Key Questions for Examining Work at Home Opportunities
Working from home doesn’t have to involve scams. Learn to ask these questions to help you judge potential opportunities.
Work from home articles typically come with dire warnings about scams and how to avoid them. To be sure, you should guard yourself against being scammed, but there are ways to be protected. Asking yourself these questions as you explore a work at home opportunity will help you discover whether a potential opportunity is legitimate.
- Is there a fee involved?
The general rule is that jobs don’t require fees, but there are some exceptions. One popular web writing company requires writers to pay a $10 membership fee. Though many writers abhor this practice, others pay the fee to get the work available. Another telecommute job requires a fee to apply, and the company is legitimate.
A better rule is that if there is a fee involved, the company should be clear about what the fee is there to provide. An application fee of more than $20 is suspect, and a “materials” fee that doesn’t specify what materials will be provided is questionable.
- Is the potential employer upfront?
Representatives who don’t share information about their company upfront, including the company’s name and headquarters location are questionable companies. You need to ask yourself why the person isn’t willing to share information. A common tactic among these scammers is to act offended when questions are asked or to threaten to “move on” to the next person in line. Anyone who is rude and unhelpful when you’re considering an opportunity likely isn’t a person for whom you want to work.
- Does the job or business sound credible?
Companies claiming to be “revolutionary” rarely are. If this company’s products were so magnificent that they will change an industry, they’re probably seeking out higher-level publicity than building the business with individual salespeople. Beware of claims that make the company sound foolproof because that just isn’t the case with any company out there. Make a conscious effort to sort out the wild claims to see what’s left of the company. If you cannot feel confident about a product or service, then chances are that you will not have much success selling it to others.
While there is no guarantee you will never be scammed, and most work at home moms have been the victims of scammers at some point, asking questions and being critical will go a long way in helping you protect yourself from people who prey on your desire to avoid the office life.
By Brandi Rhoades
