If you're tired of working with difficult co-workers and adhering to a monotonous 9 – 5 schedule, then you are probably considering your options. One option, of course, is to start your own business. Unfortunately, not everyone has the knowledge or the resources to start a business, and if this describes you, then you will have to come up with another possibility. One other option is to work from home, although finding legitimate work at home can be challenging. One popular at-home possibility is a virtual customer service position, and here are some tips for finding a legitimate company to work for.

Visit work-from-home forums

There are many online forums where you can meet people who either currently work from home or have in the past. They can share their experiences with you and give you tips on which companies are best to work for, which are scams, as well as how to apply for the companies that you are interested in possibly working for.

Don't pay for employment

One surefire sign of a scam is a company that requires you to pay an upfront fee. No legitimate company is going to require you to pay for work, although there are some real virtual customer service agencies out there that charge a small fee to cover a necessary background check. You may also have to pay for a telephone, a computer that enables you to install phone dialer software like Electronic Voice Services, Inc., and a headset, depending on the specific company.

Research before committing

Before accepting employment from an at-home customer service company, you can ensure that the company is authentic by conducting some research. Here is how you can conduct this research:

  • Check with the Better Business Bureau (BBB.) Not all companies will be listed with the BBB, even if they are legitimate, but you will want to ensure that there are no unresolved or an unusually high number of complaints about the company that you're checking out.
  • Does the company provide their physical address and a contact number? If not, then this is a definite red flag.
  • Perform an online search. If the company is legitimate, then you should be able to find a great deal of information about the company just by typing in the company name, especially if they have been in business for a while.
  • Check with local government agencies, like the Chamber of Commerce in the area where the business is located. If the business isn't registered, then you will want to steer clear of them.

There are many legitimate work-from-home positions available, enabling you to work remotely, if you choose to. As long as you are careful to take your time when choosing a company to work for, then should be able to find enjoyable and lucrative work that you can perform from the comfort of your home. 

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