There are many jobs that enable you to comfortably work from home. The key is deciding what jobs are legitimate and what jobs could potentially be a scam.

Work-from-home jobs are especially significant to those who value a flexible schedule. For example, a stay-at-home mother can earn some extra income from the comfort of her own home. Or a college student may work as a virtual assistant from her dorm room while attending class during the day. A consultant may work on projects freely and with little restraints.

But there are also drawbacks to these jobs. Some people who work from home have trouble staying motivated. Others complain that the job can be lonely without companionship from colleagues. Some may have problems troubleshooting technology issues, installing software, or navigating tricky websites without a help desk.

Despite these negatives there are many positive aspects about jobs from home. For example you can wear whatever you want, including pajamas, if you so choose. You can also work wherever you want, provided you have access to the Internet if needed. Many consultants choose to work from coffee shops, where they can be near people, have access to food and drink, and still get their work done.

Another advantage to working from home is the ability to take vacations more regularly than someone who is confined to two weeks a year. It is not uncommon for someone who works from home to be able to take a Monday or a Tuesday off to enjoy a day trip or even take off a month at a time to go on extended trips.

If you choose to search for a job that will let you work from home, it's important to be educated on how to detect scams. A scam is a job posting that lures you in with the promise of great things, but then asks for money up front for training, manuals, or software. More than likely if a company asks you to pay for your own tools, it is a scam.

There are other ways to uncover scams. Unfortunately there are many scams posted on job boards, so finding them is actually very easy. The hard part is uncovering the trickier ones that can be more difficult to spot.

Promising large amounts of money is another indicator of a scam. Oftentimes these companies will promise exorbitant amounts of money, even thousands of dollars a week.

Another red flag is a lack of information about the job. Vague references to making a lot of money and even saying within the job description that this is not a scam is most likely an indicator that the job is not legitimate.

If the job posting does not have a detailed job description and a summary about the company, or the job posting link takes you to a questionnaire that does not ask relevant job interview questions, it is probably a scam.

If the company hires you but asks you to pay for tools up front, this is probably a scam as well. Very few companies would actually ask their employees to pay for tools related to their training.

Before you apply for jobs that allow you to work from home, perform research on the company. Searching the Better Business Bureau database for complaints or doing a quick Google search are both good ways to check a company's reputation.

It's also a good idea to ascertain if there is a market for the work that is being advertised. If you are making a craft that is being lauded as the greatest thing to hit the Internet since Facebook, the company is probably exaggerating. Ask to speak with some of the company's clients or customers to ensure you are working on a sought-after product.

There are great jobs that allow you to work from home, but there are also many scams. For every legitimate work from home job, there are probably a dozen schemes. It is important to do your research and remain vigilant when applying for these jobs. Never give out your information unless you have checked the company's reputation. Always call and speak to a person at the company before giving out your information online. WIth these tips, you will be well on your way to finding a job working from home.