Perhaps you’ve heard the buzz about moms working at home from top media sources such as the Wall Street Journal, CNN, and the Today Show, to name a few. You want to know how you, too, can find work at home. The possibilities are endless and can range from simple data entry work, to medical transcription to actually running your own internet based business.

Moms, it is possible. Couple the desire for mothers to work at home and spend more time with their children with the vast amounts of companies who are searching for ways to outsource positions and offer telecommuting positions and you’ve got a match made in Heaven for both parties.

A simple Google search for “moms work at home” will net you around 3 million links to sift and sort through to look for the right opportunity for you. However, be cautious. Just because an ad or a website claims to provide moms with work at home opportunities doesn’t mean they are legit.

There are many legitimate websites that specialize in matching moms and work from home opportunities. You’ll find the majority of the work at home mom (WAHM) sites to be run by fellow WAHMs. It’s a natural progression – moms find work from home and then want to help other moms work at home. They start websites and provide advice to others who are where they once were. They evolve from an independent contractor for a company into an internet business owner, all the while, working from home.

To start your search, I recommend investigating multiple opportunities. This will give you plenty of options and help you find something you have a passion for. You’ll find just as many success stories out there with most as you’ll find horror stories.

Here are some questions you can ask yourself to make sure you find the right work at home job for you:

Decide what you’re capable of doing. Are you a phone person? Do you have the ability to answer phone calls? (And no, I’m not talking about can you actually talk on the phone.) I’m asking if you have a quiet office where those on the other end of the line can hear your children and your dog. If you don’t have the ability to maintain a professional appearance on the phone, then perhaps phone work isn’t for you. That’s okay. There are plenty of other types of jobs out there that will work better for you.

How up to date is your home office? No, you don’t have to have the latest and greatest in technology to find work at home opportunities, but you do have to have the basics. If you don’t have a computer, you’ll need one. If you don’t have high speed internet, you may want to invest in it. Can you afford to put in a second phone line?

What is your skill set? Here’s where you can determine if you’re a phone person, meaning do you work well with customers on the phone? How good is your typing? Obviously, if typing isn’t your forte, you’re not going to want to apply for the typing from home or transcription jobs. The worst thing you can do is get in over your head and let a company down because you accept a position that you’re not suited for. Take into account what you’re good at and what you like to do and you’ll be much happier working from home.

Yes, Mom, you can work at home. You can make money while being with your children. The opportunities are out there and companies are looking for a few good moms to fill their needs.

posted by Chris Simpson