Do you know where your job search stress is coming from? It’s very possible that it’s more than one single thing. Job seekers not only experience stress from uncontrollable events such as hiring freezes and economic issues, but from the job search process itself.

Common triggers for stress in a job search include the lack of feedback given to job seekers, not knowing who you are in competition with, and hiring decisions taking a long time—and then not knowing if you’ll hear back from an employer or not! These can be compounded by personal and financial issues as well.

So, how do you make a stressful job search less stressful? Here are a few tips:

1. Identify Your Stressors and Triggers

Everyone is affected by stress at different times and different levels. Take stock in your own stressors and triggers. Once you figure out the major triggers in your search, you’ll be able to address them, work through them, or learn to work with them.

2. Set Realistic Goals

It might sound like a good plan to map out your entire job search. While it is good to have a job search strategy in place, having a specific roadmap in front of you can cause anxiety and stress, especially if roadblocks occur.

Make a few long-term goals, but make sure to break everything down into smaller, more realistic goals. Then, focus on a few each day or each week. Rather than setting yourself up for failure by missing unrealistic goals, set yourself up for success by setting reachable goals.

More: How to Prepare for a Job Search

3. Take Breaks

Powering through isn’t going to make your job search any easier or successful. In fact, taking breaks will help you. Rather than stressing and pushing through tasks you simply can’t focus on, walk away for a few minutes and get your mind on something else. Then, when you go back to job searching you will be refreshed, calmed, and better able to focus.

More: 4 Must-Have Time Management Skills for Your Job Search

4. Use a Support System

Having a job search team on your side can help with a stressful job search. From people who will hold you accountable to people who simply offer a positive word, they all matter and can help you get through the tough parts of job searching.

5. Focus On Wellness

Health, nutrition, and overall well-being are an important part of reducing stress. For a less stressful job search, take time each day to focus on physical activity, getting adequate sleep, and eating healthy. Minor changes involving your health can help lower stress, allow you to focus better, and give you more energy to job search.

6. Don’t Take Rejection Personally

It can be incredibly difficult not to be hard on yourself or get down when you are passed up for a job you thought would be a perfect fit for. Don’t take the rejection personally, though. Being turned away or turned down for an opportunity isn’t necessarily a direct reflection of you. It simply means another person was a better match at the time. Your chance will come.

Asking for feedback after a job rejection can set you up for success in landing your next opportunity. Here’s how to ask for feedback after a job rejection.

7. Apply Persistence, Perspective, and Positivity

These are three vital words to focus on. Throughout your job search, continue to be persistent when applying for jobs and following up. Maintain perspective by focusing on the tangible goals that you’ve met.

Lastly, but still paramount, practice positivity in your search. Be your own cheerleader and don’t let negative talk take over. By focusing on the positive things, you can help reduce your job search stress.

The post 7 Ways to Have a Less Stressful Job Search appeared first on Job-Hunt.

Flexibility in the workplace has a variety of benefits for those who are able to partake. More time with family, a reduced or eliminated commute, and increased productivity and focus are some of the top benefits of flexible work arrangements.

And flexibility is an asset to employers as well. Workplace flexibility has been shown to reduce employee turnover, increase worker morale, and provide savings on overhead costs.

With the benefits clear, the types of flexible jobs offered is often not. Below, are seven different types of flexible jobs to help you understand what will fit best with your lifestyle.

What are the different types of flexible work arrangements?

Here are the main categories:

Remote Jobs

Also commonly referred to as work-at-home, work-from-home, virtual, telecommute, distributed, and cloud working jobs, remote positions allow people to work somewhere other than their employer’s place of business.

Remote jobs can be part-time or full-time, permanent or temporary, have set or flexible schedules, and be freelance or employee-based. Some employers allow remote employees to work from any location in the world. Other employers require employees to work from specific countries, states, or cities.

Remote jobs typically involve using the phone and internet and may or may not require talking to people in person.

Freelance Jobs

People who freelance are self-employed, independent contractors. Freelancers work full-time or part-time and often work for more than one employer. Companies that offer freelance positions are not required to provide benefits, pay into workers’ compensation, or withhold payroll taxes.

Because they are not considered employees of the company, freelancers typically have more freedom to choose where and when to complete tasks as long as work meets the company’s expectations.

Other common ways to refer to freelance jobs are contract work, independent contractors, and 1099 positions.

Part-Time Jobs

People who work less than 40 hours a week for one employer are typically considered part-time employees. In the past, part-time jobs have been reserved primarily for teenage workers, stay-at-home moms, retirees, and other people not requiring full-time income.

That is not entirely true today, as many professionals are choosing to work more than one part-time job in lieu of full-time employment. Because it is very unlikely that two employers will go out of business at the same time, part-time work offers income security.

