tell me your worst personality trait (or something like that).  The first answer should refer to how much you enjoy working with and helping people.  The second question is a trick, so never fall for it.  You need to answer this with a positive trait like … My worst quality is that I love to work many hours and have a hard time saying ‘No’ when asked to work more.  Or, “I have a personality of a fixer because I always want to solve people’s problems.”
  • Always have a question available at the end.  The interview will end with the recruiter asking if you have any questions.  This is your chance to ask pertinent questions ie “Will I be able to work additional hours?”  “I am interested in this company as a career, will there be chances for advancement?”  These types of questions are very positive in the recruiter’s eyes because they refer to areas that help the company.  Never ask about vacation, benefits, or money.  These items can be discussed once you get the position.

Good luck.  Be positive, professional, most of all smile during the interview. If you follow these instructions, you will stand out among applications and be able to secure a virtual call center job while working from home.

~~~~~~~~~

Backus and Associates provides consulting services for companies who are investigating or launching virtual call centers.  Our 10 years of experience managing within the virtual setting enables Backus and Associates to bring the needed expertise for planning and initiating a virtual culture including: executive planning sessions; management training; agent surveys/meetings; and Operations, IT, Recruiting, and Training preparation.  Backus and Associates partners with management to design a virtualization plan and follow through with the implementation processes.  Backus and Associates also assists companies who currently have virtual programs with the goal of increasing quality and agent performance while removing areas that reduce program success.  Contact is … bill@backusandassociates.com.  Visit the website at … www.backusandassociates.com

Check out these other great articles about home-based jobs as a work from home professional. Also check out our home-based job descriptions and current job postings for mom professionals.

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