Many people long for the relative freedom of working from home, comfortable in the confines of their living room, but most of us don’t really know how to go about finding a telecommute job.

You may already have tried making contact with a few companies offering work from home opportunities only to have found many of them are looking for a financial investment from you. The good news is that it IS possible to find a telecommute job and you can make a success of it but don’t be fooled into thinking that the process is any different from finding a regular job.

You will still need to do the same research, be persistent and have a resume that stands out among the hordes of people interested in the same telecommute position.

Is it difficult to find a telecommute job? Well yes and no -Depending on where you look and the type of work you are interested in. If , for example, you are a freelance writer or software programmer you may find it relatively easy to find regular employment via outsourcing companies like Elance.com, Guru.com or Rent-a-coder.com.

If your skills are a little less tailored to off site employment you may have to look a little deeper.

It gets a little more complicated. There are several companies that make use of telecommute employees that don’t advertise the fact. This is because when they do, they are simply overwhelmed by hundreds of resumes from people who aren’t suitably qualified.

Always remember that just because you have the desire to work from home it doesn’t mean you have the skills and abilities to do many of the available jobs out there. The workload and poor results of advertising telecommute jobs in this way has led to many companies keeping their open positions off the World Wide Web.

By now you are wondering how you are ever going to find a telecommute job if they aren’t being advertised!

The trick is to approach your job hunt in the same way as you would a regular job search. Because there are many companies out there that are telecommute friendly, even if they aren’t advertising themselves as such you can still find work if you are willing to do the work.

It may even be possible to approach your current employer and ask about the possibility of partial telecommuting. Start your job search close to home and you may be surprised at the result.

If you think this may be a good idea, try to determine if your current tasks may be appropriate for telecommuting. For example if you do a lot of administrative work you may be ideally suited for a telecommute position. On the other hand if you are in public relations and most of your time is spent meeting with clients then it may not be a reasonable option.

However, if you keep your options open you may be able to use your skills and adapt them to a role that suits off-site work for example you might ask about setting up public relations training manuals from home.

Start Your Telecommute Job Search

If you decide to move away from your current place of employment and do an external job search there are several online resources which cater to your needs. Start with Freelance.com, About.com, Gilgordon.com, and the outsourcing companies mentioned earlier.

You will also want to make a list of any companies that you want to work for and e-mail them with an enquiry about telecommute positions within the company. Try 2Work-At-Home.com. and get started on your list.

When you make initial contact enquire about the company’s policy on telecommuting and the flexibility of work arrangements but don’t let that be the focus of your communication. The thing you really want to do is create a good impression about your abilities – not that you want desperately to work from home. In many cases telecommute work isn’t offered immediately but after a period of in-house employment.

Brush Up on Your Resume

It makes no difference whether you are applying for a regular or a telecommute job, you still require a good resume detailing your skills and abilities. Telecommute employees require skills specific to the nature of the work for example the ability to work independently, to a deadline and good self discipline.

Make sure that your resume highlights attributes that make you an ideal candidate for off-site work. You may think you have a great resume but give it a once over before sending it out. This is especially important if you are applying for a job in which your written communication skills are vital to your success. You may find your resume works harder for you than you ever did for the references on it.

The Job Interview

If you are lucky enough to secure an interview make sure you brush up on skills that are likely to be tested during the meeting, for example, your ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines or your marketing skills. Some interviews are conducted over the phone so make sure your manners are impeccable.

Learn New Job Skills

If you have tried without success to find a telecommute job it may be time to learn some new job skills that will give you a fair chance in today’s competitive market place. Several course are available online – you won’t even have to leave home – or you might try your local community college.

Keeping a Positive Mental Attitude

Even if you do the work, it may take a little time to find a telecommute job that best suits your needs. If this is the case remember to stay positive and directed to your job search. Approach your job search by telling yourself that nobody owes you anything and you are more likely to stay optimistic.

Don’t forget that you can also start your own business from home. This means you aren’t relying on anybody else to give you a job but creating your own opportunities based on the skills that you have to offer. Your failure to find formal telecommute employment may be the kick start you need to set up your own venture.

In the end, if you do your homework and practice a bit of self-promotion you will no doubt find a telecommute job that is perfect for you and if not you can always create one! Get started today and you will be able to enjoy the satisfaction of both being gainfully employed and working in a comfortable flexible setting.

Good luck with finding a great telecommute job.