This could be a very short blog post:
You apply for a work at home job just as you would for any other job- with professionalism and a resume.
But it’s not going to be a short post.
Unfortunately, I just lost another client that had posted a job listing with me. (You did know that we have job listings here, didn’t you? They’re here.) She had such a negative experience with what she termed my “workforce” that she was inspired to take the time to send me her feedback:
I wanted to provide you feedback that the applicants I received from your site were the worst of the bunch. Many of them did not even provide a resume – they just sent an email that read, “I would like more information on how to apply to this position.” When they did provide a resume, there was no text in the body of the email (no cover letter/summary of why they fit).
Based on what I’ve seen of your workforce, I will not be posting future roles on your site. I would recommend coaching your community to provide a brief cover letter/introduction and resume when responding to any opportunities.
Ouch! This is very frustrating because I often rant provide constructive feedback in my ezines and on this blog about the importance of treating a work at home job search with the same professionalism as a traditional job search. I include this type of reminder in almost every issue of The Job Listings Weekly.
So, here I am again…shouting it out there for anyone listening: You must be professional when applying for a job.
I’m a visual person, so let’s imagine this scenario…Sending an email to a prospective employer that says, “I’m interested in the job” while ignoring their application instructions is a little bit like walking into a prospective employer’s office wearing what you had on after working in the garden all day, snapping gum in your mouth and saying, “Hey, I want this job. Hire me.”
My client had put very specific application instructions in her listing. One of those instructions was that applicants include a resume. So, those that didn’t include one sent this employer a very clear message: They either don’t know how to or don’t want to follow directions. Not many people are going to consider hiring someone who can’t follow simple directions.
The same people who respond to job listings in this way are often the ones who email me, frustrated and just not understanding how they can apply to every job on my site and not get one response back. I’m beginning to see why.
When you apply for a work at home job, be sure to read the listing carefully. Follow the application instructions to the letter. If they ask for a resume, include one. If it must be sent in the body of the email rather than as an attachment, then don’t send an attachment.
If you’re applying by email, treat your email message as your cover letter. Address it to the employer and highlight the specific skills and experience you have that match their requirements. You can find sample cover letters and advice on how to write one here.
Remember that emails that you send are a reflection of you and often the only chance you have to make an impression on them. Pay attention to the basics like spelling, grammar and punctuation. Address your email in a professional manner such as, “Dear Mrs. Smith” rather than, “hi” or worse yet- no salutation at all.
This may all seem like pure common sense to most of you, but you’d be surprised. As I’m writing this a new comment has arrived on another post that reads:
sir,
i have good typing speed give me information about data entry job
Sigh.
![[del.icio.us]](http://images.del.icio.us/static/img/delicious.small.gif){kind=small}
As a professional freelance writer, I have been applying for and working at jobs via the Internet for four years. While your client has validity to her claim, I also want to put you on notice that the door swings both ways.
I and others have often been mislead by what we thought were professional postings, only to send our resume and receive spam after spam. Recently fellow writers and I have applied to writing jobs and get an e-mail back saying, “Due to spam, please go to our website to apply.” When we go to the website, it collects our contact information, and then sends us to another website – hence the spam. Then there are those ‘professional’ clients who ask for samples, whom you never heard from again. Later, in a Google search, imagine our surprise when our ’sample’ has been robbed and put on someone else’s website under someone else’s name!
I have taken to only enclosing a resume with an e-mail address as contact information – ONLY for these jobs. When I apply, I specifically enclose a one-two paragraph professional sample – never a complete one. In these days of internet security fraud and obvious rip-offs, job seekers need to be as careful as employers.
What would help:
1. When asking for a resume, please, upon receiving it, send back a professional response saying it has been received and it is either under review (which will take approximately two weeks) OR that your resume did not make the cut and better luck next time. I have turned down jobs offered to me, six to eight weeks later, because it indicated the employer was not prepared or did not know the scope of the project hiring for; how you are treated BEFORE you get the interview/job is a reflection of how you will be treated AFTER you get the job.
2. Any job should come with a contract that clearly delineates the candidate’s and employer’s responsibilities. When I apply, I always mention, I work with a contract ONLY. You would be surprised how much that alone cuts the ‘wheat from the chaff’ for ‘professional’ employers.
