The work at home community will often refer to jobs as eggs. And as the saying goes, you should never put all of your eggs in one basket.
Yesterday I went on a application spree, applying for just about any job that I felt I had the experience to perform.
I already have work, so why, you ask, was I applying for more jobs? Alas, it is the curse of the independent contractor to continually be searching for more eggs to add to their basket. Independent contractor work is usually part time or temporary in nature, so it only makes sense to keep an eye out for more opportunities to continue working online from home.
In my case, it is a preemptive strike as one of my eggs is slowing down for the holiday season and another has a contract that may or may not renew in a few months.
Preparation is the Easiest and Fastest Way to Hunt for Eggs
This will apply if you are currently working online from home, or if you are working another job while trying to get work at home jobs (be it a traditional day job or full time caregiver to children or the elderly).
The first thing you will want to do is to create a resume. There are many guides and resources online with free resume writing tips. WorkPlaceLikeHome has a great thread for resumes for work at home jobs (clicking the link will take you to the page, though you will likely need to register to view it).
The next step is to keep that resume updated. Any work at home jobs you have (even if they are temporary) should be listed on your resume to show that you have experience working independently from home. You will also need to put our resume in an easy to find location on your computer (such as the desktop) for easy reference and quick upload to the site that has the job you are applying for.
You will want to have information for 2-3 references on hand in case the application requires references. Your references should not be family members, but former/current employers, coworkers, or friends. Make sure you have their name, address, phone number, and email.
A note: you should of course get the consent of the person you will be putting down as a reference and do your research to make sure that the company you are applying for is legit and will not be selling or using their information to harass or solicit.
Additional Preparation for Your Egg Hunt
You will want to have or setup an email account that you can check regularly. You will not want to have lost out on an interview opportunity because the email got lost in a sea of junk mail; most requests for more information or interviews are time sensitive. I recommend getting a Gmail account for the storage and ease of setting up for mobile use (yes, I am constantly checking my emails on my iPhone).
In a Nutshell:
- Create a resume.
- Keep your resume updated.
- Put your resume in an easy to access location on your computer.
- Get your references in order.
- Make sure you have an email account that you check regularly.
You should not just wait around hoping and praying that the one job you applied for might be the one. Continue egg hunting and checking your emails until your basket is overflowing with eggs.
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