So after a few weeks of trying out odesk, here's what I have to say:
(1) It's not a scam. I earned money after doing a couple of jobs. Just around $20, but enough for me to know that it's real and the potential to earn more is there.
(2) It's said that it takes about 40-60 job applications before you can land a job. This is true too. Online freelancing work is not for the weak, fainthearted, or impatient. There are hundreds of thousands of other freelancers all over the world - likely more skilled and experienced than you - who are vying for the same jobs you are. Learn how to make great cover letters. Take odesk skills tests to showcare your competency. Build your portfolio. Above all, read through the tips and help articles that odesk has to offer. These will help a lot.
(3) Stock up on your preferred choice of caffeine.
(4) If you find it all a bit overwhelming, check out The Freelance Pinoy for freelancing tips, particularly for Filipinos using odesk.
(5) Good luck!
I have a lot on my plate right now, but should have more to share in a couple of weeks. Til then!
Showing posts with label work from home. Show all posts
Showing posts with label work from home. Show all posts
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Work At Home Mothers - Dissecting Myth From Reality
Image: Ambro / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Is it possible to work at home and still earn more than your past day job? Absolutely! In this age of high speed Internet connectivity, mobile devices, and numerous networking sites, there is no reason you cannot work in the confines of your own personal space, in the comfort of hearth and home.
So then you start to wonder - why don't more people do it? Why don't I do it? It's the ultimate dream job - I get to be my own boss, work at my own time and pace, spend more time with the kids, and still earn enough to...
Stop right there. Yes, it is possible to work from home. Yes, so many people have successfully set up businesses in their own houses, sold products online, became true-blue "entrepreneurs" and earned a bundle. Yes, several more people are living solely on online jobs, making use of skills such as writing, editing, programming, transcribing, clerical/secreterial work, bookkeeping, etc...
...and they do so by exerting more time and effort than is required in a 8AM-5PM day job.
Most people have the misconception that working at home equates to a cushy job with less hours and more pay. However, you will soon find that attempting to get a job done within the prescribed deadline can be quite stressful and challenging amidst constant disruptions such as telephone calls, a baby that doesn't sleep, children screaming while you're in that all-important meeting, deliveries, pesky salesmen, laundry that won't wash themselves...and oh, is it time to prepare lunch already?
You may be your own boss, but without someone to push and drive you towards completing your deliverables, you will need an extreme sense of responsibility, resourcefulness, and diligence to do it on your own - after all, there's no one around to help you! You will then discover that toiling this close to the TV, PS3/XBOX, fridge, and that cute-as-a-button toddler who wants to play with you is a form of torture in itself. Eventually, you will realize that by the time you've completed your tasks for the day, you've put in the same amount of hours as you've done in an office - likely even more.
Trying to start your own business is even worse. If you want to earn enough to merit quitting your day job, you will spend most of your waking hours (and a good bit of the ones you normally use for sleeping) making and selling your product, and catering to discerning, pushy clients.
With the right frame of mind and a proper set of expectations, however, you can work from home and earn a good deal of money. Here are some of the many opportunities available for you:
(1) Find online jobs that suit your skills - The most popular of which are content/SEO writing, programming, virtual assistance, web design, and transcribing. The hardest thing about this would be filtering the scams and non-paying employers from the legitimate ones. Pinoy Home Worker provides tips, information, and sites to help get you started.
(2) Start an online business - While this may be the most rewarding of jobs, this is also the most grueling. There is no longer an "office" or "company" that handles all the little details of tax, inventory, bookkeeping and expenses - it's all in your hands now. The good news is that there are a lot of resources - both offline and online - to guide you on your path to entrepreneurship. If you're new to online selling, Multiply and Sulit are good places to start. Make the most of seminars and expos to gain more ideas, suppliers, clients, and contacts.
(3) Offer tutorial services - More and more working parents are turning to tutors to help their children cope with the current school system, which, in the recent years, has began the trend of bombarding students with tons of projects, assignments, fast-paced learning and foreign methods (Singapore math, anyone?). If you're already helping your child with his/her studies, you may want to consider adding 1-2 more kids to earn extra money. Who knows? This may be the beginning of your new career as a tutor/teacher.
