All it takes on a day like today is one look at the Denver traffic report during the morning commute to be thankful for having work that can be done from home. There’s no wasted time when all you need to do is saunter from the bedroom to the kitchen table or basement office to get to work. Now, not everyone is cut out to work from home—some people thrive on the in-person interaction of an office environment and others need the constant accountability for being productive. But for those who are self-motivated and have other outlets for socializing, work-at-home options may be just the ticket. Here are just a few of them:
FlexJobs.com
Founded right here in Boulder, FlexJobs.com is a highly vetted site offering work-at-home gigs in addition to flexible work arrangements for both part- and full-time workers throughout the country. Read the whole story of how FlexJobs was founded and what they have to offer to job seekers.
Freelance
Whether you want to freelance to make a living or just pick up side jobs here and there to supplement other income, Elance can be a good place to find work you can do from home. Companies looking for freelancers post projects in search of competitively priced services from video editing, voice overs, graphic design, and writing of all types to virtual assistants, research, transcribing, and much more. Other helpful freelance job sites include FreelanceSwitch.com, jobs.37signals.com , and AuthenticJobs.com (filter results to find freelance work and look for “Anywhere” in the Location).
Start blogging
If you’re passionate about a topic that others would want to learn about, you’re a candidate for starting a blog. You won’t start off making ‘big bucks’ doing this, but if you’ve got a knack for creating compelling content, post regularly, and make an effort to ‘market’ your blog to gain readership, you might be able to add a few dollars to your bank account through advertising on the site (and, in some cases, a tidy sum if your blog becomes popular). Blogs can be a lot of fun and, heck, who said you had to only write one—if you have a variety of interests and want an excuse to vent or research or whatever it is that excites you, why not create more than one blog? Start with a free blog.
Take your current job home with you
Maybe you’re not looking for a new job opportunity—maybe you enjoy your job, just not the commute that comes with it. Take a good look at what you do all day to see if it could be done at the same, or higher, level of quality output from home. If it passes the test, consider trying to make a switch from an in-office to an at-home arrangement. Here’s an article to help you get the conversation started with your boss.
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More information:
Best companies to work for (and with): FlexJobs.com
How to pitch your boss on telecommuting
Telecommuting tips from Microsoft
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About this Examiner: Kathryn Marion is the award-winning author of GRADS: TAKE CHARGE of Your First Year After College!, the most comprehensive resource for navigating the world of work and independent living after graduation, as well as host of the book’s companion resource site, www.GradsTakeCharge.com. The print edition of GRADS: TAKE CHARGE is available through Amazon and other online booksellers. The e-book edition is available through e-junkie.
Kathryn also coaches students, graduates, and career changers as well as consults with small businesses and aspiring authors.
Follow her other Examiner columns: College to Career and Life After College. And even more articles on SelfGrowth.com.
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