Opportunities for Work-At-Home Moms

While being an at-home mom is a full-time job, moms often long to contribute financially to the family and to discuss more than an infant’s three Ps: pee, poop, and puke. Rather than sitting idly at the television during a child’s nap, moms can achieve both goals through the Internet and a bit of creativity.

Many websites—both subscriber-based and free—exist, offering freelance opportunities. One very popular site is Craig’s List; nearly every city has a jobs section and a gigs section worth perusing on a regular basis. MomCorp and EmployMom are two other sites working specifically to get at-home moms paid opportunities. With these sites, one can choose to apply for work that is not necessarily in a past work portfolio but rather is interesting. By tapping into particular skills—illustration, foreign language, IT, and accounting to name a few–the opportunities for work-at-home moms are innumerable. Likewise, moms can take on as much or as little work as energy permits, and this can be determined on a daily or weekly basis. If a good match is made, these opportunities can—and often do–develop into long-term arrangements.

The country’s slack economy has opened many opportunities for creative employment, specifically targeting at-home moms. Rather than hiring full-time employees, many firms will outsource research projects to formerly professional moms with great success. Jobs in web design, editing, grant writing, and research often do not necessitate ever meeting in person. So long as expectations are made clear, this work agreement can be highly mutually beneficial.

Networking is also an excellent way to open doors to paid opportunities. By discussing non-child topics at playgroups or other mom-centric meetings, paid work opportunities can arise. Similarly, by posting flyers at community parks and centers and submitting freelance articles to (mom-related or professional) magazines and organizations, opportunities may become available. Local universities often hold opportunities for at-home moms in the form of tutors for failing students.

Finally, consider including your child(ren) in a paid opportunity. Making oneself available to the local schools as a tutor or after-school sitter might also be palatable. Consider becoming a babysitter for a few families per week. Set up a pet sitting, dog walking, or house management service that a child could accompany you to. New direct sales clubs (think Tupperware parties but kiddy-focused) that involve children’s books, clothes, and toys or items for moms are constantly springing up for which sponsors earn commission and incentive prizes. BetweenMoms.com has a listing of these sorts of opportunities. Or, negotiate teaching opportunities at in-door gyms and activity centers in which your own child can participate while you lead.

 

Just a little creative thinking will go a long way in finding paid opportunities for work-at-home moms. The Internet can be an incredible resource in finding freelance opportunities around the world to suit any talent and interest. Reaching back to former employer and their competitors may open doors for paid work. Networking with other moms, former work colleagues, and local townies may illuminate a need. Finding opportunities that include children can offer both financial gain and familial bonding.

These opportunities may not pay the mortgage, but they could pay the gas bill. And, more importantly, work-at-home opportunities allow moms to recapture an expertise in topics other than those three tedious Ps.