(4) Bake/Cater - If you're handy in the kitchen, you'll be loved by moms who are not. Sell cakes and brownies (these are very popular as party souvenirs) or make packed lunches or meals for moms who are too busy to cook (or just don't know how!).
(5) Write A Book - Seriously, if you have a great story to tell, write it. Gone are the days when you have to print several copies of your work, send it to a publisher via snail mail (with a SASE, of course) and wait several months for a rejection letter. There are a lot of online publications that pay well - and deal with you electronically. Duotrope's Digest is a good source for such publishers. The downside to this profession is that it make take years before you get your big break - unless your name is JK Rowling or Stephenie Meyer.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Jobs For Moms: Shady Interview
About a month ago, I decided to apply for a work from home job that just required good computer and typing skills. The company was not well-known, but as work from home jobs were scarce (and still are!), I decided to give it a go. I submitted my resume and eventually got called in for an interview.
Since I had applied for the job online and was not familiar with my prospective employer, my mother cautioned me to bring some company during the actual interview. I actually thought it unnecessary, but humored her anyway and had my husband tag along.
On the day of the interview we followed the directions sent via email. I was a bit disconcerted to find that the address was different from the one posted on the company website. My husband and I found ourselves in a rundown building at the edge of the business district. The guard had us sign in and told us to proceed up the stairs. We walked through a deserted hallway, passing units that were either locked or empty.
When we got to the interview site, we found ourselves in a room filled with stacks of computers and ledgers. The only other people in the room were two other interviewees (both female) and the company owner, who was conducting the interviews. The owner claimed that the room was usually filled with employees and remarked that it was odd that he was the only one in that day. While nothing untoward happened, I was grateful for my mother's advice and my husband's presence.
Learning Points:
(1) Better to be safe than sorry. If you're not familiar with the company and are called in for an interview, it would be best to have someone come along (even if only to drop you off after surveying the interview site).
(2) Sometimes, though we hate to admit it, mothers do know best. :)
Since I had applied for the job online and was not familiar with my prospective employer, my mother cautioned me to bring some company during the actual interview. I actually thought it unnecessary, but humored her anyway and had my husband tag along.
On the day of the interview we followed the directions sent via email. I was a bit disconcerted to find that the address was different from the one posted on the company website. My husband and I found ourselves in a rundown building at the edge of the business district. The guard had us sign in and told us to proceed up the stairs. We walked through a deserted hallway, passing units that were either locked or empty.
When we got to the interview site, we found ourselves in a room filled with stacks of computers and ledgers. The only other people in the room were two other interviewees (both female) and the company owner, who was conducting the interviews. The owner claimed that the room was usually filled with employees and remarked that it was odd that he was the only one in that day. While nothing untoward happened, I was grateful for my mother's advice and my husband's presence.
Learning Points:
(1) Better to be safe than sorry. If you're not familiar with the company and are called in for an interview, it would be best to have someone come along (even if only to drop you off after surveying the interview site).
(2) Sometimes, though we hate to admit it, mothers do know best. :)
Friday, November 5, 2010
"Micro" Work From Home
In my continuing quest for stay at home work, I stumbled upon microworkers.com. I did some research and most post/reviews indicated that this is a legitimate site that enables you to choose "micro" jobs that you can do from home - and yes, you get to earn money in the process! The only catch is that you have to reach $10 before you can withdraw. No problem. How hard can it be to earn $10?
So I check out the site to learn more about "micro" jobs. From the jobs list preview in the homepage I found that this type of work pretty much covers the following:
"Like [product] on Facebook"
"Post a blog"
"Post an entry"
"Sign Up/Register"
and each task would earn about $0.1 to $0.3. With a bit of math, it seems it would take nearly 100 of these micro tasks to reach $10.00.
Still, if you have some time on your hands and want to give it a go, there's really not much to lose and a bit to gain with a $1 bonus for every sign up ;)
And my search for the ultimate (paying) work from home job goes on...and on...
So I check out the site to learn more about "micro" jobs. From the jobs list preview in the homepage I found that this type of work pretty much covers the following:
"Like [product] on Facebook"
"Post a blog"
"Post an entry"
"Sign Up/Register"
and each task would earn about $0.1 to $0.3. With a bit of math, it seems it would take nearly 100 of these micro tasks to reach $10.00.
