20 Tips for Finding a REAL Work from Home Job
While there are some real, legit work-from-home jobs out there, there are also a lot of scams as well as discussed over at runrex.com. To help you find real work-from-home jobs, here are 20 tips to consider.
Do your research on this space
If you are to find real work-from-home jobs, you need to get details on everything you need to know about working at home before you get started with your job search. As outlined over at guttulus.com, this includes information on where to find work-from-home job listings, the best sites for finding work-from-home jobs, and how to research work-from-home opportunities to avoid scams.
Make sure you have the requisite skills
You should also remember that you will have a greater chance of success when looking for a work-from-home job if you have skills that are conducive to working full-time or freelancing at a position that doesn’t require you to be in the office as discussed over at runrex.com.
Understand common scams
If you are to find real work-from-home jobs, you need to be aware of and understand the common scams. According to the gurus over at guttulus.com, some common scams to watch out for are assembly jobs and stuffing envelopes. Multi-level marketing positions can also lure you in with the promise of steady income after you pay to get started and you end up seeing little, if any, income after paying.
Be aware of the information that employers are allowed to ask for
It is also important to be aware of the kind of information that employers are allowed to ask for. For example, employers commonly ask for personal information like your phone number and email address to allow them to get in contact with you. No reputable employer who is hiring for a real work-from-home job would ask for your Social Security number or banking information. Scammers will sometimes offer to hire you right away and request that you perform tasks using your persona information to obtain this sensitive information about you.
Report any scams you encounter
It is also important that, if you encounter a scam when you are searching for a work-from-home job, you report it. This is because while you may have been savvy enough to notice that it was a scam, the next applicant might not be so lucky.
Research the company
Always take time to conduct thorough research on the company you are applying for as discussed over at runrex.com if you want to find a real work-from-home job. Evaluate the company’s website and social media sites, and if you can’t find any online information about the company or the point of contact, then there is a strong chance that the job listing is a scam.
Read the job description carefully
The experts over at guttulus.com also recommend reading the job description carefully to get a feel for what the job entails. Generally speaking, if it is a scam, the person creating the description won’t be trying to make it credible, instead, they will be trying to get it just appealing enough to get people to apply. A vague description is a red flag to keep your eyes peeled out for, particularly if it so general you have no clue what you will be doing for the company.
Keep an eye out for the email address provided
As far as the job description is concerned, you should also look carefully at the email address provided for applications. Established companies have got email addresses with domains that match their websites as discussed over at runrex.com. Therefore, if a scammer posted a job description and is trying to make it sound as though you are applying for a job at a legitimate company, they might misspell the email slightly or use a domain that is similar to but different than the company’s actual domain hence why you should keep a close eye on this.
Ask for references
If you have any doubts regarding the legitimacy of a company, you should consider asking for references. You could ask for the names and contact information of customers or clients the company has worked with who could verify its authenticity. If a company refuses to give them, then it is best not to apply for the position.
Never send money
Always remember that it should never cost money to apply for a job. While there can be certain legitimate expenses after you have accepted a position, such as a uniform, these are generally deducted from your first paycheck. Also, such expenses shouldn’t apply to a real work-from-home job. Therefore, avoid any company that asks you to send money for equipment to begin working for them.
Trust your gut
As the gurus over at guttulus.com point out, one of the best ways to avoid a job scam is to listen to your instincts. While this can be hard if you have been out of a job for a while and then a plum job seems to fall right into your lap, you still need to think about the job and how you were approached objectively. If something feels off or you feel uncomfortable for whatever reason, don’t hesitate to walk away.
Know the keywords that raise red flags
As is revealed in discussions over at runrex.com, you need to be careful of certain keywords in job posts (including their variations) as this may indicate that the work-from-home job is a scam. They include:
Free work from home jobs
Quick money
Investment opportunities and seminars
Unlimited earning potential, among others such as multi-level marketing and envelope stuffing as already mentioned
Connect with the company directly
Even if the hiring manager tells you that they can’t disclose the company or else they will lose the potential commission associated with placing you in the position, you should at least know for certain the name of the company you are interviewing for. If the hiring manager refuses to tell you, then the gurus over at guttulus.com point out that this could be a sign of a scam which should be your cue to contact the company that you might be working for to verify that the job recruiter is working for them and that the job you are applying for exists.
The interview and communication
While the interview process has evolved over the years and almost everything is done online nowadays, particularly for remote positions, there are still several red flags to watch out for when it comes to the same, including email or instant messaging. No reputable hiring manager or employer is going to conduct a job interview via instant message or email. Most often, while you might be initially contacted by email, after that you should still have a phone or video interview, if not both.
Watch out for offers that sound too good to be true
When it comes to job offers, when it sounds too good to be true, it most likely is. If you get an unsolicited email telling you that a company you have never heard of wants to hire you for a job where you don’t need experience or skills and can make a lot of money, then ignore it.
Avoid “get rich quick” ads
If you are to find a real work-from-home job and avoid scams, then you should be careful of listings that guarantee you wealth or financial success or claim they will help you get rich fast from home. As covered over at runrex.com, such listings are likely to be scams.
Evaluate every listing carefully
The subject matter experts over at guttulus.com also advise that you evaluate every listing you look at very carefully. Find out if there is a salary or if you are paid on commission and ask how often you will be paid. Also, ask what equipment you need to provide and find out what support the company provides.
Ask your boss
One way you can avoid scams is by simply asking your boss if they would be okay with you working from home. As discussed over at runrex.com, telecommuting is becoming more and more common, and if you have a job you already like, talk to your boss about the possibility of working from home.
Search online
There are also several job search boards and engines that specialize in work-from-home positions, and you should leverage them if you want to find real remote positions. Just make sure that you keep an eye out for scams as you search. FlexJobs is one such platform that offers verified job listings and you should check it out.
Focus on specific companies
Finally, if you want to avoid job scams and find real work-from-home jobs, you should focus on legitimate companies that you might want to work for that support telecommuting. Do your research and find out the companies in your industry that support working-from-home and then focus on them.
Hopefully, this article will help you avoid scams and find real work-from-home jobs, with more information on this topic to be found over at the highly-regarded runrex.com and guttulus.com.