Recruiting From a Home Office Ain't So Bad

One year later, and I've changed my mind about working from home, I really like it. I think the key was having requirements to keep me busy and a rewarding commission structure. Took quite a while to build up to a decent monthly paycheck, since I'm paid based on hours my placements work, but I guess I got lucky (by that I mean I worked really hard) and found a good person to work with.

I never thought I would consider it a "real" job, just something to do until I found a "real" job (meaning base plus commissions and benefits). It's funny how life turns out while you're waiting for something else to happen. I've found a real passion again for Recruiting. No longer am I regretting the drive to work, the boss that micro manages, and a company dictating tools and procedures that are most of the time better for the company than the employee. I still have a sense of urgency, most of my requirements must have submittals within 24 hours. My competition is myself and other agencies working on the same requirements.

Before I started this adventure, I viewed Recruiters that worked from home as less. Less involved, less interested, working less hours, and not committed, as if getting up every morning and treking to work in an office made a person a better Recruiter. I thought I would be bored and never expected to consider working from home a "real" job. Well, now I know better. Even though I was forced to give it a try, no one else was hiring for the "real" recruiters, I'm glad I gave it a shot. I've found a niche that works for me, allowing me more freedom, more opportunities (I'm free to work with multiple companies if I chose). Now, I'm learning all about quarterly estimated taxes. Oh well, 2009 was full of challenges, but I never expected to be thankful for it.

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Comment by Robin Eads on February 23, 2010 at 9:25pm: Congrats on such a great outlook & opportunity! There are many that aren't cut out for it - they are too lazy to put in the work required. Those that can and do work hard at it are amply rewarded and more than just monetarily. It's a great feeling, isn't it?!?

Comment by Albino Lucas Fernandes on February 24, 2010 at 3:36am: im genuinely inspired by your post.. where could I find more details about how you went about setting it up? I have been planning to do something similar myself

Comment by Todd Kmiec on February 24, 2010 at 11:53am: Sharon, Good post, and great to hear that it is working out for you. I spent 15 years out in the "real world" working environment and then since '01 have been working from an office at home. I work with a lot of others that work from home as well and many of them work harder and smarter than anyone I've ever worked with. It's not just for Mary Kay Reps anymore.

Comment by Paul Kirkup on February 24, 2010 at 12:06pm: nice! working from home is not easy, when i was studying i had to send myself to the libray 9-5 to get any work done, to easily distracted at home.
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