3. Mention a fair price and other specifics. In order for qualified applicants to apply, the ad must be as specific as possible. I want to know the who, what, when, where, and how much; I need to know if this is a long term or short term project, and I need a legitimate business name and address.
I realize this is a long answer, but I have some equally strong views living on the opposite side of the fence!
I understand that employer’s frustration. I teach college and know firsthand how unable some people are to follow simple directions. However, it’s often the employer, not the applicant, who’s being unclear. Employment ads are often vague in terms of instructions, expectations, and compensation. Sometimes I’m not gong to bother applying for a job unless I know it will be worth my time. So, what’s wrong with asking for more information? Employers should expect to meet us halfway by providing as much information and CLEAR instructions as possible.
Sharon,
I completely understand your frustration with the negative response you received from your former client. I was a HR-Technology recruiter for a Finance firm in the tri-state area. Many applicants need to understand that it is a waste of a hiring professionals time, whether the direct manager, or the HR representative doing the initial screening, to wade thru e-mail responses that don’t follow the specific instructions.
In this ecomony, with jobs so scarce, and companies very choosy, applicants must realize that their initial e-mail is their calling card: the first and best impression. If that e-mail falls short of the specifics, or is too casual, and not serious regarding the job listed…it gets tossed or deleted. And, unfortunatly, the listing agent – such as yourself, may be dropped from doing business. It’s a shame.
Hopefully the professional applicants will shine and show they get it.
Best Regards,
Nicole
Dear Sharon Davis,
I am not sure why I was sent this email to look into how to apply for an at home job. When I am interested in a position to work from home, I can assure you that I will and do submit my resume.
If you have any positions available to where I can work from home I would be more than willing to submit my resume. I will only ask that this be a legitimate opportunity for me to make money.
I have been taken to the cleaners with a lot of scams. I will ask that you provide proof of the business being legitimate. I feel like this is only fair.
I will await you answer.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Lisa
@BJ Menter…You make excellent points and it’s great to consider the view from the other side. Freelancers often have more challenges (and so do the people who hire them) due to the nature of contract work. Thanks for taking the time to leave your comments.
@Kathy Teel…I agree completely that employers are also guilty of posting vague instructions. I think my frustration is more with those whose responses are fraught with misspelled words, bad grammar as well as those who don’t follow instructions when they are clearly outlined in the listing.
@Nicole…I was a hiring manager for many years and totally get the employer’s perspective. It’s so true that the initial email is the applicant’s only chance at a first impression.
@Lisa…I think you need to read the blog post (you, as well as my other 46,000 readers received the email because you subscribe). I am not an employer, so I don’t have any positions available. There are job listings at the site and there is a link to them in the post above.
Good luck.
Lisa,
I am in agreement with BJ who talked about SPAM. For one application and resume that I submitted I now get 100’s of emails to that address and can no longer use my job email! For me, I know ask for information and if I apply I do not put any personal information on my resume. It is sad that the world has come to this, but you cannot trust your informaion, of any type, to be safe if you are not cautions. Please advise your client of this too. While I know many people are not professional and as a manager I saw my share of cover letters filled with errors many of us are just trying to protect ourselves while we look for at home employment.
Thank you.
based business home home legitimate work…
Working at Home Blog Carnival-129th Edition poster..what is your take on based business home home legitimate work ?…
Hi Sharon,
I just found this blog…I like it.
I have been a professional resume writer for several yeas now and while I was getting my business off the ground, I had several telecommute gigs. One of them was screening resumes. I also worked on pre-employment background screenings. Prior to all of that, I was a retail manager and a restaurant manager.
All combined, I have been reviewing resumes for nearly 15 years. I feel qualified to say that about 80% of jobseekers screw up somewhere.
Here’s what I have seen the most (in my experience):
* They completely ignore the instructions in job announcements.
* They fail to send professional correspondence.
* They fail to do a manual spell check (because you can have a typo that’s spelled correctly).
* They do everything by the book except they are caught lying about their credentials.
It’s very frustrating indeed.
I’m thankful that the other 20% of jobseekers take their careers seriously because that group is keeping me employed.
Hi Sharon, this is prasad from India.
