5 Telecommuting Careers That Can Make You Rich

What's the definition of the perfect commute? From the kitchen table to the couch. Working from home, or telecommuting, is no longer the stuff of cubicle daydreams. In 2007, 2.4 million corporate employees worked from home full time,With improvements in networking technology and changes in corporate philosophy, the right career might be closer than you think.­



Of course, you have to be careful. The Internet is flooded with "work at home" scams promising thousands of dollars a month for 20 hours a week, no college degree required. Yes, it's possible to make good money working from home, but it takes planning and patience.

The first tip is to ignore any job that advertises itself as a "telecommute" or "work at home" job. These are most likely pyramid schemes or outright scams. Remember that telecommuting is a benefit of a job, not the job itself. The best way to land a well-paying telecommute job is to look for jobs that offer telecommuting as an option. If you're qualified for the position, then you might be able to negotiate a part-time or full-time telecommute.

1: Programmers

­Experience­d software and Web programmers can easily pick up fre­elance projects and work from home. If you have proven skills in Java, C++, SQL and other Web development scripts, you'll have no shortage of work. There are even special Web sites, like Programming from Home, that specialize in freelance programming job listings.



2: Transcription and Translation

Are you a fast typer? Do you speak a foreign language? Do you have a mind for legal or medical terminology? Welcome to the world of transcription and translation.



Translation gigs offer the best pay. Businesses, book publishers, Web sites -- just about anyone who produces marketing or editorial content -- need the help of experienced translators to push their products into new global markets.

In the medical field, hospitals and doctors offices need trained transcriptionists and coders to document procedures for insurance and record-keeping purposes. Law offices also need fast, accurate typers who can transcribe an audio or video recording of a deposition.

3: Freelance Writing/Editing

For experienced journalists, editors and copywriters, freelance writing and editing can be an excellent career move. Many large newspapers and magazines have taken on more freelancers to save money on full-time employees. And Web content is in high demand. For editors, there are opportunities to manage a team of freelancers, help an executive write his memoirs or do freelance editing for fiction and non-fiction authors.




4: Call Center

Outsourcing isn't just for India. Nearly 700,000 Americans and Canadians work as call-center agents from their homes. With IP (Internet Protocol)-based phone networks, it's much easier to route help desk calls to any phone, anywhere. You won't get rich answering calls from home, but you could earn around $2,000 a month working 30 to 35 hours a week.



5: Home Business

­By setting aside space for a home office, any small business can be turned into a home business. Get a 1-800 number, a fax number, an e-mail address and a well-designed Web page, and no one needs to know that your corporate headquarters are in your basement. There are virtually unlimited options for running a small business out of your home: Web design, graphic design, computer and electronics repair, Web-based retail, virtual executive assistant, life coach, psychologist, dog groomer. The list goes on and on.