A Clear Picture of an Online Home-based Job

Whenever people would know that I'm working online at the convenience of my home, most of them immediately ask me "GIVE ME AN ONLINE JOB" as if I'm an employer.
They have this misconception that online job is very easy to do and easy to find but the truth is ONLINE JOB is not as easy as it sounds and its not easy to find as well. It is still the same as finding a job face to face.
You have to search a job, then you have to undergo a series of interviews and tests, the only difference is its done virtually...
I would like to give you a clear picture of what a real online job is...
1. You've got to find an employer who is willing to give you a job online. Where can you find this? Go to www.craigslist.org, there are lots there. Send them your resume and application letter and wait for their response.
2. If employer thinks that you fit for him, he would reply to your email and will interview you and give you a series of test and if you failed, then you wouldn't get the job.
3. During the interview, just like a face-to-face interview, you've got to sell yourself in 30 seconds. Plus, you have to convince your employer that you're trustworthy as they are not always there to watch over your head if you're doin the job or not.
4. You've got to have the skills: COMPUTER AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Even if you're very much willing to do online job and has all the time in the world but you do not have these skills, no employer would take you. Online job is not like a sit-down-face-the-computer stuff. Its doing what an office worker do, only its virtual. Still, you have to meet deadlines, do tasks and report to a boss.
COMPUTER SKILLS
a. At least you should be proficient with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint)
Where did I learn these? From my high school, college and university computer classes and was enhanced by hands-on. If you're not proficient with these, I'd advise you to take classes on these as this cannot be learned for few days.
b. You've got to be internet savvy...This includes good knowledge on the following:
* INTANT MESSENGERS like yahoo, skype, msn, google talk,digsby
* SOFTWARES like teamviewer and logmein.
* SOCIAL NETWORKING WEBSITES like myspace, facebook and twitter. Employers are using these sites to market their stuffs.
These days, knowledge of basic html and java is a big plus.
Where did I learn these? I learned these on my own... Since I was in high school, I like surfing the net. I kept myself up to date with what's the newest social networking sites and I register myself for fun and to connect myself with my friends. I never knew that I could earn from these.
I don't know html and java...These need to be studied thoroughly in a class.
I'm blessed with friends who are internet savvy so they also keep me posted of new stuff in the net.
c. Most employers prefer someone who can type fast. You've got to have at least an average typing skills. My father is a typewriter technician so ever since I was a kid, I'm playing with the keyboard so now I have excellent typing speed of at least 80 words per minute.
COMMUNICATION
You must be FLUENT IN ENGLISH, whether in speaking or writing.
Most employers are from North America and they prefer someone who knows their language.
If you have excellent English communication skills then there are a lot of online writing jobs posted on Craigslist.
WHERE DID I GET MY ONLINE JOB?
I'm mainly dependent on www.craigslist.org. It took me 4 to 5 months browsing on Craigslist everyday and sending my resume and application letters to many employers before I got my first online job.
But I was fooled twice.
First, one employer gave me a project to do for at least a week. But after the work has been done, he never contact me back. He only gave me an email address as a contact info. JOB: RESEARCH
Second was a medical billing company. If you guys encountered PSC Billing with an employer name Rachel Jacobs, you've got to negotiate properly. Make sure you take note what was agreed and never delete all the emails and let them pay you after 2 weeks, not after a month. This company paid me half of what was agreed. Good thing they still paid me but I felt I was cheated. I devoted my time and effort and they only pay half of the agreed price. JOB: MEDICAL BILLING AND ENCODING
This is one disadvantage of online job as you cannot talk to the employers face to face. Mostly, they communicate through emailing.
I'm now left with two great employers (3 hours/day each of them).
One is based in Oregon. His name is Andrew Ferlitsch. He's very good and he's paying me on time. I also learn great new things from him about online marketing. My job is viral marketing using social networking sites like myspace, facebook and twitter and directory scrapping.
The other one is with StayLoadedCanada.Com. This case is different. I didn't find this job through craigslist. I was working with the company as an agent and after 2 weeks, I was promoted as Verification Officer and after few months as a Marketing Manager. I resigned but the employer, Ranjit Grewal, saw my potentials and decided to let me do my job at home only. These are my tasks for him:
1. designing concepts for the website using Microsoft Office tools
2. answering email queries- around 5-10 emails per day
3. composing marketing emails and sending to clients once a week
4. creating and revising company brochure (when needed- so far I made 2 brochures).
5. research
Best thing is Mr. Ranjit Grewal rewarded me an Acer laptop as a bonus for performing well.
SCAM ONLINE JOBS:
1. Do not pay to get a job. Some of them would ask you to pay for a software that you're going to use or a registration fee to get access to online jobs or some would ask you to purchase an ebook before getting the job. These are scams. You are looking for a job to earn, not to spend.
2. During negotiation, ask them to pay you for at least the first or second weeks. Not after a month. Some of them would run away after you have done the project so make sure you'll get paid first for your time and effort.

Do you still think ONLINE JOB is easy to get and easy to do?
Go to www.craigslist.org and search for jobs there. You can find mostly in India or Philippines Customer Service Jobs. And if you couldn't find something that doesn't fit your skills, please don't ask me for a job as I'M NOT AN ONLINE EMPLOYER. I'm just sharing you how I get it and IT'S REALLY UP TO YOU TO FIND AND GET IT.

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