by Eve Lopez

Created on: August 15, 2009   Last Updated: August 18, 2009

While it's true that there are a lot of scams out there, there actually are many legit work at home jobs. The most popular legitimate work at home jobs include medical transcription, freelance writing and editing, being a virtual assistant, customer service representative, IT troubleshooter, sales representative, data entry and online teaching.

The great thing about work at home jobs is that only some of them need certifications or college degrees. For example, if you want to become an online teacher, then you'd of course need a bachelor's degree, teaching certificate and experience. But if you're seeking data entry jobs, the most you will likely need is a good typing speed.

Work at home jobs generally require a computer, fast-speed Internet access and a telephone. Some jobs, like those of medical transcriptionists, also need additional equipment like foot pedals to start and stop voice recordings. For the most part, however, all the additional equipment you need will be provided by the legitimate work at home employer.

Work at home jobs operate like any other business. People who are interested in these jobs submit resumes and cover letters, and are interviewed. If hired, the employer provides the employee with paperwork and (in most cases) software applications so the employee can do the job.

Some employers have regular employer-employee work agreements with the people who work for them. Others may have their employees work as independent contractors who are responsible for things like their own health insurance, and their own tax withholdings. It's important to recognize which type of employee you will be when you agree to work for a company.

The best way to find legitimate work at home jobs that are not scams is to research the company thoroughly before agreeing to work for them. There are many people who write articles, blogs, and books about the work at home market. If the company you're thinking of working for isn't legitimate, there's a good chance that you can find that information out beforehand.

People who work at home for call centers or other companies that require customer service representatives should have good English skills. A nice perk of these types of administrative jobs is that they generally don't require a lot of experience. It could be an excellent starting point for people looking to break into the work at home field.

With freelancing, sky's the limit in terms of your opportunities. Companies outsource not only writing projects, but also their graphic design, computer programming and other creative jobs that can be done by people who work at home. If you have special skills in writing, editing, proofreading, reading, design or programming, there are plenty of work at home opportunities for you.

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