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By Wendy Betterini
Are you so serious about working at home that you would pay
money to prove it? If you answer yes to that question, you are
a prime target for scammers because this is one tactic they
love to use. They may word it differently on various websites
and advertisements, but the main point they want to get across
is that by sending them your money, you will be "proving" how
serious you are about working for them.
Nothing could be more ridiculous. Have you ever seen a
legitimate company do something like this? Imagine applying
for
a job at any established company, and as you are handing your
application to the receptionist, she says, "Thank you, Mr.
Smith. In order to prove you are really serious about working
for us, we will need to charge you a $19.95 application
processing fee. Will that be cash or credit card?" Ridiculous,
right?
Yet, that same intelligent, hard-working Mr. Smith would think
nothing of sending his money to an obscure Paypal account if
the owner claims to have work at home jobs available. It's
just
one more example of how scammers prey on your desperation to
work at home. They know you are eagerly searching for a way to
earn an income from home, and they know that you'll do
anything
to make that happen.
The good news is that this tactic makes the scammers
incredibly
transparent and easy to avoid. By asking for your money, they
are "proving" that they do not have anything to offer you,
because legitimate companies will not charge you any money to
work for them.
So, how do you prove you're serious about working for a
company
that does offer legitimate work at home? It's a little more
complex than whipping out the credit card. Here are three ways
to make telecommuting employers sit up and take notice:
1) Make sure your resume and cover letter are in top form. If
you're not confident about your ability to write your own
resume and cover letter, definitely pay a professional to do
them for you. A good cover letter can be all it takes to grab
the attention of a hiring manager, while a targeted resume can
accurately portray your skills and experience, which will
result in getting that coveted interview.
2) Apply for jobs you are truly qualified for. While it may be
tempting to apply for any home-based job you come across, your
application will carry more weight if you focus on jobs that
complement your experience and qualifications. Avoid applying
for jobs that you are grossly overqualified or underqualified
for, or jobs that have nothing to do with the experience you
have. If an advertisement specifies that no experience is
necessary, you can certainly apply, but be sure to mention in
your cover letter why you feel you would be the best one for
the job. Highlight any experience you do have that would help
you to excel in this job.
3) Portray yourself as a true professional in every way. From
the moment you begin composing your application, it is
imperative to demonstrate why you would be an asset to the
company. Give special attention to your application and review
it several times to be sure there are no errors. Learn as much
as you can about the proper way to apply for jobs, interview
strategies, and professional etiquette. It may seem like a lot
of effort, but it is time well-spent! The attention you put
into the process will reveal a lot about you, and make you
stand out from the other applicants who may be more careless.
See how easy that is? Okay, maybe it's not as easy as shelling
out $19.95, but this way you'll actually EARN money, instead
of
losing it! It may take time and determination to get a
legitimate work at home job, but if you do all you can to
prepare yourself and approach it in the right way, you will be
successful. And the next time someone asks you if you're
serious about working at home, you can honestly answer yes --
and you won't have to touch your wallet to prove it.
About The Author: Wendy Betterini is a freelance writer, web
designer and owner of www.CreativeWorkAtHome.com, a
resource center for home business owners and telecommuters.
Visit today for information on how to make your work at home
experience successful.
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