LEGITIMATE WORK FROM HOME JOBS

The internet has become a great utility for people in a variety of situations looking for legitimate work from home jobs. Whatever the situation, a home-based employment opportunity is an ideal way to earn money without the stressful commute or time away from family. However, securing one of these jobs can be a daunting task, especially with the variety of scams online. For this reason, it's critical to follow some simple guidelines as a way of pre-screening potential employers. Hopefully these tips, along with a little common sense, will help you find the job you've been looking for.

Don't Pay To Apply

No legitimate company will ever ask you for an upfront payment of any kind to apply for a job. At best, these types of opportunities are just taking your money in exchange for information that is available online for free and may not even be legitimate work from home jobs. At worst, they will take your hard-earned money and never provide any service at all.

If it Sounds too Good to be True, it Probably is

Many job listings boast that workers can earn thousands of dollars a week simply by stuffing envelopes, processing claims, building craft kits or posting ads online. Unfortunately, these claims are often exaggerated or even fabricated entirely. These positions usually come with expensive "start up" kits and little to know direction. While it may be theoretically possible to make money in these environments, it is highly unlikely without prior experience.

Avoiding Multi Programs

Multi (multi-level marketing) is another word for pyramid scheme, and the programs usually involve selling the program itself to other people in your social circle for a commission. These programs provide no real service, instead relying on recruiting other people to sign up. Of course, you may experience short-term success, but once your pool of potential investors dries up, you'll be left with no further way to expand your business, and the high fees involved make it very difficult to come out ahead.

Find the Real Deal

Legitimate work from home jobs often involve marketing yourself or a skill for a fee. This can include selling goods online through reputable sites like eBay, writing articles in your spare time, or designing websites. Often, your best chance at success is directly related to any educational or job background you already have. If you've worked retail or sales in the past, consider an at-home position as an independent contractor in the customer service field.

Your best bet when looking at companies that may be hiring is to check with national registries like the Better Business Bureau. Also, a quick internet search of the company should give you a fairly good idea about their reputation and payment practices.

 Many people are lured by the appeal of a quick buck when looking for legitimate work from home jobs, but the key is to closely examine each opportunity and compare the claimed earnings to what you could expect to earn in a similar position you might commute to each day. If the numbers are significantly higher than the industry average, this is a huge red flag.