My journey into Work at Home options started after my son was born in 2005, after acquiring my administrative assistant diploma several years prior.
Despite the “decent” pay, I was feeling increasingly unhappy at my then job due to frequent layoffs and HIGH office drama!
Ugh, I still remember the feeling; the stress and negative atmosphere made me absolutely dread going to work every day and left me feeling defeated every single day.
I began exploring other administrative jobs locally but encountered similar stress and skepticism during interviews. Feeling lost, I began looking into work-from-home options, which resonated with my introverted nature.
I spent weeks researching legitimate opportunities and avoiding scams. Finally, I decided to pursue customer service jobs to maintain steady income while figuring out my long-term career path.
I’ll be the first to admit, working from home isn’t for everyone! Some people need the structure, the water cooler gossip, or just a reason to wear real pants. But for the rest of us? The ones who thrive in cozy hoodies and can power through emails from the couch? There are tons of work from home options out there that actually make sense—and pay real money too.
However, for those who thrive on flexibility and independence, it can be incredibly rewarding. Some people don’t like the isolation, and some are disciplined enough to work without that time clock. That’s okay.
If you enjoy having the freedom to make your own schedule and achieve your income goals, then continue reading!
Work from Home Equipment Checklist
Different industries have different requirements for their remote workers. In almost all instances, you will need the following WAH equipment:
- Reliable Internet access – for almost any position that requires Internet, but especially when it comes to customer service positions, companies do not want negative posts or feedback from angry customers. And no one wants to deal with the lost connection, especially if they are already irritated.
- Up-to-date computer – some positions will require you to download software to complete your job. This software may only be compatible with current operating systems.
- Antivirus software – you can download free antivirus software from AVG. Don’t trust just any software because you’re looking for free. Perform your due diligence.
AVG is a free anti-virus software than I’ve personally been using for like 15+ yrs. Now. It’s better than most paid ones! Every job is different. Some WFH jobs, like freelance writing, may not require the latest and greatest equipment. Others, like customer service for example, may have additional requirements like a landline or a headset.
Read each job listing carefully to ensure you meet the minimum requirements should you be offered a position.
Ideal Work-from-Home Jobs
When you’re thinking about diving into the world of working from home, the first steps are pretty crucial. Kind of like choosing your outfit for a first date, but with way more coffee and way less awkward small talk. Picking the right work from home options from the very beginning can save you time, stress, and a whole lot of “what am I even doing?” energy later on.
- Decide what type of work interests you
- Figure out which industries you’re drawn to
- Consider what suits your unique situation, interests, and background
- Think about your schedule—do you want something flexible, part-time, or full hustle mode?
- Be honest about your energy levels and distractions (kids, pets, a deep emotional connection to your couch…)
- Check if you need any tools or training to get started—laptop, Wi-Fi, maybe a ring light if you’re feeling fancy
- Look at your long-term goals—are you building a career or just stacking some extra cash?
Before you jump into anything, take a sec to figure out what actually makes sense for you. Not your cousin, not that girl on TikTok—you. The best work from home options are the ones that fit your life, your schedule, and your sanity.
So think about what kind of work sounds fun (or at least tolerable), how much time you’ve got, and whether you need something flexible or full-time. Once you know what you’re looking for, it’s way easier to distinguish the good gigs from the bad ones. You know…..the kind that’ll make you cry into your coffee.
When I first started looking into work from home options, I was overwhelmed. It felt like standing in front of one of those giant diner menus—so many choices, and no clue where to start. Some jobs looked super easy and perfect for beginners. Others? They wanted a fancy degree, ten years of experience, and maybe your firstborn child.
The truth is, there’s something out there for everyone—whether you’re just getting started or you’ve got a solid background in a certain field. So let’s break it down.
Here are some of the most popular paths you can take, and what kind of skills (or none at all) you’ll usually need to get going.
Customer Service – Phone
If you don’t mind chatting with strangers all day (and can sound cheerful even before your first coffee), phone-based customer service might be your thing. You’re basically the voice that helps people when things go wrong—or when they just need a real human to talk to.
