by Lowrie Fawley

Created on: May 06, 2008   Last Updated: May 20, 2008

In this technologically motivated society, the urge to leave the cubicle farm behind and work from home is powerful. Work from home schemes, and often scams, permeate the atmosphere with an allure that is irresistible. The ability to work at home in an era when the one income family has become almost obsolete is often the only way for parents to spend time with their children and still make ends meet. However, it takes knowledge to make the transition without falling victim to a too good to be true situation.

The first thing to consider when contemplating working from home is your personality. Ask yourself if you are able to devote your time and attention to a career when faced with the distractions of home. If you feel that you have the dedication, then you are ready to seriously begin to consider your options for a work at home career.

The second important consideration is what jobs allow you to work from home. Searching on-line yields a cornucopia of opportunities that promise substantial income from the comfort of your own home, for a fee. In general, when an offer of employment is tied to an outlay of money for the privilege of becoming employed, the risks outweigh the benefits. Although the offers are appealing, they are rarely profitable.

What, then, can you legitimately do if you want to work from home? Consider the possibility of maintaining your current employment by making the shift to telecommuting. If you are in an industry that requires you to spend the majority of your time on the phone or at a computer, then there is a possibility that your duties could be performed from home. Talk to your employer. In many cases, a small reduction in salary is balanced by savings in commuting costs. If you present your idea in a way that saves the company money, they are far more likely to give the idea serious consideration.

One of the biggest shifts as a result of the Internet age is the trend towards on-line education. If you hold a masters degree in your area of expertise, or in some cases a bachelors with appropriate experience, you might find yourself marketable as an on-line educator. Adjunct faculty members at colleges such as Ashford, The University of Phoenix, Devry and other institutions of higher learning facilitate in much the same way as their counterparts in the traditional classroom, only in an on-line environment. Other fields, such as computer technical support and IT consulting, marketing, and graphic design also allow for the possibility of off site employment. The only requirements are a degree and experience in your field, a solid track record of success, and the ability to stay focused and meet deadlines while working at home in your pajamas.

Benefits of working from home include the ability to write off your home office space and equipment on your income taxes. It is advisable for anyone working at home to consult with a qualified tax preperation service, but the benefits can be worthwhile. Also, employees can choose to reside in areas where the cost of living is substantially lower while working virtually in a city far away.

Whatever the reasons, saving money or spending time with family, working from home is not only possible but often the ideal solution for a motivated and dedicated individual.

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