Still, if you have some time on your hands and want to give it a go, there's really not much to lose and a bit to gain with a $1 bonus for every sign up ;)
And my search for the ultimate (paying) work from home job goes on...and on...
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Clean Up, Make Extra Money
Looking for extra cash? No better place to start than in your very own home.
Perhaps you have a pair of butterfly walking wings that were left unused when your child learned to walk long before meeting the size requirement. Or maybe you have a pair of brand new, branded, ultra expensive baby shoes that your toddler fitted perfectly, but refused to wear the moment you got home - and hasn't touched since. You may be an avid reader with oodles of old, aging books stocked on the bookshelves. And so on.
Clean up your house and earn some money by selling your used books, electronics, knick-knacks, and whatnot online. With the scores of Free Classfied Ads sites to choose from (I use sulit and olx myself :)), your modest garage sale can now reach out to millions of homes across the country.
Selling online is a tad different from dealing with a customer face-to-face in your own backyard. If this is your first attempt at this sort of transaction, here are some tips to see you through:
(1) Sell only items that are actually usable. Old is OK (it is secondhand stuff, after all), but it's main function/purpose should still hold. Books with worn covers and colored pages, for example, are still worthwhile so long as all the pages are intact (no torn or missing text). Selling quality items will increase your chances of getting good feedback/reviews, which, in turn, will help you get more customers in the long run.
(2) Take good photos of your products as this will be the main means for potential customers to inspect the quality of items for sale. In addition, most ad sites prioritize ads with photos.
(3) Be prepared to handle transactions remotely as you can get customers from any part of the Philippines. This means finding a reliable courier and knowing the corresponding fees. You also need to consider payment options such as GCASH, deposit to your bank account, or remittance via M Lhuillier, Cebuana Lhuillier, LBC, or the like. Note that M Lhuillier and Cebuana Lhuillier are not related and/or interchangeable (i.e., payment made through ML Kwarta Padala can't be received through a Cebuana Lhuillier branch)
(4) As in all situations, especially in dealings over the Internet, always have your security in mind. Do not divuge too much information about yourself, only what's necessary to close your sale. When arranging meet ups, be sure it will be in a safe or public area. Having a companion along may be best. Think of your customer as well. Consistency between your given name and payment details (i.e., account name) will help convince your client that you're a legitimate seller.
(5) As exciting as it is to close a sale and gain some extra cash, know your limits in choosing items to sell. ;) Don't go overboard in trying to sell every little thing in your house. I know it's tempting to be rid of the knick knacks your packrat of a husband stocks in your house, but it's always prudent to ask first :)
Perhaps you have a pair of butterfly walking wings that were left unused when your child learned to walk long before meeting the size requirement. Or maybe you have a pair of brand new, branded, ultra expensive baby shoes that your toddler fitted perfectly, but refused to wear the moment you got home - and hasn't touched since. You may be an avid reader with oodles of old, aging books stocked on the bookshelves. And so on.
Clean up your house and earn some money by selling your used books, electronics, knick-knacks, and whatnot online. With the scores of Free Classfied Ads sites to choose from (I use sulit and olx myself :)), your modest garage sale can now reach out to millions of homes across the country.
Selling online is a tad different from dealing with a customer face-to-face in your own backyard. If this is your first attempt at this sort of transaction, here are some tips to see you through:
(1) Sell only items that are actually usable. Old is OK (it is secondhand stuff, after all), but it's main function/purpose should still hold. Books with worn covers and colored pages, for example, are still worthwhile so long as all the pages are intact (no torn or missing text). Selling quality items will increase your chances of getting good feedback/reviews, which, in turn, will help you get more customers in the long run.
(2) Take good photos of your products as this will be the main means for potential customers to inspect the quality of items for sale. In addition, most ad sites prioritize ads with photos.
