* traffic development tools. Your business is only going to succeed to extent that you have a certain flow of new prospects every single day. Does your current business offer you these prospect leads?

* ongoing technical assistance. Like it or not, Internet is based on changing technology. You must have as part of your success team technicians who can help you master it and ensure that your business is always up and running.

3) Learn How To Work Your Prospects & Make Sales

For your home-based business to succeed, you need to develop a sales mentality. The Internet is ultimate sales emporium. Prospects will visit your website and email you every single day. They expect a prompt response, with their inquiries being handled expeditiously and professionally.

Even if you're only able to work your home-based online business part- time, you need to think like a full-time entrepreneur, making sure that you are ready to deal with your prospects as soon as they are ready to do business with you.

This means being able to get out information fast (your Sales Manager is vital for this)... and following up over and over again until sale is made (again, something Sales Manager is made to do.)

The sad fact is that all too many people who are running online home- based businesses are relying on Internet to do their work for them, hoping that they themselves won't have to contact any prospects, much less "sell" them anything. This is nonsense. The Internet is unrivaled for what it does -- giving people worldwide ability to disseminate unlimited amounts of information and to connect with people for a trifling cost. However, it does not take place of good ol' personal contact and relationship building. The Internet is a vital business tool, like telephone, but you will never succeed in your home-based business if you're not willing to work with your prospects in whatever way it takes to make sale.

You want to write a resume that mixes relevant skills, achievements, and experiences. Put your most valuable skills and abilities near beginning and add an objective tailored to job you are trying to get. A good outline for a career change resume follows:

* OBJECTIVE Write objective to match requirements of job. For instance, if you want a job as an "Internet Sourcer," then you could write something like: "An independent self-starter seeking a contract or freelance position to provide research and analysis skills using knowledge, a positive attitude, and experience as assets for hiring company."

* SKILLS Describe up to five skills or areas of expertise that you can offer. The skills can come from anywhere as long as you can prove them (e.g., a degree you completed last year or a hobby that makes you an expert).

* ACHIEVEMENTS List up to five bulleted points describing positive things you've done related your target job. For example, you can include both paid and volunteer work as well as hobbies or education.

* EDUCATION/TRAINING or EXPERIENCE List those items that fit well with your target career. If your education exemplifies your skills for job, emphasize it. As for experience, list those items in your current and past jobs that emphasize your experience specifically for job and your new career.

If you're curious and want a few examples for a given position, download Copernic (http://www.copernic.com) and use their "Resume" category search. Search for other resumes that meet your requirements for your position. You might also find someone else with your skills and realize that they made it into career you're heading toward!

--- Going After New Career ---

Once your resume is complete, go back and search for those positions that match your needs. Examine their requirements and create a cover letter that best describes how your attributes can satisfy needs of company. Don't use a form cover letter, tailor one for each individual position. When you're confident that cover letter and resume are ready, send them to contacts for each company.

You'll probably have to do this a few times until someone catches on to your skills and hires you. In process, make sure that you keep track of companies and their contacts that receive your resume. Since Web is inundated with repetition, make sure that you don't send your resume more than once to same company.

--- What's Next? ---

The idea is not to give up. If your dream is to telecommute, then you need to position yourself such that a telecommuting position can be yours. Just remember that your first job will be "on side" and its purpose is to help you gain experience as a telecommuter in your new career. As you become proficient, update your resume and go after big job! Just make sure your resume makes it clear that you have skills and desire to be proficient in that new job.

Edward B. Toupin is a telecommuting consultant, writer, and published author living in Las Vegas. You can visit his Web site at http://www.toupin.com or contact him at etoupin@toupin.com.