No, I do not sit around watching daytime soaps sucking down Bon Bon after Bon Bon.  My day typically starts like any other; I get up and get ready for the day.  Then, I head to work…  less than a minute, I am at work- in my home office.  I am logged in and working at 5am.  At 6:30am, I am logged off to get the kids ready and off to school.  After the kiddos are off to school, I work off and on for the rest of the day until the kids come home.

I typically work 30-40 hours per week and because I create my own schedule, I never miss any of the kids functions.  I can volunteer in the classrooms, chaperone field trips and am here, at home, when I am needed.

Currently, I take calls from stranded motorists and a bookstore.  For the most part, I enjoy the callers… every once in awhile, you get a grumpy person, but overall, it is good!

It is by no means ‘easy’ work, but the ability to earn a full time income while still being here for my family is priceless!

To learn more about Arise, visit www.arise.com!

Homeshoring is a combination of outsourcing and telecommuting. The Homeshoring Movement came as a response to public outcry over the practice of Offshoring. While you may not be familiar with the term Offshoring, you are likely to have first hand experience with the practice itself. Offshoring involves the practice of moving a business practice or department to another country. For example, any US based company that takes US originated calls and sends them to another country to be answered. How many times have you called a company only to have the person who is there to assist you not fully understand the issue or question due to language or cultural barriers? This has happened to me more times than I am able to account for….

Homeshoring is a cost effective alternative to Offshoring. Homeshoring allows calls originated in the United States to stay here to be answered, where they belong! The cultural and language barriers are no longer challenges and the end result is a happier, satisfied, customer experience! The agent on the line to assist you is not only located within the United States, but may be as close as your next door!

Companies using the Homeshoring model continue to grow by the day and include some of the world’s leading companies! If you have ever called a company for any of the below reasons, you may very well have been assisted by an agent working from home under the Homeshoring Model:

• A flower shop after hours
• To book a cruise
• To order a pizza
• To receive roadside assistance
• Your local retail store
• Plus hundreds more!

The requirements to become an agent working from home will vary from company to company. The vast majority will have technical and application requirements before you will be allowed to begin working. Currently, there are a number of companies within the growing industry. The top three companies are:

• Arise Virtual Solutions
• Alpine Access
• LiveOps

Of the three above sites, you will notice the relationship between agent and company will vary; some direct employ agents while others consider agents to be independent contactors.

As an agent in the Homeshoring Model, you can expect the ability to work from your home office and with some companies, select the days and times you work! Sounds to good to be true, right? That is exactly what I thought! I could not understand why more people are not taking advantage of this growing business trend! Even President Obama referenced one of the companies above, Arise (www.arise.com), during his December 2009 Job Summit. Arise was commended for their innovative work in this industry and the progress they have made in bringing this work back to the United States where it belongs!

So, now that we know what Homeshoring is, we need to talk about what it isn’t. Homeshoring is not a means to get rich quick or to earn money with little or no effort. Homeshoring is not for those that require regular supervision nor is it for those with not interest in providing stellar customer service. Do not assume that because you are at home, you do not need to work.

Homeshoring is an industry that continues to grow, despite a sluggish economy. Should a company look to reduce costs, Homeshoring provides a local, cost effective alternative. Additionally, during periods of economic prosperity, Homeshoring provides companies with the ability to expand their business rapidly and without excessive overhead expenses.

While there may be no such thing as a completely recession proof industry, Homeshoring sure is recession tolerant…

I know this feeling… Very well said!

After listening to her vent for the better part of a half our, I asked her if she has given much thought to becoming a home worker. There was a long pause … I broke the silence by asking if she was still there. She responded that she was and then said she was just not sure if it was from her (her last job was IRL call center)… translation: she does not think it a legitimate “job”. This mindset is dated.

FACT: There are top rated businesses that use home workers! Additionally, the number of companies utilizing home based workers has grown so much in the last decade there is even a term for it: Homeshoring. Even more fascinating is that given this time of skyrocketing unemployment rates, businesses that use virtual contact center agents are GROWING. That is right- GROWING.

