Not all of these companies may be hiring at the moment, but here's a great place to start if you're looking for places to apply! Best of luck and happy hunting!
**UPDATE** The list has been updated as of 1/12/2009 and all links should be current.
1-800-Contacts - Unless noted in the Job Description, only applicants within a 50 mile radius of Draper, UT will be considered for employment.
1-800-FLOWERS – Can be seasonal.Customer Service, take orders.
...as a WAHM. What needs to be done around the home to make life easier when you're working from home? Well, that's for many different blog topics. Running across a blog today made me think of cooking. And made me want to get a list together because I'm Crock-Potting this week! I ran across a message board post that linked to this terrific new blog that's my new favorite - A Year of CrockPotting. She's posting pics anc recipes - it's terrific!
The Crock Pot is a wonderful thing and I can't imagine my kitchen without one...or two. Wait...I have three, technically - though one is the cute little mini one that's great for dips at parties. I thought they were fabulous when I was working full-time outside the home but since being full time at home I've discovered it's even better. I get to work while smelling this incredibly simple, yummy dinner cooking. I've been wanting to find new recipes to try and this blog is going to be such a help to me! Yay!
I just want to throw general kudos out there to all you blogging WAHMs who share with the world some really great tips, ideas, laughs and bits of your lives. It's so much fun to find something new every day!
Have you heard yet about online surveys and market research focus groups?There are ads all over the Internet for surveys companies.The trick is to know how to tell which opportunities and which are legitimate.Legitimate surveys come from companies wanting to know what consumers think about their products, their new product ideas, what your frustrations are so they can develop products that will sell.Some of these surveys will come directly from the companies, while many companies large and small opt to hire market research companies to conduct the surveys.You will find opportunities for online surveys, telephone surveys, in-person interviews and focus groups.
Legitimate companies do not charge you to join in order to get surveys.There are so many free companies that pay, so there is no sense in wasting your time paying a membership fee or paying for a list of companies.
Online Surveys
Online surveys can pay out in checks, PayPal, Gift Cards/Certificates, or points to exchange for cash, merchandise or gift certificates.Get signed up with these companies and enjoy a lot of “fun money” and things.I’ve gotten everything from cash, Amazon.com certificates, Target gift cards, Starbucks gift cards, gift cards from restaurants and stores, to household items like a Bissel carpet cleaner.Once you start getting checks in the mail, packages and gift certificates in your email you’ll be hooked on surveys!
Most surveys are fairly short – 20 minutes or less, and these ones pay anywhere from $1 - $5 on average.The more of these you complete, the more likely you will be to get chosen for a focus group.Focus groups are online sessions that last usually anywhere from 30 minutes to a couple hours and pay up to $150, sometimes more.
How do I get started?
Open a free email account at Yahoo, Gmail or another service that you use exclusively for surveys.The reason I recommend this is that once you sign up, along with surveys, you may be receiving some “junk” email.While I’ve found the vast majority of the companies don’t send junk mail, as you learn, you may give out your email to a place that sells email addresses.
Open a PayPal account. PayPal is an option that many survey companies use for payment.If you don’t already have an account, sign up.It’s a terrific service that’s free.You can also apply for a debit card from them for easy access to your cash.
Start a spreadsheet. Not required, but I highly encourage it as it will allow you to see what you’re earning and keep track of payments due and/or points you accumulate.Put as much or as little information as you want to track.I do a list by survey date, company, survey topic, payment amount, payment method and date payment received.
Keep a PAPER notebook. This is for your login name and password information for your email and survey accounts.It’s best not to keep those on your computer incase you ever get hacked.
Start signing up for companies! Start with some on the following list, and continue searching the internet for more opportunities.There are many sites and blogs out there that list these companies for free.
Check your mail.Once you sign up, you’ll receive email invitations to participate in surveys.Many of the companies also have web sites where you can log in, see your points or cash balance, request pay outs and take more surveys.Check your email daily or several times a day if you have time, and log into the sites at least once a week.
Get paid!Some companies pay via PayPal per survey, meaning you will get a PayPal payment shortly after completing the survey.Other companies have pay out thresholds where they will pay you when you reach $5, $10, $20 etc.Check each company’s policy to see how their pay outs word.
Here are my current favorite survey companies.Many of the blogs and links in my favorites also have lists of similar companies.
So you’re ready to take on the adventure of working from home? Here are some things I’ve learned through years of various experience working telecommuting and freelance jobs.
Get organized to write your resume and cover letter. For your resume: List of all jobs you’ve had (include any freelance work) and dates you worked there List of software programs you’ve worked with List of accomplishments at jobs List of references – at least 3 people you’ve worked with or know you well and you know will speak highly of you if asked. Here are some free basic resume templates you can use with Microsoft Word.
For your cover letter: Start with a basic template you can customize for each employer. Give a quick introduction and highlight the skills you have that make you a fit for the job. Employers go through hundreds of cover letters, so make yours short, sweet and to the point. If you have little experience, highlight the qualities you have that make you a good candidate.
