Remote Office

If you’re serious about working from home, you need to have a computer capable of communicating to the outside world through an internet connection. But that’s just part of the solution. You also need software, like virus protection, document software, and a web browser to name a few. The Google Pack is a great solution for these needs – it’s customizable and includes either Firefox or a Google toolbar that works with Internet Explorer, along with Norton Antivirus and Ad-Aware to prevent pop-ups and spyware. The best part about downloading software from Google? It’s all absolutely free.

p.s. If you check out our review of Indeed.com, you'll see they've got a bunch of job finding tools that work with Firefox and Google Desktop to give you instant alerts about job listings, along with a bunch of other neat features.

Having a good cover letter is just as important as having a good resume. Don't neglect this part of your job application. Make sure to write the cover letter thinking about who your potential audience is (the employer). Remember, you are trying to get the employer to read your resume, so explain where you heard of the position and why you think you're a good fit for it; don't just rewrite your resume. Here are some helpful websites:

Excellent guide on how to write a resume from Virginia Tech (including samples):
http://www.career.vt.edu/JOBSEARC/coversamples.htm

Trinity College cover letter instructions and examples:
http://www.trincoll.edu/depts/career/guides/cover_ltr.shtml

RPI's cover letter guide:
http://www.rpi.edu/web/writingcenter/cover_letter.html

Wiki on How to Write a Resume (scroll to bottom of article for cover letter advice)
http://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Resume

Purdue Univeristy Online Writing Lab Cover Letter Workshop:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/workshops/hypertext/Coverletter/whatis.html

Public Library guide to writing a cover letter:
http://jobstar.org/tools/resume/cletters.php

References are an important part of any job application process, but don’t provide them until asked. Some people make the mistake of listing their references on their resume; if you do this while applying to a lot of jobs, your references might get overwhelmed with calls about you. Best case scenario, they might get tired of talking about what a great employee you were, worse case scenario they might even say something negative.

References are even more important if you are looking for a telecommuting position. People who are hiring for these jobs require a certain degree of trust and responsibility. Make sure that your personal references support this image of you. This should be obvious, but only use people who you’ve worked for as references and not social friends or family (unless otherwise requested). Here are some helpful websites with more information:

A guide to choosing good references:
http://www.career.vt.edu/JOBSEARC/Refguide.htm

The Seven Deadly Myths of Job References from CNN:
http://money.cnn.com/2005/10/25/news/economy/annie/fortune_annie102505/index.htm

When it comes to writing a good resume, everyone’s got an opinion on what counts. In its simplest form, a resume is nothing more than a tool used to get your qualifications out there to prospective employers. Of course, it can be difficult to distill all your life experiences onto one (or max 2) pages. Remember to use a cover letter to add more information about your qualifications.

Tailor your resume to the job that is listed, do not use a generic “one-size-fits-all” type of structure. If you’re fresh out of college, your education section will probably be larger than your experience section. As you develop more expertise in your business endeavors, they will become more of a point of emphasis and your education section, while still important, may become a smaller portion of your resume. To be professional, always make sure to include a cover letter(see the next section) and thank the employers for their consideration.

If you want our feedback on a resume, feel free to post it in the forums. Make sure not to include your personal information or email address to avoid someone sending you spam! Here are some helpful websites to get your started:

Excellent guide on how to write a resume from Virginia Tech (including samples):
http://www.career.vt.edu/JOBSEARC/Resumes/Resume1.htm

Resume writing Wiki:
http://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Resume

Public Library guide to writing a resume:
http://jobstar.org/tools/resume/index.php

RPI's resume guide:
http://www.rpi.edu/web/writingcenter/resume.html

Purdue Univeristy Online Writing Lab Resume Workshop:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/workshops/hypertext/ResumeW/index.html

Ten resume mistakes from Monster.com:
http://content.monster.com/articles/3475/16525/1/home.aspx