Telecommuting is the Wave of the Future: Work at Home Jobs are a Growing Trend

Telecommuting is the wave of the future. For parents who need a second or additional income and who also need to be home to care for their family, working at home is also a necessity. But families are not the only ones benefiting from the new, growing wave of telecommuters.

American corporations, who tried to save a buck by shipping jobs abroad to countries such as India, are now fighting tarnished images, being labeled unpatriotic. Outsourcing 'American' jobs abroad was a bad public relations move. Also, the disappointing job performance of many foreign employees, due to their lack of familiarity with American culture, has left U.S. companies with unhappy customers, which translate to lost revenue.

So now what do these companies do? They need the best of both worlds- professional, competent employees who their customers can relate to and communicate effectively with, while maintaining cost effectiveness.

Telecommuting creates a win-win situation both for families in need of income and companies in need of good quality workers. At home workers get to keep an eye on the kids while earning an income, and companies get quality employees without the overhead that comes with hiring at-office employees. It's also been a popular topic on talk shows, blogs and web sites all over the country.

So for moms and dads looking for work at home, there are more and more interesting opportunities. But, BEWARE! For every legitimate opportunity there are ten scams out there! Here are a few guidelines to help you sift through the tons work at home options out there:

• Avoid any sites that offer lists of work at home jobs for a fee. There are plenty of places online to find these opportunities for free.

• Know the difference between a work at home job and a work at home 'opportunity'. A job is just that- you get paid a salary for services performed. With an 'opportunity', you must make a monetary investment. This is an at home business where you are your own boss, but you do not receive a salary. You can, however, work hard to grow your business and, if successful, enjoy the benefits of being a small business owner.