Telecommuting
A Matter of Trust
Part V

The Bottom Line.
With thousands of job sites listing millions of jobs, but only a few claiming to list telecommuting jobs—and most of those being questionable, fee-based, and out of the realm of "real" job sites—it's obviously not easy finding work specifically as a telecommuter. Yet, I read recently that about 51% of companies now have telecommuting arrangements.

What does this tell us? The bottom line is, it's a matter of trust. Typically, employers do not actively seek telecommuters or advertise for them. They'd be deluged by thousands of résumés from around the world if they did. Understandably, employers feel much more comfortable allowing employees with a proven track record to telecommute, than they do new-hires. It's an earned privilege, not a hiring bonus. Telecommuters usually get their start by convincing their employers to give it a shot, or by progressive employers making the offer to trusted employees, in part to cooperate with spare-the-air and transportation-gridlock campaigns.

So, you are more likely to land a real telecommuting job from your current employer, than you are in an interview or from the so-called, telecommuting job sites.

Part I • Part II • Part III • Part IV • Part V • Part VI

Comments, suggestions or questions? Found a great career resource and want to share it? Send feedback. Want to network and discuss technical job searching, employment, and careers with others? Go to the chat room or bulletin board, both open 24 hours daily.

Previous Features

Job Searching - Technical supports Equal-Opportunity Employment.
Clipart courtesy of Corel Corporation.
Original graphics Copyright © 1998, J. Steven Niznik. All Rights Reserved.