Dear Joyce: I work in an office, but as the mother of four, I want to find a way to work at home. I've heard about something called "virtual assistant" (VA), an occupation that requires such basic office tools as a computer, printer, fax and telephone. How can I get started? Is this a reasonable idea or will I have trouble putting food on the table? -- M.W.

Dear M.W.: In my observation, most free agents don't make a lot of money. You, however, may be the exception that proves me wrong.

VAs are home-based entrepreneurs who provide clients with administrative and other support services. These services include proofreading, desktop publishing, creating and maintaining databases, making appointments, sending and receiving correspondence, telephone calls and faxes, planning parties, making travel arrangements, typing reports, writing sales letters, sending out information packets to clients, invoicing -- anything an administrative assistant might do in a traditional office.

As in any service business, income varies. A good Web site to school yourself on virtual assistants is www.AssistU.com.

Consultants often hire virtual assistants to avoid being stuck with heavy overhead and to have a fixed base of operation while they travel. Consultants also have to keep pedaling for dollars. One of the best guides is "How to Make It Big as a Consultant," by William A. Cohen. The third edition of this classic has just come out, with 348 pages of focused and detailed advice. Read this book when you're serious about starting up a consulting career; otherwise, you might nod off.

Another book, "Free to Succeed: Designing the Life You Want in the New Free Agent Economy" by Barbara B. Reinhold, is for those interested in the solo career life, but not necessarily virtual assistant or consultant positions. Reinhold is the career coach for Monster.com and director of Smith College's career center.

Reinhold gently takes you through the entire decision process, recommending that you first identify which of six personality types you most resemble. Then, using charts and checklists, she leads you to interesting possibilities. Throughout the book, Reinhold features examples of people who created great work situations by starting a business or forming a partnership. This book works best for experienced employees seeking a change.

Dear Joyce: I've applied for several jobs overseas but so far it's all quiet on the Western front. What am I doing wrong? -- T.R.L.

Dear T.R.L.: Maybe nothing. As money tightens, expatriate packages are feeling the knife. Multinational companies, newly cost conscious, are cutting back on the pay and benefits bestowed to workers on overseas assignments, with an attitude that employees who don't like it can just go home.

So, who's minding the overseas stores? Expats' replacements are dubbed "localized expatriates," or "lo-pats." These are people who are so anxious to work in a given locale that they'll work cheap or without benefits. Other replacements come from each country's native population.

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