Data entry is one of the most sought-after home-based jobs. Here are eight tips to make your search more effective:

1. Optimize your resume for virtual work. One of the biggest mistakes jobseekers make is to use a brick-and-mortar resume to search for virtual work. Revise your conventional resume to emphasize points such as your ability to work independently, your familiarity with online communication and collaboration tools (instant messaging, Citrix’ GoToMeeting and GoToMyPC, etc.), and the strengths of your home office.

2. Stick to websites that offer legitimate data entry or administrative work. We’ve compiled a list of these sites at http://www.ratracerebellion.com/jobs-admin.htm .

3. Manage your expectations, to keep morale up. The data-entry niche is extremely competitive, and most data-entry work is outsourced to India and other offshore locations. Anticipate that many of your job applications will go unanswered. (This has become the norm in online job applications generally.) Let your mantra be, “A successful search will require sustained and focused effort.”

4. Make sure your skills are cutting-edge. As in any field where competition is tough, you’ll need up-to-the-minute skills to land data entry work. If you need certifications, check low-cost online sources such as Brainbench.com, and speak to the employment professionals in your base family center about Career Advancement Accounts and other financial aid.

5. Be proactive, and contact smaller businesses directly. Most data-entry jobseekers overlook the most promising source of work -- the 20 million-plus microenterprises that don’t have the time or inclination to send their administrative work offshore, and typically postpone hiring in-house staff as long as they can.

To identify the high-growth businesses in this group -- who are most likely to have an excess of administrative work -- check sources such as INC. Magazine 5000, business newspapers or Sunday-edition inserts, as well as business-related radio and Internet talk shows.

6. Put up a basic website, to give prospective employers a sense of who you are. Many applicants for home-based administrative work mistakenly assume that a resume and cover letter are the only tools they need. While in some cases this may be true, you can give yourself an edge with a basic website. (See budget-friendly providers such as GoDaddy.com or PowWeb.com.) This lets you expand on your resume, highlight additional skills and accomplishments, quote praise from former employers, etc.

To further personalize your site, you may also consider uploading a brief video of yourself highlighting your credentials, or you can start a professional blog linked to your site. For more, check such services as Blogger.com, TypePad.com, and Helium.)

7. Don’t neglect the local or regional market. Busy Realtors™ , lawyers, consultants, and accountants can be found almost anywhere, and meeting someone face-to-face will always trump virtual introductions. Local or regional firms in growth mode can be an excellent source of home-based administrative work, and will let you avoid or mitigate the trust issues that often arise in telework.

8. Don’t forget former employers. If an ex-employer has a good opinion of your work, don’t overlook the possibility of renewing the relationship virtually. While remote workers are hired every day, it’s often easier to renew a positive relationship than to start a new one “sight unseen” -- particularly when competition is tough.

"Tough" Doesn't Mean "Impossible"
Although searching for high-demand work can be daunting, don’t let it get you down. Tap into your support circle when you need it, network frequently, and strengthen your tool kit whenever you can. Every business produces administrative work, and with gas topping $4 per gallon, home-based work arrangements are becoming more mainstream by the day. Let these facts reinforce you as you pursue your work-at-home goals.

For more information about searching for data-entry work, or to find veterans that are already employed in this field, visit Military.com’s Veteran’s Career Network.