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The first step you should take is to update any social media profiles that employers may refer to throughout the job search. Check to ensure your photo is professional and that you're using keywords in your headline and throughout your profile to make it easier for employers to find you with relevant opportunities. Make sure
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that your profile is also up-to-date with any certifications and skills that you may have obtained since last updating it.
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Next, begin networking online. Even if you don't know someone who is hiring for a real work-at-home job, you may have a friend or family member who does. Post on your social media sites that you're looking for remote work and reach out to people you know personally. Everyone understands that many people have lost jobs or income as a
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direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic and most are likely willing to do whatever they can to help someone find employment during this time.
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You can start your search on Indeed by job title, keyword (such as "remote") or employer. You can then filter your results by job type, experience level, salary, location and more. You can also start your search by exploring Company Pages and navigating to the "jobs" page. Stay up to date on the latest opportunities that meet your search criteria by creating
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Job Alerts, which send new job postings straight to your inbox. You can manage Job Alert frequency on your Indeed account.
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It's important to be flexible as you're searching for a job you can do from home. Many employers are seeking additional help but may not want to hire a full-time or even part-time employee. If you are willing to accept work on a contract or freelance basis, you may increase the likelihood of finding work right away. You may even be able to
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find two different part-time jobs that, together, provide you with a full-time income.
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Before applying for jobs, it's important to first update your resume with all of your qualifications, skills and experiences. Then, with each job you apply for, customize your resume with the keywords that the employer is using in the job description. You should even consider modifying the descriptions for each job you have held based
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upon what the employer is looking for in a candidate. While most applicants don't do this, it will give you a competitive edge over other candidates and help your resume stand out.
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Be cautious when you're considering positions that have salaries and flexibility that seem like they're too good to be true. As a general rule, when it seems too good to be true, it usually is. Some common scams to watch out for are assembly jobs, claims processing and positions stuffing envelopes. Even multi-level marketing can
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draw you in with the lure of steady income after you pay to get started. In those situations, you often pay substantial amounts of money upfront and see little, if any, income. It's also important to be aware of the kind of information that employers are allowed to ask for. For example, employers commonly ask for personal information like your phone
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number and email address, as this allows them to get in contact with you. No reputable employer who is hiring for a real job would ask for your Social Security number or banking information. Scammers will sometimes offer to hire you right away and request that you perform tasks using your personal information to obtain this sensitive
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information about you. Never share any sensitive personal information via email or online chat. If you do encounter a scam when you're searching for a job you can do from home, it's important to report it. Even though you were savvy and noticed that it was a scam, the next applicant might not be so lucky.
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Always take time to carefully research the company you're applying for. Evaluate their websites and even social media sites. If you can't find any online information about the company or the point of contact, there's a strong likelihood that the job listing is a scam.
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Read the job description carefully to get a feel for what the job entails. In general, if it's a scam, the person creating the description isn't necessarily trying to make it credible: they're just trying to make it appealing enough to get people to apply. A vague job description is a sign that there may be a problem. For example, if the
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job description is so general that you don't fully understand what you would be doing for the company, it can be an indicator that the job isn't real. Something else to look at in the job description is the email address provided for applications. Established companies have email addresses with domains that match their websites. If a
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scammer posted a job description and is trying to make it sound as though you're applying for a job at a legitimate company, they might misspell the email slightly or use a domain that's similar to but different than the company's actual domain. For example, instead of "tom@mycompany.com" the spammer might use
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"tom@1mycompany.com." The variation is only slight and makes them appear legitimate if you don't look closely.
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If you have any doubts about the legitimacy of a company, consider asking for references. You could ask for the names and contact information of customers or clients they have worked with who could verify their authenticity. If a company refuses to give them, then it's best not to apply.
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It should never cost money to apply for a job. While there can be certain legitimate expenses after you've accepted a position, such as a uniform, these are generally deducted from your first paycheck. These also shouldn't apply to a real work-at-home job. Avoid any company that asks you to send money for equipment to begin working for them. Also,
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never give your banking information or other personal information in response to a job listing, as it likely is a scam where someone is trying to steal your identity.