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Is a Part Time Job on the Internet Right for You?

Is a Part Time Job on the Internet Right for You?

Many women these days are finding that their paycheck just isn't going as far as it used to and in many cases, there is just “more month than money.” In order to stop themselves from falling into debt, or just to try and make sure that they can maintain a decent standard of living for themselves and their families they realize that finding a part time job may be the best solution.

Even that, though, is easier said than done these days as traditional jobs are still pretty scarce all over the country. There is another option though - finding a part time job on the Internet.

Traditional Part Time Job vs. Part Time Job on the Internet

Before you start looking for a part time job at all you may want to consider the pros and cons associated with both holding a traditional part time job and of choosing to find extra work on the Internet. Here are a few of those things for you to consider:

Traditional Part Time Job Pros:

  • You will probably work at the same place everyday
  • You will probably work a set schedule and a set number of hours
  • You do not have to worry about keeping track of taxes, they will be deducted for you by your employer
  • You will probably meet new people.

Traditional Part Time Job Cons:

  • The cost and time involved in commuting to work.
  • The work is likely to be the same thing every day.
  • You will probably be required to work whenever your supervisor asks you to and getting time off when you want or need it may be hard, which can be especially tough for working mothers.

Part Time Job on the Internet Pros:

  • No commuting costs to a workplace, you work from your own home.
  • Your job will probably be more varied, giving you the chance to try new things and develop new skills all the time, skills that may help you advance in your 'real' career
  • You will have the ability to set your own schedule
  • You will have the chance to work with people from all over the world and expand your cultural horizons. One week you may be working for an American firm like George Sink P.A., the next for a European concern and within a month for a Japanese company!

Part Time Job on the Internet Cons

  • You will have to try to make sure that your Internet connection is as reliable as possible and create a backup plan to keep working if your Internet at home goes out.
  • You will have to motivate yourself to work - there will be no boss behind you to do that for you.
  • You will have to keep track of your part time income yourself and work out paying the appropriate taxes by yourself.

Getting Ready to Work on the Internet

There are almost as many part time job opportunities online as their offline but finding them can be a little hard if you don’t know where to look as there are (as unfortunately you might expect) almost as many scams out there as there are genuine money-making opportunities, and many are, sadly directly targeted at women.

If you have decided that you do want to look for work on the Internet, then you need to make sure that you are prepared to work before you start looking for opportunities. You will need to make sure that you have the best Internet connection you can afford and that you have a quiet space to work, preferably a home office, but if that is not possible at least a quiet corner of a less trafficked room.

You may also want to set up a new professional email address to use to apply for Internet opportunities and correspond with potential clients, employers and partners that is separate from your personal one. You should also set up a Skype account (they are free) as a great many people who offer employment opportunities online prefer Skype as a method of communication over landline or cell phones.

Tips for Working Online Successfully

To many people working online sounds great but when they actually start doing it, it proves to be a challenge. Here though are a few tips that may make working on the Internet from home a little easier:

  • Remove as many distractions as you can. If you cannot set up a separate home office, then at least choose a part of a room and find a way to screen it off. A simple curtain is fine.
  • Make it clear to people that you may be at home, but you are working and are not available at the moment to chat or do errands.
  • Stay as organized as possible. There are lots of free tools available to help you do that - some of the best include Google Drive and Zoho CRM. If you are working as a freelancer on your own and need to track time and send invoices, Freshbooks is a great free program as well.

Have more questions? Follow up with the expert herself.