This type of flexible work arrangement gives part-timers the opportunity to learn new skills and further their professional networks. Part-time jobs can be found in every industry and for every educational and skill level.

Alternative Schedule Jobs

People who wish to work outside traditional business hours often work alternative schedule jobs. Work hours are typically at the discretion of the employer but can include some flexibility as well.

Alternative schedules include early morning, night, and weekend shifts. These flexible jobs are great for people who need to keep their daytime hours open for other commitments, such as childcare, school, or other employment. (Additionally, a recent trend is a shortened work week, or 4 day work week).

Flexible Schedule Jobs

Jobs in the flexible schedule category include any type of job flexibility as long as the hours worked are predominantly determined by the worker. Flexible schedules give people control over when they work and the ability to adjust their schedules when needed.

Out of the different types of flexibility in the workplace, positions with scheduling flexibility offer the ultimate in work-life balance. But because the employer doesn’t dictate specific work hours, it can be tricky. In order to be successful working a flexible schedule, it is important to have excellent time management skills. Flexible schedule workers are also typically self-motivated, disciplined, and committed.

(Here’s more information from our sister site, FlexJobs, on companies offering a 4 day workweek).

Short-Term/Temporary Jobs

Sometimes people overlook the benefits of working short-term/temporary jobs. Temporary jobs are often used to fill vacancies left by employees on extended absences, such as maternity leave.

Not only do these short-term positions often result in permanent jobs, they also allow workers to explore different companies, industries, and duties without a long-term commitment.

Short-term flexible jobs are great for keeping up to date on skills, learning how to adapt to new situations, and preventing employment gaps on resumes.

Seasonal Jobs

Available in a broad range of industries and professions, seasonal jobs are great for people interested in earning extra money without a long-term obligation.

Flexible jobs in the seasonal category are available throughout the year in a broad range of industries, from holiday retailers to summer theme parks. In addition to earning some extra cash, seasonal jobs offer the chance to work in a new industry and show additional job experience on a resume.

Many seasonal jobs turn into permanent jobs for workers showing above-average ability and dedication. Industries that hire seasonal workers include tourism, wedding, event planning, retail, restaurant, and photography.

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Here are six signs you may be dealing with an online job scam:

1. The Job Pays Way Too Much

Of course, everyone wants a job that pays well. But if a position is paying far more than it really should, that should raise a red flag. It doesn’t mean it’s definitely a scam, but it does mean you should err on the side of caution.

If you’re unsure of what the job you’re applying to should be paying, you can always do a comparison on sites such as PayScale and Salary.com. Then, you can get an idea of what the average compensation would be for this job type. Anything that is way beyond that figure could be a sign of an online job scam.

2. The Name of the Company Is Questionable

Many online job scammers know that job seekers are aware of their tricks. That’s why they sometimes do a copycat scam where they mimic an actual company’s name, but with a slight modification. For example, instead of saying the hiring manager is from Microsoft, they might say they’re from Microsoft Computer Inc. See the variation? Sometimes these can be easy to miss, especially if it’s a minor change, or if they switch up the spelling on a company’s name. Make sure that the company you’re applying to actually exists—a quick check online or via the Better Business Bureau can confirm if you’re dealing with a legit business or not.

3. You’re Offered the Job Much Too Soon

No matter what type of position you’re applying to, you’re most likely still going to have to go through at least a round or two of job interviews before getting offered the job. If an employer offers you the job solely based on your job application, be cautious. Although it might be a big ego boost to think that you’re that qualified for the job, it would be reckless for an employer to offer a job solely based on an application.

4. You’re Asked for Personal Information Too Early

This sign of an online job scam is a tricky one. After all, when you’re offered the job, you are going to have to submit your personal information (such as your address, date of birth, bank account information for direct deposits, etc.) as part of the hiring process. When it becomes questionable is the timing of it. If you’re asked for this type of information too early in the job interviewing or application process, it could be a scam.

5. There Are Grammatical and Spelling Errors

Luckily, for job seekers searching for flexible and remote jobs, job scammers can be a sloppy bunch. More often than not, their job descriptions have typos and other grammatical mistakes. Sometimes you might be able to tell that the wording is awkward or doesn’t make sense. While a spelling error here or there could be chalked up to a super busy hiring manager, that mistake combined with others grammatical goofs—and other signs of a scam—should make you wonder if you’re reading a real job posting or a phony one.

6. The Contact Information Is Not Professional

Any contact that comes from a company (whether it’s a recruiter, a hiring manager, or your prospective boss) should be professional. It should include the person’s name and the company’s name. Any emails that come from a personal account are a bit suspect.

