| If you think telecommuting jobs are as scarce as the | | | | franchise. |
| proverbial needle in a haystack, or are scams to | | | | - The equipment and software that you need to get |
| induce you to part with your money, maybe you've | | | | started. Get a laser printer instead of an inkjet one; the |
| been approaching them the wrong way. Sylvie | | | | quality is worth it. Use an e-fax facility from a reputable |
| Charrier, founder of Workaholics4Hire and herself a | | | | third party provider. You will never miss a fax, and you |
| telecommuter, has published an insider's guide to how | | | | get a toll-free number which looks professional. Get |
| you can succeed at working from home if you have | | | | your own website. Get as much software as you can |
| the right attitude and know-how. | | | | (buy used instead of new) and master it. |
| 5 Reasons Why You Should Read "You Can Work In | | | | - The biggest secret that all successful telecommuters |
| Your PJs" | | | | know. Change your mindset and realize that you alone |
| | | | are in control. Not scammers, not employers, not the |
| 1. It's hard not to like someone who not only knows | | | | lack of jobs. |
| what she is talking about, but who seems genuinely | | | | - Things you can do to boost your chances of |
| concerned about telecommuters being scammed by | | | | success. List your hobbies. List your skills. Pretend you |
| false promises and being asked to pay to work. | | | | are a business consultant and use the lists to help you |
| Throughout the book, Charrier keeps reminding the | | | | invent your own career. See how Charrier spins out 6 |
| reader: never pay for a job! If you have to, it's a scam. | | | | amazing different business ideas from one hobby. |
| 2. Charrier is upfront about the realities of working | | | | - Know how to use different cover letters for different |
| from home. Most sites plug the glamour and ease of | | | | jobs and different delivery modes (email, fax), and how |
| working from home but are quick to gloss over the | | | | a telecommuter's cover letter differs from a standard |
| brutal facts about why employers are reluctant to hire | | | | job applicant's. |
| telecommuters. | | | | - Resume writing guide.Tips on how to write a |
| 3. Links in the book are constantly updated through the | | | | compact one-paragraph introduction designed to help |
| companion Resource Directory. This guarantees that | | | | you ace the job, how and why you should use action |
| the information you get whenever you access it is the | | | | verbs, how to use keywords to ensure your resume is |
| freshest. | | | | picked up by the employer's resume scanning |
| 4. The book comes with ready-to-use templates for | | | | program, and how to write your resume in ASCII |
| brochures, cover letters and resumes. | | | | format. |
| 5. Charrier has a clever way of creatively engaging | | | | - What to do if you have no prior experience and your |
| the reader. Chapter 5 is a prime example. Written in a | | | | prospective employer asks to see your work samples. |
| highly interactive, personal and organic nature, it is | | | | You can create a freelancer's portfolio using dummy |
| designed to make you think in a new way of the | | | | samples and work you have done on a volunteer |
| specific skills you have which can be applied to create | | | | basis. |
| your own niche in the telecommuting market. Read it - | | | | - How do you minimize expenses? Try bartering with |
| you will be amazed. | | | | small business owners for services you need. In |
| Tips for Successful Telecommuting - The insider | | | | exchange, offer them your services and request that |
| information you won't get anywhere else | | | | they 'pay' you with referrals and testimonials. The |
| - The truth about real world telecommuting. Like, you | | | | benefits are plentiful - you save your money, secure |
| will not have more time with your family. You will be | | | | quality leads for future projects, and have a ready |
| home more, but you'll also be busier. You won't save | | | | source of testimonials that you can show future clients |
| money on childcare. In fact, you'll need childcare so you | | | | or employers. |
| can get any work done at all. | | | | - What to expect after you apply. Most employers will |
| - 6 reasons why many employers don't hire | | | | not respond, unless they plan to interview you. When |
| home-based workers. Some workers try to bully their | | | | you do get a good response, reply immediately, politely |
| way into a job. Some ignore the requirements in the | | | | and professionally, and get ready for the (phone) |
| job description and waste the employer's time. Some | | | | interview. |
| are so suspicious because they have been scammed | | | | - Maximize your job search strategy. Spend 30 |
| before, that they fail to recognize a high-quality job | | | | minutes a day on doing a targeted job search. Know |
| description when they see one. Some annoy | | | | what you are looking for. Have all your materials ready |
| employers by typing their cover letters completely in | | | | before you search. Choose your search tools carefully. |
| capitals. Some are vague and non-descriptive about | | | | Then spend the rest of your day working on projects, |
| what they can do for the employer. And the final and | | | | or acquiring a new skill, or networking with potential |
| most shocking statistic? More than 65% of potential | | | | clients, or building a home based business, or |
| home-based workers fail to follow through when they | | | | volunteering. Cultivate the attitude of working hard and |
| get the job. | | | | putting your time to wise use. |
| - Right and wrong motivations for telecommuting. | | | | - How to optimize work-from-home job boards and |
| Some people aren't successful because they are | | | | job listings. Guess where these job databases really |
| doing it for the wrong reasons. For instance, wanting to | | | | get their jobs? Other job sites! Not only is this a |
| be with your children and not wanting to commute are | | | | copyright violation, it prejudices your chances of |
| NOT good reasons. Hint: It's not about you and your | | | | securing a real job. Contrast this with |
| interests only. Focus on the employer's interests | | | | Workaholic4Hire's approach and how it helps you: the |
| instead. Become an empathic telecommuter and you | | | | listings are free, valid and current. |
| will be better able to get that telecommuting position. | | | | - How to use freelance project postings sites. You can |
| - 4 essential personality quirks of successful | | | | bid publicly for a job (not recommended), bid privately |
| telecommuters. You are self-motivated. You are | | | | (recommended), or submit formal proposals to |
| obsessive-compulsive. You are a perfectionist. You | | | | government agencies (highly recommended because |
| are cheerful and an optimist. | | | | they are long term and lucrative; once you are a |
| - 4 common pitfalls that discourage people from | | | | government supplier, your business grows |
| telecommuting. You're on your own. Your friends think | | | | exponentially). |
| you're nuts. Jobs are hard to find. Your skills are limited. | | | | - How to reach employers. Create a professional |
| - The difference between a home business and | | | | website. Market your site through search engines, |
| working from home. Examples of individuals who work | | | | discussion boards, reciprocal link exchanges, and |
| from home are the telecommuting (or offsite) | | | | articles in newsletters. Upload samples of your work to |
| employee and the independent contractor or | | | | your online portfolio. Network with local business. |
| freelancer. Home business includes the pre-packaged | | | | Research your prospective client intensively. |
| home based business-in-a-box, which is similar to a | | | | |