In the last decade, being a housewife became a popular trend, which was highly publicized in the media. Many women happily traded successful careers to stay at home and raise their children. Years later, when their children are reaching school age, some of these women want to go back to work part-time to balance their desires for professional involvement with the changing needs of their families.

“Ideally, I want to find a part-time job that I can do from home while the kids are at school,” says Kelly Cantley, a former marketing executive who lives in Canton, GA. “I love being a stay-at-home mom and am also interested in putting my marketing skills back to work. I want to find meaningful assignments where my experience is valued, but I also want flexibility in my schedule. I know the opportunities are out there, but I don’t know how to find them.”

Cantley’s sentiments about striking a work-life balance and finding a part-time opportunity are becoming more commonplace. So how does a professional, especially someone who has been out of the workforce for a few years, find meaningful part-time work? Thanks to innovative online resources, what only a few years ago seemed like an impossible dream is now becoming a reality.

“While many people looking for part-time opportunities don’t consider themselves freelancers, our infrastructure for matching trained professionals with real projects may be just what they’re looking for,” explains Kyle Tinsley, President of iFreelance.com. “With a resource like our site, professionals can find work that uses their skills and fits their schedule.”

Interestingly, many companies are eager to embrace the idea of ​​a freelance job board resource, and for good reason. The traditional costs of hiring temporary or part-time employees can be prohibitive. By posting specific freelance opportunities on a job board site, companies can connect with qualified resources to help them complete specific tasks, thus saving time and money. Job seekers also benefit. Many freelance jobs fall into a variety of categories, such as writing or graphic design.

“As a freelance writer, grant researcher, business consultant, computer systems design engineer, and beautiful artist, I have found iFreelance.com to be a great asset in effectively promoting my wide range of skills,” says Kate Gordon of Great Falls, Mt. “In the first four months alone, I earned an average of $3,600 a month.”

Due to Gordon’s various abilities, she promotes his skills by placing multiple specialist profiles on the site. She receives a personalized list of 20-30 opportunities that match her skills almost every day. She bids for the ones she likes and leaves the rest.

“This freelance job board really works for growing your business from the ground up and is great for both work-at-home moms and professionals alike,” Gordon explains. “You can spend your time quickly or spread it out. It’s also true that the more positive reviews you get, the higher your approval rating goes, which leads to more offers. This exponential popularity has brought me more work than I can sometimes handle.”

Gordon also enjoys the freedom of being an independent contractor. “You can be autonomous, creating your own terms and level of effort, but fully engaged with the people you’re working for and really being an active part of the whole process. There’s no fueling up running across town for a day job just to earn enough to drive home and feed the family. In fact, I am earning a living wage now; this resource has brought the world home to me.”

Another site that offers helpful career advice and tips for working from home is Mommysavers.com. The site is dedicated to helping parents make the most of their time and money and was started by Kimberly Danger in April 2000 while she was home on maternity leave. In a section for work-at-home moms, the site profiles successful business owners, provides numerous job ideas, and offers many helpful articles on starting a business.

“For a mother with young children, working from home can seem like the best of both worlds: having something interesting to do, spending more time with the family, and also earning some money,” Danger explains. “Finding a work-at-home job not only provides extra money, but it can also be a great way to keep you intellectually stimulated and create a sense of accomplishment.”

With the growth of technology over the last decade, working from home is easier than ever. “The Internet makes telecommuting possible and brings a global marketplace to your doorstep,” says Danger. “For these reasons, women entrepreneurs are one of the fastest growing segments of our economy. The resources we have at Mommysavers.com help moms get started finding the right job for their interests and lifestyle. We also help with the success of your home business through articles, tips and profiles of work-at-home moms”.

Over the past few years, there has been a virtual explosion of online resources designed to help people work in new and different ways. As our attitudes about achieving a positive work-life balance continue to evolve, it seems that these tools will likely become even more important in the future.