Find companies who hire telecommuters. There are many online sources to find work at home job listings. Because there is such a demand for telecommuting jobs, con artists from all over the world have made it their mission to use that desperation to prey on unsuspecting newbies to the online work at home world. So before you start your search – a word of caution: Totally check out a company, business or individual who wants to hire you. Ask a lot of questions. Make sure it’s legitimate before you give up your personal information or before starting any work.
Avoid scams by using common sense. Be wary if: they offer a lot of money for a little work, they ask you to use your personal bank account to make transactions for the company, they ask you to receive packages and re-ship them. These are just some of the scams out there. Get to know others who work from home and share information.
Now – back to the search!
Use all the regular job search portals like Monster, Careerbuilder, HotJobs, CraigsList and enter search terms like telecommute, work from home, virtual office, home office, independent contractor etc. Connect on work from home forums like WAHM.com and WorkPlaceLikeHome.com with other people who are both searching for work and those who are currently working from home.
I found job listings, now what? Find out about the companies with which you want to apply. Hiring managers appreciate when a candidate has taken the time to understand what a company is about and the type of people they want to attract. Check out the company website, read the mission statement, look for links that include information about their customers, ask around to see if other people have had experience with the company.
Next, write down some questions you have for the person who interviews you. Remember, your time is worth something and you are interviewing these companies as much as they are interviewing you.
Follow the Instructions This is KEY to getting the job. Each job listing or lead you find should have some sort of contact instructions. Whatever they ask, do that. If the ad says email for more information, then email for more information. If it says go to their website and complete the online application, do that. Follow their instructions to the letter and the chances of your application getting the attention it deserves go way up!
Follow Up Once you’ve followed their instructions on how to apply first you need to relax! These things can take time. Give it a week at least before a brief follow-up email or phone call. Again – follow instructions! If the ad said “no phone calls,” do not call them. Some companies take the time to send “regrets” to everyone who applies, some don’t. If you follow up and don’t hear back, just put it on the back burner.
Getting the Interview Ok, they liked your resume and cover letter and called you for an interview. Be prepared. Make sure to be on time – verify the time zone of the person who will be calling you. Have your questions ready, have your resume and cover letter in front of you, then just have fun. Let your personality show through over the phone. They can hear a smile in your voice, and employers love that!
After the Interview Send a quick “thank you” note to the person who interviewed you. Always good to make a good parting impression as much as the first impression!
Most Importantly……if you’re new to working from home, spend a LOT of time researching, reading and learning. There are many experienced home-workers out there who share great information. Listen to their success stories and learn from their mistakes. Ask a lot of questions. Sooner than you realize, you’ll have your first telecommuting job!
Have you seen a posting like this at craigslist or on other job boards?
Help needed for at Home Online Processing! Earn an extra $500-700/wk Reply to: job-526134312@craigslist.org Date: 2008-01-02, 12:45PM MST
This position is perfect for anyone who has spare time and needs to earn extra income quickly. The job requires no previous experience in any particular field. We only require: 1) A computer with internet and a valid email account 2) Basic knowledge of the Internet 3) Motivation to earn extra cash
As this job is entirely online, you will need to know how to use the Internet and have the motivation to put in a couple of hours a week. Ad responses typically take just a few minutes to process, and you are paid per response. If you process 50 responses a week (which is easy to do), you can easily make $500-700 a week!
If this interests you, please respond to the email above and I will forward you more information. There are only a few positions still available, so respond promptly.
* Location: Telecommute-Online * Compensation: $500-700/week * Telecommuting is ok. * This is a part-time job. * OK to highlight this job opening for persons with disabilities * Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster. * Please, no phone calls about this job! * Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.
PostingID: 526134312
I'm sure this particular post will be flagged for removal in no time, but it's a perfect example of this scam. To the new online job hunter, this might look like a dream come true. Sounds easy, hardly anything required and pays pretty good, right? WRONG!
Several things in this posting raise red flags. There aren't any requirements for the job. Just a computer and internet. That doesn't make anyone qualified to do real work for a real company. Real companies don't pay $2000 a month for part time work to someone with no experience in anything.
What happens after you respond? You get an email stating that for a small "Training Fee", usually $7 - $20, you'll get an email or an ebook that tells you exactly what the "job" entails and how to do it. So you send off your "small investment" and await yet another email that has your "training materials." These materials generally include instructions on how to post the same type of advertisement that you responded to, and will recommend places to post these ads. Then the people who respond to the ads you place will send you the "training fee."
This is not legitimate employment, nor is it ethical. It is a scam and the people who continue to make these bogus postings should be ashamed of themselves.
For Christmas Cookies, that is! So I tried a different recipe this year that a friend said I could find here. Living in Colorado, one generally needs to slightly vary recipes because of the altitude, but I didn't mess with this one at all and oh my Christmas goodness, were these heavenly! The dough was really easy to roll out and cut, and they turn out this perfect texture.
In a big bowl, cream 1/2 cup of shortening (I used the non-butter flavor) and 1 cup cugar. Add in 1 egg and 1 tsp vanilla and beat till fluffy. Stir in 1/2 cup sour cream.