Also, be wary if you see that the email address is similar to a professional one—but isn’t the same. For example, if the person’s email address is rsmith@sonymuzic.com, or rsmith.sony@gmail.com, it should make you question if you’re dealing with a real employer or if you’re in the middle of a job scam.

If you are looking for an online job and want to avoid the scams, our sister site, FlexJobs, offers hand-screened jobs that are vetted by a trained team of professionals.

The post 6 Signs of Online Job Scams appeared first on Job-Hunt.

Although there are still plenty of work-from-home scams to be mindful of, there are also thousands of legitimate jobs that offer remote opportunities.

Here’s a sampling of a range of career fields where you can make money while working remotely.

12 Career Fields to Make Money From Home

1. Account Management

If you have exceptional listening skills, as well as the ability to anticipate the needs of others, becoming an account manager could be a good career choice for you. As an account manager, you’ll provide exceptional client service to gain new business or maintain an existing business relationship.

Example remote account management job titles:

• Client Success Manager
• Link Building Specialist
• Account Strategist

2. Communications

Communications jobs include social media, foreign relations, public relations, and many others. This broad job category means there are many career options available for those who have active listening, strong presentation, and exceptional writing skills.

Example remote communications job titles:

• Senior Communications Manager
• Communications/Public Relations Leader
• Email Communications Writer

3. Editing

Editing is an excellent way to break into a work-from-home career. If you have writing, editing, and proofreading skills, check out the latest editing job listings at FlexJobs. Whether you have a degree in mass communications, journalism experience, or a grammar teaching background, this could be the right career choice for you.

Example remote editing job titles:

• Digital Editor-in-Chief
• Proofreader
• Specialist Editor

4. Education & Training

Education and training positions can be found in the form of training employees on the latest techniques or working in a school system to educate staff and students. Education and training positions offer many legit ways to make money from home.

Example remote education & training job titles:

• Online ESL Teacher
• Economics Tutor
• Instructional Designer

5. Fundraising

Fundraising positions are designed to garner the funding needed for projects and to maintain a business entity’s operations. Donations can be solicited in the form of monetary tithing or gifts for a nonprofit organization.

Example remote fundraising job titles:

• Prospect Researcher
• Campaign Specialist
• Grant Writer

6. HR & Recruiting

Human resources and recruiting careers work to seek and secure the best employee candidates for a company. HR professionals conduct interviews, fill job openings, manage benefits programs, and more.

Example remote HR & recruiting job titles:

• Human Resource Coordinator
• Head of Talent
• Senior Recruiter

7. Marketing

Marketing is another career category that offers widespread positions that typically work to promote, develop, or sell products or services. Jobs in marketing can include promotions, advertising, market research analysis, brand management, and public relations.

Example remote marketing job titles:

• Marketing Specialist
• SEO Manager
• Product Manager

8. Software Development

Software development is the role to create, design, and program online applications and interfaces. Software development positions often require experience but don’t always require a specific degree, making them unique positions for the skilled and not just the educated.

Example remote software development job titles:

• Software Quality Assurance Tester
• Backend Developer
• Full-Stack Developer

9. Translation

Translation positions are plentiful in an ever-melding world with more global travel among those who speak different languages (for example, Spanish jobs). Translation services can be found in many locations to include courts, prisons, hospitals, schools, legal entities, and others. Translation services are also needed for those who use sign language to communicate.

Example remote translation job titles:

• Language Consultant
• French Translator
• Translator

10. Travel & Hospitality

Travel and hospitality professionals can work in a myriad of positions, such as travel agents, hotel managers, reservation agents, travel counselors, hotel inspectors, and more. If you’re knowledgeable in travel, you could be eligible to work for airlines, cruise lines, hotel chains, and more.

Example remote travel & hospitality job titles:

• Corporate Travel Consultant
• Group Travel Specialist
• Villa Reservation Agent

11. Virtual Assistant Jobs and Executive Assistant Jobs

Virtual administration professionals work remotely to support the functions of a business or to assist an executive or department. These professionals will often schedule appointments and maintain a calendar, field calls and document messages, support leaders with day-to-day functions, and assist with payroll tasks.

Example virtual administration job titles:

• Virtual Assistant
• Virtual Scheduler
• Executive Assistant

(Read more on how to become a virtual assistant).

12. Writer Jobs

Writers are needed in nearly every industry. Writers can hold positions at newspapers, radio stations, advertising agencies, journals, magazines, and many other venues.

Example remote writing job titles:

• Digital Media Content Writer
• Proposal Writer
• Content Manager

Other popular categories of remote jobs including Nursing Jobs, Project Management Jobs, and more.

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