You'll find the phrases 'New Economy' and The High Road' showing up a lot in news about employment.

These are probably the most important changes in employment in history, and you need to know how the new world of employment operates.

There were a lot of prophecies that automation would people out of work. They did, for a while, but the New Economy is creating jobs. The technology has figured out as a money saver, across a range of expenses. More can be done with less, so business is expanding.

The High Road is an American expression. It means employing people in industry on high wages, doing specialist work. Trades jobs are now making $100,000 a year in the Rust Belt, where industry had fallen to pieces. It's a method of hiring workers where very high value work is rewarded on a higher pay scale, and it's gaining currency, because it's delivering profits.

Telecommuting is working online. Because of technology, people can now do several jobs. Many people work in several jobs, in several countries, from home.

Telecommuting is where the future of the job market lies. It's important that you understand the rules and the pitfalls of the New Economy.

Job Hunting in the New Economy

For some job hunters, the New Economy is a godsend. It is now a lot easier to find more, and better, work. For others, who lack the online skills, it's a worry, and it's not easy to access those jobs.

If you search 'telecommuting jobs', you'll see a range of positions, across all industries.

Craigslist is the definitive global job site. It's by far the best organized, too, the best example of the range of telecommuting jobs.

Telecommuting jobs are usually shown in these categories:

The word 'online' is another indicator. Many New Economy jobs, particularly in sales, customer service, and include online components.

Many online businesses, which don't have 'workplaces' in the conventional sense, are all online, with only a relatively small administration component.

They're geared to purely online business, so telecommuting jobs are perfect for them as employers.

For job hunters, ad quality varies, but the opportunities are there.

It's worth checking out a variety of sources for telecommuting jobs in your field.

Just search 'telecommuting + sales', for example.

You'll find you get a couple of million responses.

You don't need a couple of million jobs, so you'll have to refine your search.

However, even this basic search shows you a few very useful things:

• Availability of telecommuting work in your sector.
• A lot of sites as sources of information.
• Pay, conditions, and comparisons between jobs.
• A way to find work, anytime, anywhere.

Use Advanced Search to make sure you're looking at the right jobs.

This is just common sense, but you can save yourself a lot of grief by simply adding a date like 'last 24 hours' or 'domain'

Always check dates of posting.

It's easy to find yourself applying for something from last year, if you're not careful. People forget to take them off the sites.

Organize your bookmarks into folders so you don't have to go looking for sites.

There's nothing more annoying. Just make sure you know where your sites are, at all times.

Keep track of your emails to advertisers in a special folder.

That applies to anyone you're working for, too. Make sure each job has its own special folder, so you have a complete record. Sometimes you'll be sent materials, and the email is the only copy anyone can find.

It's also practically impossible to find things when you need them in an all purpose archive folder.

Applying for telecommuting jobs

The same level of care should go into applying for a telecommuting job as any other. It's less formal, but the need for information is if anything higher.

Initial contact

Your first is an email to the advertiser. In that email you must:

• Address all requests for information
• Answer any specific requests for proof of your skills You will be asked for this.
• Supply some basic information about yourself and your experience.
• Provide best quality samples of your work.
• Make sure you look like you're making a serious application for the job.

ALWAYS:

• Make sure you understand what the job is, and what you're getting into.
• Check out the employer, make sure they have a reputation for paying. (Just search the name. Many disgruntled telecommuters will make a point of posting scam notices. NOTE: On cragislist some advertisers are just contact serial numbers, do this when you know who you're dealing with. )
• Ask for any information you need, clearly, in your application. It saves a lot of time, and can prevent problems.
• Check out rates of pay, and compare.
• Make sure you can handle the workload. Some jobs are a lot of work for very little in return.
• Remember that this is a job, and that it's going to become part of your CV. Many telecommuting jobs can take you upscale, leading to better jobs.

DO NOT, EVER:

• Get 'cute' in the email. Stick to the subject, and lose any tendency to start your email with 'Hey Dude'. It's irritating. You're supposed to be going for a job.
• Use 'net-speak', like How R U?
• React negatively to follow up emails.
• Send anything to the employer which looks half baked. Check anything you send, before sending and check it thoroughly. That includes spelling.
• Get lazy with your replies. Reply promptly. Nobody's got time to waste waiting for an email to show up a week later. Show some respect.
• Provide bank account details. It's a standard scam, and no genuine employers, particularly online, are so ignorant to ask for them. It's almost illegal.

Telecommuting as a job

Telecommuting is real work, and sometimes a lot of it, but it's much less hassle for all concerned:

• Time frames are easier to manage
• Both employer and employee have a lot more scope
• Communication is much more efficient
• Budgeting is a lot easier. Costs like travel, daily on the job expenses, and parking are avoided for the employee. The employers saves on everything from electricity to office rent, equipment and furniture.
• There's far less stress on everyone, no 'office politics' or 'gossip factory'

Telecommuting job responsibilities

There are a few, and you need to recognize that this is a real job:

• Always provide the service you're being paid to provide.
• If there's a deadline, meet the deadline. Get the World Clock, and make sure you know the time zones, if necessary.
• You're being paid to do a job, so do it.
• The employer is paying for what he wants, not what you want.
• Be reasonable, under all circumstances. Be fair about any criticisms, not defensive. Learn what's wanted, and how to do it, every day.
• Be reliable. That will get you more appreciation than anything else.

Your computer, file backups, and maintenance

You need to be online regularly and reliably.

• Make sure you can get any computer servicing done quickly and dependably. If necessary, borrow, rent, or get a spare computer.
• Make sure your ISP and email services are good, secure and trustworthy.
• Do file backups regularly, make copies on disk or an external drive, so you don't lose your work.

Occupational Health and Safety

OHS applies in telecommuting jobs.

Hours a day on a computer can wear you down.

• Remember your ergonomics training.
• Take regular breaks,
• Exercise regularly,
• Eat properly,
• If you're feeling unwell, don't ignore it.

Headaches, dizzy spells, and inability to concentrate need to be watched. Check with a GP if you're regularly feeling sick.

Salaries and payments

You need to ensure a safe method of payment.

Some people still pay by check, but that's extremely slow, and frustrating, not to say worrying. PayPal is usually best, or something similar. It's a lot easier to manage than trying to handle paper and foreign currencies yourself. You also get a record of income and expenditure.

Income considerations

Many telecommuting jobs figure out as part time jobs. The income has to be managed effectively, and you need to know how long it takes to get your money to where you need it.

Learn to handle your telecommuting income effectively, paying bills, doing some budgeting for shopping, whatever does the most to add some financial security and depth to your life.

Telecommuting jobs can be very rewarding, and they can open up a whole new range of job opportunities.

You can apply for as many jobs as you can find, and do as many as you can handle. There's no real limit.

Experience matters. Some jobs want experienced telecommuters who know what's needed. Telecommuting jobs are also slowly becoming High Road jobs, paying much better than conventional jobs. It's a new frontier for employment, and those who explore it are likely to find a new world.

You can go from having no job to having jobs all over the world.

Have fun!