| There is no such thing as a free lunch. Neither is there | | | | programmer or freelance web designer or freelance |
| an easy way to earn money, especially from home. | | | | graphic designer, put up thumbnails of your work on |
| To make yourself employable, you need to ensure | | | | the site. You could also set up a web log (blog) on |
| that you have the required skill sets as well as good | | | | sites such as and Don't forget to provide your e-mail |
| marketing and interpersonal skills. A sound portfolio (for | | | | address, resume, and contact details at a prominent |
| aspiring writers, editors, photographers, designers, etc.) | | | | location on the site. |
| is a must. | | | | Use the best search engines in the business Google, |
| Today several private companies and MNCs are | | | | Yahoo!, MSN search, and the right keywords |
| employing people who prefer working out of their | | | | (freelance programming, freelance translation, |
| homes. A host of opportunities exist for home | | | | freelance projects, Data entry, Freelance programmer, |
| employment in areas as diverse as telemarketing, | | | | Freelancing, Freelancers, Freelance work, Custom web |
| selling insurance, data entry, typing, data conversion, | | | | design, Outsource projects, Outsource work, and etc.) |
| copywriting, accounting , writing (academic and | | | | to find the jobs you want. Don't provide personal |
| journalistic writing), editing and proof reading, web | | | | details while registering on a website unless it's |
| design, content development, Internet-based research | | | | absolutely essential. |
| for companies, graphic design and desktop publishing, | | | | Rent-a-coder.com, a freelance-sourcing site has a |
| programming, audio and video editing, translation work | | | | ranking system to rate the work of freelancer |
| and etc is available. | | | | programmers, and help companies choose people best |
| With a fair bit of technology skills (typing and word | | | | suited for a particular project. Elance.com, Guru.com, |
| processing skills, being PC literate), entrepreneurs can | | | | GetAFreelancer.com, Scriptlance.com, and Freelance |
| use the worldwide web to start companies and work | | | | Work Exchange are other popular freelance sites. |
| from the convenience of their homes. | | | | It's very, very important to 'connect' with the outside |
| Before you get into the home employment groove, | | | | world. Join networking groups such as Friendster and |
| make sure you have the requisite qualifications, | | | | Ryze , have your blog linked to blog rings, and enroll in |
| hardware, and time management skills to convince | | | | forums, user groups and other specific online |
| potential employers that you are the right person for | | | | communities. Caveat-online communities have their |
| the job. | | | | own set of protocols and etiquette. Remember to |
| Step 1: Make The Right Choices | | | | follow the rules; don't forward your resume to |
| Before you consider quitting your day-job or begin | | | | everyone you meet. |
| working from home, take a piece of paper and list out | | | | Step 5: Create A Work Schedule And Meet Deadlines |
| your skills, preferred areas of employment, and your | | | | Create a 'work culture' for your self. Just because |
| comfort-level in each area. For instance, if you are a | | | | there is no 'boss' breathing down your neck, you can't |
| programmer, weigh the benefits of home employment | | | | afford to slacken or miss deadlines. In fact, you have |
| versus working in a corporate environment. If you are | | | | to work twice as hard to ensure that the companies |
| a student, chart out your daily schedule and figure out | | | | clients hiring you have absolutely no reason to regret |
| how much time you can spare for a 'part-time' job, | | | | employing a freelancer. |
| even if it doesn't involve stepping out of home. | | | | Step 6: Sell Yourself |
| Remember, you may or may not earn as much as | | | | Be your own Boss, and brand manager. While it's |
| you would in a full-time job, and freelance projects | | | | important to have an online presence in the form of a |
| take time to source and payments are delayed, in | | | | website or blog, it's equally important to be aware of |
| some cases. Zeroing in on the right kind of job is | | | | competitive pricing and different payment strategies. |
| important. Don't get stuck with a job you don't like. | | | | Do not charge your clients less because you are |
| Step 2: Set Up Your Workstation | | | | working from home. Make enquires pertaining to the |
| Once you have narrowed down your choice of | | | | market rates for a particular project (say, web-design |
| employment, you can set up your workstation. You | | | | or coding), and charge them accordingly. Also, do not |
| need to make sure that your future work area is very | | | | under-rate or overrate your skills; and do not undersell |
| comfortable - use ergonomic furniture, wherever | | | | or oversell yourself. Be as honest as far as possible. |
| possible. | | | | Tip: To ascertain that Google throws up your site |
| For Writers/Editors: A fast PC is a pre-requisite, you | | | | when users enter certain keyword, make the title of |
| may also have to install software such as MS Office | | | | your webpage very specific (Fashion Photographer or |
| Open Office, QuarkXP-press or Adobe InDesign. | | | | Freelance Writer or freelance programming or |
| For Designers: Although it's not important to invest in a | | | | Outsource work or as the case may be). |
| Mac (Apple Macintosh), make sure your PC has | | | | Ensure that your site linked to other prominent ones, by |
| enough RAM (at least 1 GB), hard disk space, and | | | | publishing research papers online, being part of active |
| install a good graphics card. You also need to install | | | | online communities or regularly updating your web log |
| design software such as Adobe photoshop, 3D Studio | | | | with quality content. |
| Max, Quark, Corel Painter, or Adobe InDesign. | | | | Step7: Upgrade Your Skill-Sets |
| For Data Entry/Typing Assignments: A computer, MS | | | | When you have time, enroll in training sessions, |
| Office/open Office, or other data-entry software. | | | | part-time diploma courses or distance education |
| For Medical Transcription: Medical transcription involves | | | | programs to upgrade your existing skill sets. With |
| transcribing medical records dictated by doctors | | | | technological advancements, there will be rapid |
| (patient history, records, notes, lab reports), usually | | | | changes in the employment scenario as well. |
| located in clinics abroad. Basic requirements include a | | | | The IT industry, for instance, is continuously evolving. |
| PC with about 40 GB hard disk space, 256 MB RAM | | | | You may have to invest in software courses, at least |
| (minimum), sound card and Internet access. You would | | | | once every year, to learn new programming |
| also require headphones, word processing software, | | | | languages, improve your design and editing skills, and |
| and a good dictionary. | | | | so on. Not upgrading your skills periodically would |
| Step 3: Prepare Your Portfolio: | | | | reduce your chances of employment, in any field. |
| Prepare a good resume, entering the right keywords | | | | Step 8: Exercise Regularly |
| under 'Objective'. Use sites like IT-people and Monster | | | | As the maxim goes, health is wealth. Working from |
| to get basic understanding of the job profile. Use | | | | home may reduce your travel time but it might also |
| Resume Builder on these sites (needs registration) and | | | | bring to halt the little exercise you were getting earlier |
| on MS Word. | | | | by walking to and from the train or the bus station. To |
| Step 4: Set Up A Web Site or Blog | | | | ensure that you give your best to the projects you |
| Create a good web site (one that's not too garish, text | | | | source, some physical exercise, yoga, and meditation |
| or image heavy). | | | | sessions coupled with a balanced diet will help you |
| If you are a freelance photographer or freelance | | | | stay mentally and physically in good shape. |