In a seperate bowl, mix 3 1/4 cups of flour (I used regular all-purpose flour), 1 tsp baking soda, 1/2 tsp sale and 1/2 tsp nutmeg.
Gradually add in the flour mixture with mixing. You can use a mixer, we did it by hand.
Roll out on floured surface 1/4 to 1/8 inch thickness. Go to town with the cookie cutters. Decorate and bake at 350 for 10-15 minutes till just lightly browned.
A trick we use when decorating with the sprinkles and sugar is to just take a tiny bit of milk on your finger and spread very lightly over the cookie before sprinkling with sugar. It helps the sugar stick and not fall off the cookies.
So even though it's Christmas Day, it's not too late for cookies. I'm going to have to bake another batch because these are almost gone!!
Hope everyone is having a wonderful day with loved ones!
Merry Christmas! Here's a little video message for you. I'm the short one. :-)
Self-employment is such a blessing in that way. You do gain more control over your life and most importantly your time. There is no one secret to finding the right opportunity to work from home. There are so many ways to earn a living that don't have to be tied to commuting and the 9-5 grind.
Over the years I've done a combination of working outside the home and working from home and I've discovered that for me, that's what works best. From home I've worked for small businesses doing administrative work, in advertising, call center work, web design, writing and more. For me, owning my life means choosing the work I want to do, participating in activities that interest me and having the flexibility to spend time with my family.
Up until recently, I was working outside the home in a job I loved. Sadly, my position was eliminated. Immediately, I found a great company where I am able to telecommute and work a schedule that suits my family's needs. It was actually perfect timing with the holidays. Tomorrow is the kids first day of winter break and I'm able to be home with them and not pay for childcare or ask family to babysit over the next three weeks.
It's also giving me more time to blog and to explore opportunities for earning an income from home. Currently my work consists of: IC for a marketing company from home, freelance marketing and web design from home, singing with a professional caroling group, and supervising events at a swanky ballroom. Sometimes it seems like a lot, but I've been able to schedule my time in a way that works for me.
Working from home is a wonderful thing. I like not having all my eggs in one basket and being able to choose work I truly enjoy. I'm feeling very blessed this Christmas! I hope you are blessed, too!
7/4/08 UPDATE - this list is tiny. You need to check out my newer post that has over 100 companies listed with links: Massive Listing of WAH Companies!
Not an all-inclusive list, but here are some companies that hire telecommutesr:
1-800-Contacts - they do hire at home workers, but from what their site says, you have to work at their facility in Draper for 4-6 months.
1-800-Flowers - Hires in these states: Arizona, Florida, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Ohio, New York, Texas, Virginia and Nevada.
Self-employment gives you the flexibility to control your time. By choosing self-employment or independent contractor (IC) work, you give yourself the ability to set your own schedule and only take on projects that work for you.
Be creative! Think about the things you love and the types of things you choose to do with your time, then try to find a project or business around that. You'll haven enthusiasm for your work and your clients will love the results.
Remember when you are self-employed that you must set aside a good amount from your earnings for tax purposes. I highly recommend consulting a tax professional for advice specific to your situation. Not only will you find out how much you need to set aside, but you will also get information about the things you can and cannot deduct on your taxes. Most importantly - do NOT let the tax issue scare you away from great opportunities. Turbo Tax is a fantastic software that can walk you step by step through the process of filing your taxes as a self-employed person. TurboTax Deluxe Federal with E-File 2007
Working from home brings unique opportunities and challenges. It can be tricky to find the right job or business that suits your needs. Some things about expectations:
1. If you're starting a business, you must expect to spend some money to start up and promote it. Even the "free" opportunities have some costs associated if you're going to be serious about it.
2. If you're starting a business, you must expect it to take some time to start making good money. Plan for this. Jumping into a business full-time if you're expecting to make a living isn't the best idea in most cases. If you must do this, I'd recommend having at least six months of living expenses saved up before doing so.
3. Expect to pay your taxes! Whether you're an IC or an employee, make sure you're ready when tax time comes. Keep all your pay stubs and/or copies of checks. Keep track of any expenses you incur as part of your business or job. Especially if you're an IC, set aside money from every check for taxes. Consult your local tax professional to find out just how much in your case.
4. Expect that your client or employer will expect reliability and results. Whatever your task is, keep track of your accomplishments. Do what they expect and more.
5. Expect to realize that working from home is not about spending time with your kids. It's always harder than you think it will be trying to work from home and supervise your children, especially if they are small. If you're caring for small children while working, make sure you take on the kinds of positions that are conducive to that environment. A call-center job probably isn't for you, but if you have a talent for web design or writing, you can probably find a fit somewhere.
6. Expect that your expectations may have to change after you gain more experience. There are so many different jobs and businesses to do from home. Finding your perfect fit can take time and change the way you think about working from home.
My life as a work from home mom. Ideas, tips and tricks about making money from home. Whether it's part time for some fun pocket change or full time to make a living, there are many work from home options out there on the internet. You'll find some good ideas and opportunities here. You'll also find me just talking about life!