(3) Be prepared to handle transactions remotely as you can get customers from any part of the Philippines. This means finding a reliable courier and knowing the corresponding fees. You also need to consider payment options such as GCASH, deposit to your bank account, or remittance via M Lhuillier, Cebuana Lhuillier, LBC, or the like. Note that M Lhuillier and Cebuana Lhuillier are not related and/or interchangeable (i.e., payment made through ML Kwarta Padala can't be received through a Cebuana Lhuillier branch)
(4) As in all situations, especially in dealings over the Internet, always have your security in mind. Do not divuge too much information about yourself, only what's necessary to close your sale. When arranging meet ups, be sure it will be in a safe or public area. Having a companion along may be best. Think of your customer as well. Consistency between your given name and payment details (i.e., account name) will help convince your client that you're a legitimate seller.
(5) As exciting as it is to close a sale and gain some extra cash, know your limits in choosing items to sell. ;) Don't go overboard in trying to sell every little thing in your house. I know it's tempting to be rid of the knick knacks your packrat of a husband stocks in your house, but it's always prudent to ask first :)
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Top Part Time / Work From Home Jobs
Here are the top 3 most common/popular part time and work from home jobs currently available:
Part Time
(1) Call Center Agents/Associates/Support - key requirements - good communication skills and computer skills. things to consider - willingness to work shifts, weekends, and holidays; there are companies that allow day shift hours and/or are mindful of ensuring employees don't work the graveyard shift for more than a couple of weeks (i.e., graveyard for two weeks, day shift for two weeks, graveyard again, etc.) - you may want to clarify the schedule requirements beforehand.
(2) Online English Teacher (ESL) - key requirements - good command of english language with accent; some are specific about hiring only females and/or applicants with degree in psychology/education or a LET passer. things to consider - most ads indicate a schedule that's late afternoon to evening and at times, weekends are required as well. I'm still researching this particular job offer. Comments/inputs most welcome!
(3) Academic Tutor (in a time where nursery students are expected to memorize Trees by Joyce Kilmer, tutors are very much in demand!) - key requirements - college graduate, excels in math, language, science, physics, or computer studies. things to consider - patience and good rapport with children is a must!
Work From Home
Most, if not all, work from home opportunities will require you to have a computer, high speed Internet, and telephone
(1) Data Encoder, Data Entry, Transcriptionist - key requirements - computer skills and typing speed of at least 40wpm (there are online typing tests available to guage this). things to consider - it's difficult to weed out the scams from actual job offers for these kinds of jobs; best to proceed with caution.
(2) Writing/Editing - key requirements - degree in marketing, advertising, or journalism or at least experience as a writer/editor. things to consider - SEO is in demand these days, you should look into this if you're not familiar with the term. If you are seriously considering tapping into the creative juices lurking within you and starting a writing career, you may want to try essays.ph.
(3) Start your own online business! - key requirements - think of a product, set up a website, and you're in business! things to consider - it's ridiculously easy to set up an online business in this day and age, but to actually come up with a viable product, market, and sell it ah, now there's a whole different ballgame!
Other work from home jobs available are outbound telemarketers and virtual assistants. Both will likely require you to own a headset.
Part Time
(1) Call Center Agents/Associates/Support - key requirements - good communication skills and computer skills. things to consider - willingness to work shifts, weekends, and holidays; there are companies that allow day shift hours and/or are mindful of ensuring employees don't work the graveyard shift for more than a couple of weeks (i.e., graveyard for two weeks, day shift for two weeks, graveyard again, etc.) - you may want to clarify the schedule requirements beforehand.
(2) Online English Teacher (ESL) - key requirements - good command of english language with accent; some are specific about hiring only females and/or applicants with degree in psychology/education or a LET passer. things to consider - most ads indicate a schedule that's late afternoon to evening and at times, weekends are required as well. I'm still researching this particular job offer. Comments/inputs most welcome!
(3) Academic Tutor (in a time where nursery students are expected to memorize Trees by Joyce Kilmer, tutors are very much in demand!) - key requirements - college graduate, excels in math, language, science, physics, or computer studies. things to consider - patience and good rapport with children is a must!
Work From Home
Most, if not all, work from home opportunities will require you to have a computer, high speed Internet, and telephone
(1) Data Encoder, Data Entry, Transcriptionist - key requirements - computer skills and typing speed of at least 40wpm (there are online typing tests available to guage this). things to consider - it's difficult to weed out the scams from actual job offers for these kinds of jobs; best to proceed with caution.
