How to Setup Your Home Office

Setting up a productive home office can be a challenge for those who have never worked at home and don’t know much about technology and the tools required to put together a great home office. Making sure you have all of these tools available will be easy to do know that you have your shopping list. If you are telecommuting employee, your company will generally provide you with the tools necessary to maintain productivity in your home. If you aren’t that technology savvy, an IT Professional from your organization may be called out to your home to assist with the implementation of your home office. Getting a checklist from your company of what you'll need to run your home office will be your very first step. What You'll Need

• Get your Company Telecommute Check List or Get a General Home Office Check List
• High Speed Internet Access – Cable Modem / DSL
• Reliable Productivity PC/Laptop
• Dedicated Phone Line
• Good printer
• Quiet Dedicated Space

Optional Tools and Accessories - Depends on your Work Environment

• Secure VPN Connection to your Office
• Web Camera – Video Conferencing
• Mailing supplies / Fax Solution – Scanner

High Speed Internet Access via Cable Modem or DSL. When choosing your options, now is not the time to choose the cheapest or most meager plan. When requesting your service package from your provider the minimum speed you should be requesting from your provider is 1.5 mbps – 6 mbps (Download) and 768 mbps – 1.5mbps (upload). This is typically a good line speed for your Hi-Speed Internet services. The slower speeds like Dialup and 112 – 500 kbps will result in unreliable performance and many headaches when trying to work from home. I also recommend a wireless router so that you can work comfortably from anywhere you in your home. * If your company utilizes Microsoft Exchange Server / Outlook for your email services, you may want to find out from your internet service provider (ISP) if they are blocking ports 135-139.

A Reliable Productivity PC/Laptop will be the most critical part of your home office. You'll need to make sure it is capable of handling your workload and be totally optimized for working at home. This system may require some different requirements than your standard home PC. You'll need Microsoft Windows XP Professional as it has more security features built in than Windows XP Home Edition. Your workstation should also come equipped with with productivity software such as Microsoft Office Suite or a comparable product. Generally, your company will provide you with equipment and productivity software that handles your workload. However, if you are setting up a Home Office as an individual. Check out my recommended telecommuter package. *You may need to take your office on the road. If you are using a mobile laptop, make sure it has wireless networking features. A Dedicated Phone Line will be the hub of your communications with co-workers and clients. This line should be purposed strictly for business and should be void of all personal calls as it could interupt your daily work flow. I always suggest an inclusive phone package. VoIP is an option that has the best economical cost. Vonage for example has several options to suit your needs. Most packages are under $30 for both local and long distance, including Canada.

A Good Printer / Fax Solution / Scanner - Make sure you have a good printer. The all-in-one printer solutions seem to work well. All of your documents should carry the same professional look and weight of a true office document. Although it should be rare when you need to print a document as most everything will be done electronically. Also, arm yourself with a good PDF creator program. You can set security features on your documents and digitally sign them.

A Quiet Dedicated Space - This one is easy! Make sure your home office is in a secluded and remote area of your home. Your home office should be free of the sounds of household and the neighbor's barking dogs. There is nothing worse than trying to conduct a teleconference and having two barking dogs as a distraction to the real topic.

Your Optional Tools and Accessories will be broadly based on the work you are doing and how your company's Network infrastructure is designed. If you are connecting to your company remotely, chances are you will need VPN authorization and / or a Terminal Services or Citrix account. This information should be provided to you by your company and help you gain access to your Network. On a good day, it should almost be as if you were physically sitting there in the main office.

A Web Camera is necessary if there will be video conferencing. In most cases, this is highly unlikely. However, the occassion may present itself when your manager merely wants to see your face.

Mailing / Shipping Supplies - Just in case there is something that does require a signature, know you your shipping and mailing options, and be prepared with shipping supplies. The United States Postal Service offer free shipping supplies which can be ordered FREE OF CHARGE at The Postal Store. Also check with your local UPS and Fedex corporate accounts to have shipping supplies shipped directly to you.

Common Work From Home Job Scams

Unfortunately, scams reside everywhere! Even in your job search. The predator looks for the vulnerably desperate to work and goes out their way to create a legitimate looking business to reel you in. Unfortunately these scams can pose to minimal inconveinces in life all the way to criminal charges being brought against for fraud and theft. Suggestedly so, it makes good since to do your homework when someone contacts you about a position that often sounds to easy and good to be true. There are some simple things you can do protect yourself from the Job Scams.

1. Protect your Personal Information Never give out your information on the first phone call. We know it needs not to be said, but never give out your social security number. Nor should you give the last four digits of your social security number. Many of your personal accounts can be accessed by giving the last four digits of your social security number. Plus they can check your credit and obtain fake identication under your name. Now formerly Jose Menendez if now "Your Name Here".

