What would you tell someone who doesn't think you have a 'real' job, just because you don't work out of your home??

What suggestions would you have to someone who comes across this?

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~Missy~Mommy
Meghan9.Samantha7,Cameron5

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When people used to say that direct sales wasn't a real job I would just tell them that I made REAL money and that was what mattered. Honestly - that only came up with a few family members. If it was someone outside of my family I would probably just ask them why they cared about my employment situation anyway. I am past the point in my life where I feel I have to answer to anyone except for my husband and kids.

I suppose if I really felt the need to explain my self to someone, I would just say that I had deadlines to meet and a boss that expected my work to be done just like anyone else.

I hear this soooo much. I have worked out of my home for almost four years. I am fortunate because my company is very liberal with children in the home while you work.

I could go on and on about how I'm the drop off sitter because "you work at home with your kids, what's one more?" but I won't.

What I tell people is that my supervisor and the company owner have high expectations for their employees. It is at will employment - meaning I could be fired for not meeting expectatios.

However what people understand the most is the fact that I have an obligation to my family to bring in income and I can't watch your child, wait for the cable repair man, take your dog to the vet.....because your working outside your home.

I think the "you aren't really working" stigma associated with work at home jobs is going away, especially with all the customer service companies outsourcing to wah employees. Maybe it's a regional thing that I don't hear that here anymore, but I'd not even give a person the satisfaction of a response if they said such a thing.

It's probably been 5-6 years since anyone even hinted I wasn't really working since I work at home as an independent piano teacher. People who know me, know better. But, I have a very traditional business ownership (not a job), with lots of public advertising, and a separate piano studio with its own parking and signage out of a walk-out basement..... so people know I'm in business permanently. My business could just as easily be in a strip mall, but area's zoning laws allow me to have it in my home, so why would I pay rent? One of my neighbors runs a photography studio in much the same manner. I think the neighbor and I both quit jobs to start our businesses, it's common in our area. WAH is not unusual at all anymore, if you can find the work.