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Work at Home Priorities

January 12, 2011 By Jen Leave a Comment
119656 4546 300x126 Work at Home Priorities
This week I have been giving a lot of thought to priorities. I had admittedly let some of my work ethic slacken during the holiday season, and then to top it off my husband and daughter both came down with a bad stomach virus. Right as I was getting ready to get back into the swing of things (isn’t that just the way things go!).
Then I took a moment to breathe and remember why I started working from home in the first place.


I decided that working at home was best for me and my family situation; I have a toddler at home and a husband with an erratic work schedule. I wanted to make money to supplement our income and to still be there for my family.
The main thing is that I wanted to be there for my family. So whether they are sick or in need of some family time around the holidays, this is the reason that I work at home and not a traditional job.
It just takes the occasional reminder to recall why I am so blessed to have a means of making money and being there for my family whenever and however they may need me.

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Resolutions 2011

December 21, 2010 By Jen Leave a Comment

20101221 014428 300x300 Resolutions 2011
As we all know the new year is only a few short weeks away.
It may seem clique to a start putting together new years
resolutions now, but when it has to do with your financials and
work it is best to start planning it out now. A few ideas for
resolutions; if you do not yet have a work at home job then that is
a great goal to start with. If you already have a work at home job,
then it might be in your best interest to start setting financial
goals. And if you are doing well on both of those fronts the
setting lifestyle goals ( finding a better home life balance
maybe?) is probably an excellent idea for you. I know that I am

setting goals for myself this year. Make more money, make a savings
plan for that extra money, and plan a family vacation where I won’t
have to work the whole time. Now is the time to silence your inner
cynic that is telling you that you will never be able to complete
these goals. New Years is the time to dream big, after all you have
a whole year to make it happen. Another thing that is important to
keeping your new years resolutions is to set a time line for your
goals. Maybe have a goal to get three applications for work at home
jobs done a week, or save $50 a month (starting small is the key to
getting your goals accomplished!). Or if you are working on the
work/life balance side of things, resolve to put away your computer
when you are done with work, or shut the office door until opening
time (keeping business hours). Tell me, what new years resolutions
you have for 2011? Comment below!

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Phone Interview Tips for Work at Home Jobs

December 14, 2010 By Jen Leave a Comment

dreamstimefree 982540 Phone Interview Tips for Work at Home Jobs

Last week we discussed Egg Hunting While Working Online from Home, so it is only logical to go to the next step if your applications are successful: the phone interview.

Whether you are you are a work at home agent looking to become and employee, an independent contractor, or freelancer; there is a chance that you will at some point need to do a phone interview.

Many of the same concepts of doing an in person interview apply to doing a phone interview. I recently did a phone interview for an independent contractor position, so I compiled a list of tips that helped me:

  1. Be prompt. Your interview likely has a busy schedule and quite a few interviews to do; being prompt will start you on the right foot.
  2. If you have call waiting turn it off! My business line has no features, and if you are interviewing for call center work it is a must to have plain old telephone service (POTS) with no features on your line.
  3. Do not eat or drink during your interview. You can imagine how bad it sounds to be talking to someone who is chewing throughout a telephone conversation  (this includes gum!). Although you should keep a glass or bottle of water on hand in case your throat gets a little dry.
  4. If you have children, make sure you schedule your interview during school hours (if they are school aged, and not homeschooling), or enlist the help of a friend, relative, or babysitter (if they are younger or being homeschooled).


  5. Smile. It is true, a smile does project over the telephone, and it will give your interviewer a positive image of you. This is essential if you are interviewing for any call center position for customer service or sales.
  6. Use the person’s title (Mr., Mrs., Ms. etc.). This shows respect. You should only use their first name if they ask you to.
  7. Always use appropriate language and grammar. Just don’t over think it, you should sound natural and not mechanical, and you will want to be thinking of your answers not whether or not you are ending on a proposition. And under no circumstances should you use profanity, this is never appropriate!
  8. If your interviewer is late, remain polite. This has happened to me before, but you must remember that the interviewer has a busy schedule with many interviews to conduct. So be understanding if they are late.

When interviewing for any work at home position, the interviewer will likely ask you quiet a few questions about your home office setup; be honest with your answers. The questions may range from whether you have a home office that is has a closing door and is free from distractions, to what operating system you have on your computer.

