But if you've done any searching, you know how hard this can be. The scams are much easier to find than the legitimate opportunities. You hear stories of it taking people months, even over a year just to land one work at home job.

It's discouraging.

While work at home job scarcity is a major part of the problem, another is that many people simply don't know how to look for a work at home job. They don't write the right resume. They don't think about their skills. Worst of all, they don't learn about how to avoid work at home scams.

All of these are very important if you want to work at home. Companies that hire home based employees get lots of applications, especially if they are known for hiring telecommuters. The competition can be fierce.

Ideally, you already have a skill that you can use at home. It is much easier to land a job if you have proved your skill already. It's true in jobs outside the home as well as at home.

Start locating companies that will hire people to work at home. Think hard before paying for a list. There are a very, very few companies that charge you to join that provide legitimate listings of companies currently hiring people. Far more often these are scams. Research before you pay for a list.

Other sites will offer free lists of companies that often hire work at home employees. Many of these companies are quite well known for it, and so the competition will be rough.

Sites such as Craigslist also tend to have a lot of listings. However, scams abound as well. Just remember that most job postings are not prescreened and approach with caution.

This may be sounding difficult. That's a good thing. Most people do not find it easy to land a job from home. You should not expect to do so on the first day.

You should also consider going beyond the more commonly used resources I have listed above. Think about going the freelance route and contact small businesses in your area, offering to help them out from home. Many small companies don't need a bookkeeper on staff, for example, but will need such services regularly. Freelancing can allow you to take advantage of such opportunities.

Other forms of home business can also do well. Much like work at home jobs, instant success is not something you should expect. It takes time, effort and determination. But they can be quite profitable and be well suited to your experience. It is something worth considering.

There are legitimate ways to work from home. You have to search hard and be prepared to do quite a bit of research. However, the ability to be there for your children is a real advantage and a delight once you achieve this goal.