(2) Writing/Editing - key requirements - degree in marketing, advertising, or journalism or at least experience as a writer/editor. things to consider - SEO is in demand these days, you should look into this if you're not familiar with the term. If you are seriously considering tapping into the creative juices lurking within you and starting a writing career, you may want to try essays.ph.
(3) Start your own online business! - key requirements - think of a product, set up a website, and you're in business! things to consider - it's ridiculously easy to set up an online business in this day and age, but to actually come up with a viable product, market, and sell it ah, now there's a whole different ballgame!
Other work from home jobs available are outbound telemarketers and virtual assistants. Both will likely require you to own a headset.
The Intricacies of Online Job Hunting
After securing a valid ID, I started my job hunt for suitable, legal part time or work from home jobs that would give me a much needed break and extra income, but would still leave most of my time free for my daughter.
The Internet is a good source for job openings. Some sites filter the part time from the full time jobs, making it easier to search for one that works for you in terms of location, requirements, schedule, and pay. Below are sites I frequently monitor for potential part time jobs:
http://www.jobopenings.ph/list_specific_jobs.php?by=parttime_jobs
http://job-search.jobstreet.com.ph/campus/philippines/job-opening.php?by=part-time-jobs
Of course, since nearly everyone and anyone can access the Internet these days, it's always worthwhile to do a bit of research before submitting vital information to a potential employer. Here are some things I look out for:
(1) Company/Employer - if you're not familiar with the company, search for more information first from blogs, news articles, friends, or family
(2) Job Description and Requirements - trust your instincts. An ad looking for someone who's female, no more than 25 years old, with pleasing looks and personality, and no other requirements or an ad - from a company that focuses on sales - with vague job requirements save for the promise of no selling required and high pay, but you absolutely must first attend a seminar to learn more about their products makes me think twice.
(3) Any job that requires you to pay a registration fee is likely a scam.
When in doubt, it also helps to search for "[job description / company name] scam". Chances are, someone will have blogged about the scam (if any) already.
When you do find a job you like and decide to submit your resume, make your intentions clear in your cover letter. I once submitted my resume as is and got no response. My family said they probably considered it a big joke that someone at near managerial level is trying to apply as a clerk/encoder/assistant/entry level position. True, I was overly qualified for the jobs I was applying for, but the part time and work from home aspect mattered more to me than a career path (at least for now). I resubmitted my resume with a letter explaining that I'm a stay at home mom looking for a part time job. This time, I got a positive response. :)
The Internet is a good source for job openings. Some sites filter the part time from the full time jobs, making it easier to search for one that works for you in terms of location, requirements, schedule, and pay. Below are sites I frequently monitor for potential part time jobs:
http://www.jobopenings.ph/list_specific_jobs.php?by=parttime_jobs
http://job-search.jobstreet.com.ph/campus/philippines/job-opening.php?by=part-time-jobs
Of course, since nearly everyone and anyone can access the Internet these days, it's always worthwhile to do a bit of research before submitting vital information to a potential employer. Here are some things I look out for:
(1) Company/Employer - if you're not familiar with the company, search for more information first from blogs, news articles, friends, or family
(2) Job Description and Requirements - trust your instincts. An ad looking for someone who's female, no more than 25 years old, with pleasing looks and personality, and no other requirements or an ad - from a company that focuses on sales - with vague job requirements save for the promise of no selling required and high pay, but you absolutely must first attend a seminar to learn more about their products makes me think twice.
(3) Any job that requires you to pay a registration fee is likely a scam.
When in doubt, it also helps to search for "[job description / company name] scam". Chances are, someone will have blogged about the scam (if any) already.
When you do find a job you like and decide to submit your resume, make your intentions clear in your cover letter. I once submitted my resume as is and got no response. My family said they probably considered it a big joke that someone at near managerial level is trying to apply as a clerk/encoder/assistant/entry level position. True, I was overly qualified for the jobs I was applying for, but the part time and work from home aspect mattered more to me than a career path (at least for now). I resubmitted my resume with a letter explaining that I'm a stay at home mom looking for a part time job. This time, I got a positive response. :)
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