Many work at home companies and freelance projects have a list of home office requirements and work requirements listed on their site or project listing. Do your homework before doing your interview.

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Egg Hunting While Working Online From Home

December 7, 2010 By Jen 2 Comments

dreamstimefree 534125 300x225 Egg Hunting While Working Online From Home

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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I am truly sorry

November 15, 2010 By Jen

dreamstimefree 13161261 300x225 I am truly sorry

Today I received a notice that the Big List of Work at Home Companies was infringing on the copyright of RatRaceRebellion.

I want to publicly apologize for any infringement on my part. This list was meant to be useful to the work at home community as a whole; it was not intended to be malicious in any way.

You will notice that the work is no longer on the site. I will be reworking The Big List of Work at Home Jobs to still be useful, but not to infringe on R3’s copyright.

Please sign up for our mailing list to be notified when the list is back up and running.

Again I would like to apologize to the owners of RatRaceRebellion, Christine Durst and Michael Haaren.

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Working Online From Home – Reassessing Your Work at Home Expenses

November 9, 2010 By Jen Leave a Comment

dreamstimefree 555284 300x225 Working Online From Home – Reassessing Your Work at Home Expenses

This week I had a wake up call about my internet usage. I have been consistently going over the allowed download rate for the plan that I was on. So I had to reassess; would it be more expensive to stay on the internet plan that I was on (and keep paying the overage charges), or would it be necessary for me to upgrade to the unlimited plan?

Time For a Change

When you are working online from home, there are many times in business when you will need to reassess things, whether it is your time management style, your cost of doing business, or even what you are doing to make money.

We have all heard the saying, “if it ain’t broke; don’t fix it!” Well, I have a saying of my own, “if you can do it better; why not!”

What Tools are Going to Help You Be Successful?

Yes my internet was working fine, and yes I could just try and cut down on internet activity. But… working online from home requires certain tools, a big one being internet service! So it was more cost effective for me to upgrade and get more work done, and stop worrying that I was going to go over my download rate for the month!

The Tools of the Trade

The point is, that you need to focus on what is going to keep you on task, making money, and really take a look at something that might cost you more now (whether this is a new computer, internet service, or furthering your education) and look to see if it will save you more in the long run. I have skimped on the cost of a computer before and have learned the hard way that you usually get what you pay for.

What have you reassessed in your business, and how has it helped you?

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An Interview with Calissa Leigh Hatton

October 29, 2010 By Jen 1 Comment

dreamstimefree 823623 300x212 An Interview with Calissa Leigh Hatton

This week I had a chance to interview Calissa Leigh Hatton from CalissaLeigh.com.

What companies have/do you work for?

Many! I started out writing articles for $2.50. I didn’t think about myself as a writer. I thought it was just a job.

Ten years later, I work for Butler Hill part time as a data annotator, and I work for myself. I run my blog, have sponsors for it, and occasionally write for various online magazines.

Lately, though, I’ve been going to college, as I had a lot of free time and I wanted to take advantage of the local school. I’m also working on a few novels and stories.

What advice would you give someone trying to break into your field?

Read everything you can get your hands on about the job you want. For my writing career, I read everything at the library on writing. I looked up information online for any details I could soak up.

That was also true for any work at home job I held. It was all a matter of reading as much as possible about the job and then, if I figured out I would be a good fit, I’d do it.

Reading made a difference.

What is the best thing about working from home?

The two second compute from my bedroom to the home office. I don’t fight traffic. I don’t have to wear fancy clothes. My schedule is flexible. Time is valuable. I wanted work that I could wrap around my personal aspirations and my family and the things I love, not vice versa. Working from my house fit for me.

What is the worst thing about working from home?

Getting past the illusion that it isn’t real work, or it might be a scam, which friends or family members may think. Most don’t remember that before the Industrial Revolution, everyone worked from their own home and at their own schedule. Some may not ever like what you do, but you have to let it go. Know that what makes you happy and works for those you love is the best solution.

What encouragement can you give to my readers?

If you want to work from home, find your skills. What do you want to do? Most jobs can be done from home, so you are only limited to your skill set.

Even if you aren’t at your ideal job now, explore. If you need classes or if you need to be an apprentice, do what it takes. You are here for a reason, finding your place.

Some of us are meant to be the musicians, the artists, the filmmakers, the dancers.

Some of us are meant to be the doctors, the chemical engineers, the manufacturers, the physicists.

