Anyone Work at Home?

Updated on November 23, 2011
T.R. asks from Syracuse, NY
12 answers

I am considering looking for part time work from home. I used to do legal transcription from home when my son was a baby (6 now). I have been staying at home with my 21 month old daughter while I finish my master's degree, but thinking about looking for some part time work for extra money. I was just wondering any of you who work from home what type of work you do, where did you find your job, etc. Just looking for a little direction on where to start looking (so many work from home scams!). Thanks!

1 mom found this helpful

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J.G.

answers from New York on

I am a graphic designer I freelance from home, I just took a webdesign class also. Hoping to do that from home also.
Good luck.

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L.T.

answers from Chicago on

I enjoy working from home and do it on a part-time basis. It definitely helps during the holiday season. There are many work at home jobs that are not scams. I like the work at home call center jobs.

You picked a good time to start looking since many of the work at home jobs are hiring for the holidays. I get my Work at home job information from Beyondmothers.com. It's a great resource for mothers looking for jobs or coupons.

Good luck!

4 moms found this helpful

C.O.

answers from Washington DC on

if you have to pay for training - it's a scam.

Please understand that working from home IS working. You will not be able to "be" with your daughter while you work. many people forget about that when they want to "work from home".

I get up and get dressed EVERY day like I am going to an office - well, not in a suit - but dressed. When I need a break - I will vacuum or put a load of laundry in - however, IT IS A BREAK. When I first started working from home, my husband would make comments like 'doesn't look like you did much today" - oh yeah - I was WORKING...even though he's a smart man - it took him a while to get it.

Look at banks and call center places - they have customer service positions that are from the house. You will have to have a dedicated phone line and MAYBE a fax line and an area in which to work like you were in the office - I know that Deer Park and other major water bottling companies do have customer service positions that work from home.

GOOD LUCK!!

3 moms found this helpful
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E.B.

answers from Beaumont on

Once you get that master's degree in your pocket I would try to be an online professor!! Lots of schools do online courses. It would be totally flexible and I'll bet you'd have a hard time beating that money trying to do anything else. Good luck!

2 moms found this helpful

D.B.

answers from Boston on

If you have transcription experience, you might start with some local law firms, particularly smaller ones that may not have someone on staff. Find out what their deadlines are - if you have a sick child, you'll get behind! Also find out if they have regular work. It can be hard to schedule work for various firms with competing deadlines. Similarly, if they only have occasional needs, you won't be able to count on the money.

Someone mentioned "selling things to family and friends." If you choose direct sales, make sure it is a product that people NEED and not something people buy once just to make you happy. You have to keep finding new customers instead of having a mix of new people and also providing to existing customers on an ongoing basis. Therefore you need a consumable product vs. a one-time purchase such as housewares, baskets, jewelry, etc. Also, you don't want your product to be based on something like gifts for pre-holiday sales - you have a great December and then nothing in January, February, etc. A good way to figure out if your company is legit is to see if it's a member in good standing of the Direct Selling Association. This is an invitation-only watchdog group that only welcomes the most honorable and ethical companies. You also want to make sure that you do not need to buy a lot of inventory that you will get stuck with, and you want to be sure there is free training & support. That's what I did.

USA Today recently had a full supplement on direct sales and how it's the best way to make money in a tough economy as well as in the future as corporations downsize and lay off loyal workers. Many of the top economists and experts endorsed it - Suze Orman, Robert Kiyosaki, and more.

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S.B.

answers from Dallas on

With your legal transcription skills, I would go back to providing that service from home. Check with the company that you used to work with when your son was small. Check on other similar type firms that might need your services. There are tons of work at home scams and party plans to sell things to family and friends. I think you would be better off doing legal transcription or proofreading from home. Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
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T.P.

answers from New York on

Hi, I think there is a huge need for transcribers based on all of the internet activities out their. You can market your services to internet radio shows and youtube. We need those shows transcribes to turn them into blogs or book material. Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful

✿.R.

answers from Boston on

I agree....do your research. I own 4 franchises on the internet. I love it. I looked at many, many other things before I found this one though.
I now own my own online mall and teach others how to earn money on all the advertising done by the large retailers like Target, Walmart, Best Buy, etc. Last year $30 billion was spent on the internet between November 1st and December 31st. I heard on CNN this morning that they are estimating $60 Billion this holiday season. Think of what you could do with 1% of $60 billion. Whoo hoo.
;)
Gook luck.
If you would like to pick my brain please feel free. I learned a ton looking at different things. I may be able to give you some helpful hints while you are looking.

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K.B.

answers from Detroit on

You are right there are a lot of scam's out there. Just do your own research on the internet on the one's you are drawn to. I did a lot of research on my company and found nothing bad on it. I dedicate 20 hours a week to my work which goes by really fast which is only a couple of hours a day. You do have to be consistant when you work from home. My business grows by word of mouth so follow up is the key. The things I love about working from home are being my own boss, I choose when and how much I work, I can take a vacation or attend school events when I want and I don't have to beg and plead to get time off and I don't have to call in if I am sick or just need a day off for personal business or appointments. I love to talk and spend time with other women and help others become healthier so I get to do all of the things I love and earn money. What I do isn't always a fit for everyone and I would help you or anyone else find out if it is. Good Luck in your search.

T.F.

answers from Dallas on

I think with your legal experience, you should target that market. There are probably some smaller law firms that might be able to use your help.

That said..... Working from home is WORK. I also work from home. We run our own company (NOT MLM OR DIRECT SALES) which is in the raw materials brokering and consulting industry. If you work from home, you will more than likely be expected to have your children in care so that you can focus on the job at hand.

Even though I work from home, I am up, showered and ready to go in work attire to work from my office. It takes a lot of self discipline and self motivation to stay focused.

This question is asked almost daily and you'll be recruited from all the MLM'rs and such. IF you choose to go that route, at least check it out thoroughly. Why sell something you don't want or need nor do your friends and family. The parties, etc for sales/recruiters do not go over well in my area. We look at it as an invoice.

Good luck whatever you choose!

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K..

answers from Phoenix on

I did at home sales & reservations for Uhaul. It didn't last long for me because a) I am not good at sales and b) I wanted the social aspect of being in an office. Check out wahm.com & workplacelikehome.com as starting points. There at home job leads daily & the members are really helpful. Keep in mind that everyone wants an at home data entry type job, but those are few & far between.

Also, how do you plan on keeping your child occupied while you are working? Sometimes people forget that working at home still means you are actually expected to professionally perform your job (not saying you're like this, but it's common.) If you end up doing a job that requires phone work, a screaming child is not going to fly. I still had to have childcare while working from home.

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S.G.

answers from Benton Harbor on

hello,
After some bad experience of scams , finally i get one which really works a company which is in the market from last 50 years.
Do you ever look at business ideas?
If the money was right and fit into your scheule, would you be open to looking at a great business idea?
If yes message me or mail me at ____@____.com

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