Best Idea If an employers the last four of your Social Security Number to submit you to a job, make up ficticious four digit number and use it for all your job submissions.

2. Research Before replying with your resume, research the company online by visiting their company website and checking for any consumer complaints against the company for fraud. Make sure the email addres you received the job order from matches the company.

Best Idea Get the company's phone number from their website, call the company back and ask for the person who sent you the email. This method is not foolproof, as people buy domain names and put up websites at the drop of a hat. But if they have passed the first step, the second step should be enough to comfirm the validity of the job. Be very wary of positions resulting from overseas.

The Most Popular Job Scams on the Rise Today

1. The International Check Cashing Scam Cleverly disguised as "Foreign Agent Agreement." This job is boldly found on many jobs boards and you may just get an email out of the blue even if you weren't looking for a job to begin with. To give you the short version. You'll get an email the states that their company in Nigeria, Denmark, or Italy has an open position for someone who has a basic accounting background with good administrative details. They need you to accept payments in the form of checks, and bank wires from their clients in the United States. This allows them tax breaks, and essentially you will be paid "under the table" as your employer is over seas. You'll need to be honest and trustworthy. Upon cashing these checks, you'll keep a percentage (perhaps 10% - 15%) for yourself and wire or send a money order to them with the balance. Sounds Fantastic Right? Well, unfortunately, these funds have been obtained fraudently, and the last known paper trail of who cashed in these fraudently checks or received the money wires is you. Putting you in a pretty bad predicament with the law. Definitely steer clear of this Scam!

2. The Home Shipper This one is pretty simple. Basically you are asked to reship merchandise that has been purchased illegally. When the investigation starts for credit card fraud, the first place the police and possible the FBI will show is the place that received the stolen goods! Your House. When you give the Details of where you shipped the merchandise, whether cops believe you or not, chances are the crooks have made off with the goods at that abandoned house they had you ship the goods to. Ouch! This one is ugly too.

3. Or the most inauspicious scam "Envelop Stuffing" Basically you are told to place and ad similar if not the same one you responded to for the job. When you someone sends money in for requesting info on Envelop stuffing, you get paid on the number or responses your ad receives. Kind of chain letter, MLM scam. Some people just have too much free time on their hands.

4. The most common Job Scam If they are asking you to pay for something upfront like a list of companies who hire work from home employees, training materials to work for their company, etc, Move On! No legitimate company should be asking you to pay for anything other than a uniform, and most companies will even provide you that. Say no to Medical Billing!

For the most part, just use common sense. Imagine someone showing up on your doorstep and asking for personal information. Unless you invited them to your home, there is no reason they should be there. Good luck in your job search!

The Telecommuter Checklist

The success of the telecommuting arrangement depends on a realistic assessment of the work space, and the ability of the employee to successfully complete their work in this environment. HOME CHARACTERISTICS

• A clearly defined workspace that is clean, free from distractions and obstructions, and is in ergonomically sound condition.
• Desk recommended height for conventional desk surface is 29" high. Sturdy enough to handle the weight of peripheral equipment (e.g. computers, printers, fax machines, etc.).
• Chair recommended height of the top surface of the seat to floor should be 15–21". Chair provides support to the back and waist; and adjustable for height and angle of the backrest.
• The work area is adequately illuminated.
• The area is well ventilated and heated.
• Storage is organized to minimize risks of fire and spontaneous combustion.
• All extension cords have grounding conductors.
• Electrical enclosures (switches, outlets, receptacles, and junction boxes) have tight-fitting covers or plates.
• Surge protectors are used for computers, fax machines, and printers.
• Computer components are kept out of direct sunlight and away from heaters.
• Are aisles, doorways, and corners free of obstructions to permit movement?
• Are file cabinets and storage closets arranged so drawers and doors do not open into walkways?
• Is the space crowded with furniture?
• Are the phone lines, electrical cords, and extension wires secured under a desk or alongside baseboard?
• Does the family understand, support, and allow your work environment to be free from distraction?

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

• Emergency phone numbers (hospital, fire department and police department) are posted at the alternate work site.
• A first aid kit is easily accessible and replenished as needed.
• Portable fire extinguishers are easily accessible and serviced as needed.
• A smoke detector detectable from the work space.

TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS

• Personal computer
• High Speed Internet Access
• Printer/Fax/Scanner
• Productivity Software
• Access to central facilities (mainframe, LAN, etc.)
• Dedicated Telephone line and Telephone set
• Web Camera
• Mailing / Shipping Supplies

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