Telecommuting

Clemson University presents a short introduction to the practice of telecommuting. Although the information was written prior to the year 2000, the Web page explains what telecommuting is, and provides some advice in an easy-to-comprehend manner.

Gil Gordon Associates offers advice to people considering at-home work and provides an extensive page of FAQs that answer many common telecommuting questions. Use the "Site Map" link to see the content available; much of it isn't readily apparent from the homepage.

AllBusiness.com has an extensive series of articles about telecommuting. Many of the articles are at least five years old, but the information should give you a good perspective on the telecommuting workforce. You'll have to register for a free membership to read the articles in their entirety.

50Plus.com explains the positive and negative aspects of telecommuting, with a little more emphasis on the negative aspects you should consider before making a decision to telecommute.

Suite101.com has several “Lessons” on telecommuting. Use Lesson 1 to determine whether you fit the profile of a telecommuter and review both the pros and cons of telecommuting. The lesson helps dispel some of the myths of telecommuting, including the idea that telecommuting can damage your career.

CNNMoney.com examines a new breed of telecommuter in “Extreme telecommuting.” Read the article and get inspired to take your at-home office on the road…or around the world.

Quintessential Careers provides a thorough background on transitioning from the office setting to a work-at-home arrangement. Learn to prepare a proposal and successfully present it to your boss in order to negotiate a telecommute situation.

Main Street Mom discusses the positive and negative aspects of telecommuting and examines some of the issues that may come up. Learn how to convince your boss that a work-at-home arrangement may be beneficial to you both.

Craigslist posts classified ads from major cities around the world. Choose your location from the list and search the “jobs” section in your field of interest. Once you’ve chosen a field (for example, “nonprofit sector”), be sure to check the “telecommute” box near the upper left corner to narrow the results to telecommuting jobs.

WAHM.com (Work-at-Home Moms) provides information and support for parents who work at home, including a short, regularly updated list of work-at-home jobs that the site publishers attempt to screen for legitimacy; scroll down to the “New jobs added” headline to find them. Get advice or chat with other telecommuters in the "Ask Jane" section or “The Message Boards.”

Worldwide Work At Home offers a list of telecommuting jobs and freelance projects from around the world. Look for work-at-home jobs in categories like data entry, freelance writing and web design. Stop by the site’s “Work At Home Forum” to discuss telecommuting, its effects on personal life and job leads; registration is required to post messages.

Net-Temps offers a list of "The Seven Rules That Weed Out Scams." Find examples of job advertisements that would likely prove to be a scam and learn how to identify them.

Creative Work at Home features an article called “How to Spot a Work at Home Scam.” In a number of bullet points, the selection explains what you should look out for when choosing a telecommunications employer, such as sites that ask for “too much information.”

The Better Business Bureau has information about more than 2.5 million businesses and charities. To find out whether a potential employer is legitimate, choose the "Check Out a Business or Charity" link and enter the business name to read the company’s “Reliability Report.”

Ripoff Report is a consumer-based Web site that allows you to report a company or individual if you’re the victim of a scam. Use the site to research a company and find out if any complaints have been filed against the company.

Telework Recruiting’s article, “From the Employer's Shoes,” addresses the overwhelming number of resumes employers receive when they advertise for a telecommuting position. Learn why you may never hear back from an employer regarding some of the jobs you've applied for.

CNN.com has a complete “Work at Home” guide that focuses on setting up a home-based office and working effectively from home. Find articles on how to organize your desk, make your home office childproof, and find just the right chair to complement that organized desk.

FolderShare is an application that allows you to share files with clients by dropping them into virtual folders. Download the free program and create folders to share with clients as if on a network server. As long as you’re online, you can update files or move them in and out of the designated folders from your computer; they’ll be instantly updated on the computers of everyone else who has access to that folder.

YouSendIt allows you to "send, receive and track files, on-demand." This service streamlines and facilitates the process of sending large files to multiple people at a time, making overnight couriers, FTP transfers and bulky e-mail attachments a thing of the past. Use the program for free or pay for more advanced features.

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) has an article explaining the difference between an independent contractor and a company employee.

The Internal Revenue Service publishes "Business Use of Your Home," a guide that explains tax deductions available to those who work in a home office.