Navigating the Telecommuting Job Market: A Comprehensive Guide

Breaking into Telecommuting

The most effective way to transition into a telecommuting role is to find an office job that can be performed remotely. This approach allows you to build a reputation as a self-motivated, dependable, and professional worker. Jobs that are information-based and require minimal face-to-face interaction are ideal. Additionally, roles that are physically portable—meaning all necessary tasks can be performed over a phone line—are also suitable.

Telecommuting is particularly well-suited to the following job categories:

• Advertising & Marketing
• Architectural and Computer Aided Design
• Artists and Writers
• Billing and Collections
• Credit and Collections
• Customer Service
• Clerical and Secretarial
• Data Entry and Transcription
• Engineering
• Photography
• Programmers and Database Administrators
• Sales
• Telemarketers
• Translators
• Web Designers and Developers

Making a Good Impression

Whether you're interacting in person or online, your cover letter and resume are crucial. They are your primary tools when searching for and applying for jobs online. Your cover letter should clearly communicate what you can offer the employer and what you're seeking in a job. Remember, your desires and the job's offerings must align, or you won't be considered. Your resume should be comprehensive and accurately reflect your ability to perform the job's tasks. Tailoring your resume to each opportunity can enhance your presentation and show employers your capabilities.

Finding Opportunities

Finding a job is straightforward—there are thousands of job sites on the web. However, efficiently searching through them all can be a daunting task. Here are some steps to streamline your job search:

• Create a daily task list outlining your job-search activities.
• Post your resume on several reputable job sites. Use the site's job agents to help you find suitable roles.
• Keep a record of all employers you contact, including the date of contact, the people you interact with, and any relevant notes.
• Apply to multiple companies on each job site to save time.
• Always have a ready-to-upload resume and cover letter for any potential leads.
• Follow up on leads immediately.
• Inform your network that you're job hunting. Stay in touch with friends and contacts and follow up on new leads promptly.

Useful Job Search Sites

Many job sites replicate data from other sites, leading to duplicate job postings. To avoid this, stick to a few primary search resources. Some beneficial sites include:

• eWork
• eLance
• FreetimeJobs
• Workaholics4Hire
• Guru.com
• IC Planet
• Jobvertise
• Headhunter
• Monster
• Net-Temps
• Brassring
• JobOptions

Other Resources

USENET newsgroups are another valuable resource, containing thousands of postings across a wide range of topics. Google provides a searchable front-end to USENET. WebFerret and NewsFerret by FerretSoft and Copernic by Copernic Technologies are also useful tools for web and newsgroup searches.

Making Yourself Known

Many employers search for potential employees on various job boards. Ensure you have an up-to-date resume posted on these sites. Some successful sites for acquiring jobs through resume postings include eWork, Dice, Guru.com, Headhunter.net, Net-Temps, and Monster.com.

The Interview

Before an interview, research the company thoroughly. If the company doesn't have a web presence, they're unlikely to support telecommuting. Prepare a summary of the company and some job-related questions. This shows the interviewer that you've done your homework.

Landing the Job

While many employers may initially insist on in-office work, this isn't always necessary. Remember, you're seeking a telecommuting opportunity, so don't feel compelled to accept every job offer. Keep moving forward in your search, and you'll find the perfect telecommuting job.