Do you hate to drag yourself into a boring old office every day? Do you crave the luxury of dictating your own terms at work? It's not too late, work at home and feel like a million dollars (and perhaps earn them too!) Bet you're saying it's too good to be true.
When you first start to look for a work at home job, don't be discouraged by the tough competition among applicants.
There are lots of opportunities in numerous fields that can fit your profile.
At the same time, don't fall for the inevitable "get rich quick" line.
Working from home can be rewarding, provided you do a bit of soul searching first.
And that means asking the following: What are my interests? What kind of job would I like to do? Thousands of companies outsource work to home based partners these days.
Jobs include data entry, copywriting, filling spreadsheets, web and graphic design, translation, transcription and more.
If you like some of these, here are certain things you should watch out for.
We call them the 5 sure ways of getting into a mess! Not looking at alternatives.
There are tons of online or printed resources that provide good advice on how to go about finding a suitable work at home opportunity.
Do your research thoroughly and shortlist different options.
This not only means considering various types of jobs, but also the way you'd like to start shop.
For example, do you want to go it alone, or cast your lot with a franchiser? You can find useful ideas at sites like and Not doing your homework.
Beware of misleading superlatives like "fastest growing company in XYZ" especially when used by unheard of firms.
Find out exactly who you're dealing with before entering a professional relationship.
Let go of them like a hot potato if they dodge your questions.
Believing in easy money.
There are no free lunches, period.
A successful work at home career also requires time, hard work and skill.
Any exaggerated promises of quick profits may well lead to disaster.
Not testing the waters: Probe for more information about the clients.
Say for example, you're considering an online medical transcription job.
Speak with doctors in your area to ascertain whether they actually outsource such jobs to people working out of home.
In case you know people who are already doing this kind of work, talk to them about what it's like.
Be sure to inquire about how they get paid.
If you could do a trial before taking a final decision, that might prove invaluable.
Jumping the gun: In some cases, even a work at home job may require you to acquire a license or additional qualification.
It is advisable to check with the state attorney general's office about any restrictions in your chosen field of work, before plunging headlong.
Once you've satisfied yourself on all counts, back yourself to the hilt! Few things are as personally fulfilling as a work at home career.