The doctors’ and engineers’ job is to support the musicians, and artists with the essential elements that make it possible for them to exist and do what they are meant to do.

And vice versa.

icon smile An Interview with Calissa Leigh Hatton

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Call Center Confidential

October 22, 2010 By Jen Leave a Comment

Call Center Confidential

dreamstimefree 631845 199x300 Call Center Confidential

Call center companies represent the most successful enterprise for stay at home jobs. There are call center companies hiring telecommuters everyday. The positions range from sales support (people who are ordering a product from a catalog, a website, or a brochure) to a technical support (a customer who needs help setting up a router or has computer issues).

The Right Start to Finding Legit Work From Home

If you are not yet a work at home agent and you want to get legit work from home, having a call center job can be a step in the right direction. I had very little work at home experience when I started posting my application at various call center companies. I was contracted within a month of applying (from the time I applied until I got contracted I was taking tests with them and getting incorporated).

Apply Yourself!

The hardest part of landing stay at home jobs is the application process. Sure it’s hard to find legit work from home, but once you have found it and applied it can take a long time to hear back (if you hear back at all!). Call center companies are inundated every day with applications. Which is where my next piece of advice comes in: apply, apply, apply! Do not put all of your eggs in one basket! I don’t say this to discourage you, I believe that those who want to will be able to eventually find stay at home jobs. So don’t be discouraged! I am just saying that you should diversify your application portfolio.

Call Center Company Employee vs. Independent Contractor

All call center companies are different, some hire only employees from certain states others only contract with independent contractors. As a work from home mom I prefer to work for call center companies as an independent contractor, even though most call center companies offer benefits to full time employees. Being an independent contractor generally means more flexibility in your schedule. This can also present risks for getting less hours of work than what you need.

Call Center Companies: Not All Phone and Games

Okay that was a terrible pun. A few call center companies hire for non-phone jobs, such as data entry work from home and chat operators (not all chat jobs are in the adult industry!). Speaking from experience, chat jobs can be difficult. You can be in the middle of three or four conversations each with a different problem that they need a solution to and each with a time limit. Customers can get pretty impatient when you aren’t on the phone with them explaining that you are looking for the solution to there problem or the product that they are looking for.

Explore Your Options

There are many call center companies out there that hire on a fairly regular basis. As stated before you should apply and keep on applying until you get something. If you land a position as an independent contractor you might need to get one or two stay at home jobs to get a steady flow of work and income.

Or…

Maybe you thought that you would like being an independent contractor, but you start realizing that the benefits of being an employee are more important. Or a certain call center company is offering a better client base to work with.
Do not be discouraged in your pursuit to becoming a work at home agent! It is something that requires perseverance and patience.

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How to Become a Work at Home Agent with no Experience

August 27, 2010 By Jen 1 Comment

How to Become a Work at Home Agent with no Experience

freedom laptop How to Become a Work at Home Agent with no Experience

How do you become a work at home agent when you have no experience? Well I believe that is a question that I am more than qualified to answer. Why? Get ready for it… I have never had a “real world” job! Honestly! My first “job” was selling products for Avon.  From there I moved on to different ventures that have made me money working from home.

So how do you become a work at home agent with no experience?

  • Assess experience that you do have. Whether the experience that you have is life experience, volunteer work, or “real world” job experience (this is if you have a job, but you are worried about not having work at home experience).  When you are starting out put everything that is relevant in your resume. Even if your last job was as an Avon Sales Rep, doing small tasks for money, or running a home based daycare.
  • Aim for an “easy” job to get your start. If you have absolutely no experience at all you can still get started with a job in direct sales or telemarketing. This will get something on your resume. And who knows, you might end up liking the job and find that it is something worth keeping.
  • Educate yourself. You can sign up for adult education classes at a local college or online. You can learn things that are useful for getting work at home jobs like: Microsoft Office, QuickBooks, and Photoshop etc.  Really the sky is the limit, find a job that you want to do, find out what skills you need to have to obtain that job.
  • And my final tip: Apply for the job! Even if you don’t have the experience you never know whether or not the company might just accept you “as is” and provide you the training later.

Whatever you do, don’t give up! Trust me it is a popular phrase for the work at home crowd. If you are waiting to hear back from that one perfect company, apply for other companies and positions while you are waiting. It is better to get paid while you are waiting and building your experience.

pixel How to Become a Work at Home Agent with no Experience

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