I have been in continuous search of a work from home job. I have gone through several websites/blogs. Whenever I come accross one I submit my resume together with a covering letter requesting them to furnish the details of any legit work from home job. Some people ask for $97 and some ask $39.97. When I get ready to close that window, another window opens asking me not to leave and they are ready to reduce the offer price. This makes me sick. I dont know where do I fit in. I served a reputed Bank in operations as a manager retail banking for some time and left the organisation voluntarily. Now I want to start my second innings from home. whether it be a typing job or any administrative job. Can u please help me in finding a suitable job for me?
regards
prasad.
Prasad,
If it’s a job you’re looking for then there shouldn’t ever be a cost involved. Be very careful using the phrase “typing job” in your searches as this is one of the scammers favorite phrases to use. Employers just don’t hire people to do simple typing from home. The legitimate jobs that do exist are typically for specialized skills such as database work, medical coding, transcription, translation, etc. When doing a search at a job site, use keywords like “administrative + telecommute” or by adding words like “virtual”, “telecommute” or “remote” to a specific job title.
I have a section of the site that lists companies that hire transcriptionists (mostly legal rather than medical):
http://www.2work-at-home.com/t.....jobs.shtml
There’s also a section that has companies that hire home based customer service reps here:
http://www.2work-at-home.com/c.....jobs.shtml
And finally a list of telecommute friendly companies:
http://www.2work-at-home.com/telecommute.shtml
Have you ever considered offering your services as a Virtual Assistant? You could specialize in your field, based on your experience. I wrote an article a while back on this growing field that you might find useful:
http://www.2work-at-home.com/a.....sist.shtml
I hope this is helpful. Best of luck to you.
One of the issues that come up in Monster.com is you have HR departments who don’t know what they are doing and just slap degrees so they don’t have to THINK.
A related issue my late mother told my about that was true in her time (1950s and 1960s) was requirement inflation. To reduce the number of applicants the employer would inflate the requirements. Well wonder of wonders the job councilors at the state office figured this out and have been telling would be applicant that if you are a “close fit” to apply anyhow.
Their advice regarding e-mail applications can from the horrid to the down right ridiculous so perhaps these applicants WERE following directions–the directions provided by STATE WORKERS who supposed to be helping them find a job.
Now, there’s a scary thought….
Can anyone tell me where I can work at home only just posting some blog?
Can someone tell me exactly what kind of resume a stay-at-home-mom for over 14 years would have? Because, that’s me! I’ve built a blog from scratch in a little over a year. I receive over 10,000 page views a month, have over 400 subscribed readers, and over 1600 followers on Twitter.
I “work” with several PR companies and review products in exchange for free samples of the product. I also write paid articles for different companies from time to time.
How does that translate into a resume?
Kenyatta Rodriguezs last blog post..Would You Like The Secret To A Simpler Happier Life?
Kenyatta,
Your resume would be very much the same as any other. You should list your freelance work as you would a job. Same goes for your blog. You are a business owner and there is a whole range of duties and responsibilities that go along with that. Feel free to toot your own horn with regards to your success!
I am a Canadian and I’m looking for a work at home job.
I find it very hard to find a job in Canada. There are just a few companies within the US that will hire a Canadian. If you have any information on these types of positions that would be great.
I have worked with the Canadian Federal government for more than 18 years and Canadian private industry for more than 10 years. I have lots of office experience, but to find a “virtual office” position in Canada is very hard.
When I look at the US advertisements for these type of positions, they don’t mention anything Canadian, like address being province not state, postal code not zip code. I’m assuming that these companies don’t hire outside the US. Again, if I’m wrong please let me know.
Thanks for listening and I’m looking forward to your response.
Lori Toffolo
Kemptville, ON
Canada K0G 1J0
Hi Lori,
Have you looked at the companies listed at my site for Data Entry and Customer Service Jobs? I know that some of these are open to Canadians.
Another thing you might consider is to offer your services as a Virtual Assistant. This is a growing field that is becoming more popular with small business owners who have parts of their business that they cannot or just don’t want to do, like advertising or bookkeeping. This is where you would come in. You could specialize in a particular area or you could be a “Jill of all trades”.
I wrote an post a while back on Virtual Assistants that you might find helpful.
Another site you might want to check out is Jen Goodwin’s Internet Girl Friday. She hires people to work as Virtual Assistants and while that may only be open to US residents, she also has a way for your to run your own VA business that she walks you through that might be worth a look.
Good Luck!