I do have a theory on why Homeshoring continues to grow:

When the economy is strong, companies look for opportunities to grow their business quickly. Using homeworkers requires very little overhead and NO brick and mortar centers.

When the economy is weak, companies look for ways to cut costs and SAVE money. Homeworkers are just a cost effective alternative to the traditional call center.

Feast or famine- Homeshoring WORKS. Case in point- the company I work with is adding FIVE THOUSAND new agents in the coming months:

http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2010/07/22/work-from-home-jobs-opening/

Homeshoring is the wave of the FUTURE!

One of the clients I work is “The Roadside Assistance”… I am not permitted to list he actual client name, but it rhymes with Schmipple Schmay. So I was going through the call and when it came to the point where I asked the member where they were located, the conversation went like this:

Me: “Can you tell me where you are located?”
Caller: “Um, no. I called you, can’t you tell?”
Me: “Unfortunately, I am not able to tell where you are. What are some of the landmarks nearby?”
Caller: “Look, I have my card. I do not understand why you can not just send the tow truck!”
Me (calmly): “I appreciate your situation and I do want to help. However, your membership card is not equipped with GPS. As a result, I need to identify where you are so I may send help”.
Caller: “Oh…..”

I just worry about some people!

[[sighs]]

We went to see ‘Shrek: Forever After’ in 3D yesterday afternoon. Having never seen the first, but loving the second, I though this would be a fun way to spend the afternoon! The air conditioning in the movie theater was COLD, the popcorn warm- HEAVEN! You could almost forget it was a miserably HOT Summer afternoon.

We enjoyed the movie very much and once done, we made out way home. It was a bit of a rush getting dinner going and catching up with my darling husband (DH). Mid conversation, apron donned, we hear a spraying noise coming from the bathroom. We rushed in to see the showerhead on the floor of the tub, water spraying EVERYWHERE.

After a lengthy conversation with the kids, the denial of any actions that would have caused this and a $150 bill from an after hours plumber, we were just about ready to eat dinner. My nerves must have been visibly thin as my youngest walks into the kitchen, places her hands on her hips and says authoritatively, “Do The Roar!”. I doubled over with laughter! My DH, having NO CLUE about the reference, looks on with confusion. He asks if I am OK to which I replied, “Never Better!”.

I love you, Daddy!

I was working, rather diligently I might add, when a scream echoed through the house, though parts of the Midwest and Canada. Based on the decibel levels of said scream, I could only conclude that our home had been invaded by militant extremists. I leapt from my chair and ran through the house, towards the kitchen with every possible ‘worst case’ scenario running through my head.

When I arrived in the kitchen, I quickly located the reason for the shriek heard round the world- the very last can of Cherry Coke in the refrigerator and two girls calling ‘dibbs’….

Oh the humanity!

As my kids ready themselves for what they have already dubbed “The BEST Summer EVER”, I worry about finding activities for them while I am working. While I have already mentally adjusted to the mind numbing interruptions to report the latest girl drama, pre planned activities do help some.

Your local library! I have found the library to be great for more than just books… video rentals are also free! The kids can check out the latest trend novel to get lost in as well as catch up on their favorite TV shows!

Family Talent Shows! The girls LOVE preparing for the talent show! The talent show winner gets to pick the dessert of his or her choice. I am always amazed at how creative the kids can be!

What are a few of your favorite summer activities for the kids? How do you juggle the many roles you hold at a work at home parent of young kids?

I am hoping this is the Summer where they discover the greatness of I Love Lucy….

Thousands of Americans currently work from home- this is FACT. There are a variety of industries that utilize work at home agents, including: Travel & Hospitality, Sales, Customer Service, Blogging, Surveys (yes, there are SOME that are legit) as well as many, many more!

I have come across two sites that are excellent for those looking for work they may do at home: http://www.ratracerebellion.com/ & http://www.workathomecareers.com/

You will NOT get rich working at home. You will not drive a Ferrari or live in a mansion with bikini clad bleach blonds (sorry gents). However, you CAN find legitimate work you can do from home if you are willing to WORK.

Happy Hunting!