Skills needed: Good communication skills
Requirements: A landline, high-speed internet, and a quiet environment
Experience: Often entry-level, but some companies prefer previous customer service or telemarketing experience
Customer Service – Chat or Email
Hate phone calls? Same. Luckily, you can still do customer service without ever picking up the phone. With chat or email support, you’re helping people from behind a screen—just type fast, be polite, and maybe throw in a smiley face or two.
Skills needed: Strong written communication skills
Requirements: High-speed internet
Experience: Usually entry-level, though some positions prefer prior experience
Freelance Writing
If you’ve ever ranted in a group chat or left a dramatic product review for shampoo, congrats—you’re already halfway to being a freelance writer. This gig lets you turn your thoughts into money by writing blog posts, product descriptions, or even ghostwriting for someone who’s “too busy” to write their own content.
Skills needed: Excellent grammar and research skills
Requirements: Some experience in the topic or industry you’re writing about (e.g., personal finance, parenting, health & wellness, business)
Flexibility: Can work from anywhere, anytime
Virtual Administrative Support
If you’re organized, love a good checklist, and can keep someone else’s life from falling apart (while your own is maybe slightly in shambles—no judgment), virtual assistant work might be perfect for you. You’re the behind-the-scenes hero who keeps everything running.
Skills needed: Ability to follow directions and take initiative
Requirements: Varies by client; some may require marketing or writing skills
Desire: Willingness to learn about the client’s industry and offer new ideas
Transcription
Ever wanted to get paid to eavesdrop (legally, of course)? If your fingers fly across the keyboard and you can understand people talking over background noise, transcription is a great way to make money using just your ears and fast typing.
Skills needed: Fast typing and good listening skills
Requirements: A quality headset; some positions (like medical or legal transcription) may require a foot pedal
Training: Often needed for specialized industries like legal or medical
Healthcare (Remote Roles)
If you’ve got a medical background—or want to go that route—there are legit ways to work from home in healthcare. You’ll need proper training, but these jobs can be flexible, meaningful, and well-paid.
Training required: Yes, for most positions
Roles include:
- Medical transcription
- Remote nursing
- Medical billing and coding
- Patient advocacy
Data Entry
This one’s for my fellow routine lovers. Data entry is simple: you type stuff into boxes. That’s it. It doesn’t pay a ton, but it’s easy, quiet, and you can listen to true crime podcasts while you work.
Availability: Legitimate opportunities do exist, but competition is high
Skills needed: Fast typing and attention to detail
Pay: Often paid per task (piecework) with lower rates due to high demand
Tutoring (Online)
If you’re good at explaining things and don’t mind hopping on video calls, online tutoring is a great way to help kids (or adults) learn stuff they’d otherwise Google badly. Bonus: you get to feel smart and helpful at the same time.
Skills needed: Comfortable speaking on video calls and explaining topics clearly
Requirements: High-speed internet
Certification: Required if you’re teaching elementary or high school subjects
Editing
If spotting typos gives you actual joy and you mentally correct people’s grammar while they talk, editing might be your calling. It’s quiet, flexible, and you get to turn messy writing into magic.
Schedule: Highly flexible; often work-at-your-own-pace
Pay: Usually paid per project or word count
Experience: Prior writing or editing experience is typically expected
There are plenty of other options to explore based on your skills and background, including web design, translation, marketing, accounting, and IT. Keep in mind that many of these positions may require prior work experience or specialized training. We’ve covered some of the more entry-level opportunities above.
Where Can I find WAH Job Openings Near Me?
When you’re thinking about working from home, there are tons of places you can look for job listings. You can check websites, job boards, and even blogs like mine!
Here are some sites you can start with to make your search easier:
Indeed – It’s a good job board, but you’ll need to search using terms like “work from home,” “remote,” “remotely,” “virtual,” and “telecommute” to find what you’re looking for.
UPDATE: So, here’s the scoop: lately, people are seriously fed up with Indeed. You know, things like zero results, no callbacks, feeling like the membership isn’t worth it anymore, and so on. Seems like Indeed has just gotten way too crowded. Sure, you’ll find loads of job postings there, but when you’re up against a hundred thousand other applicants, it starts to feel like you’re throwing your hat into a lottery.
I’ve been digging into this myself, and honestly, I can’t in good conscience recommend Indeed anymore.
FlexJobs – This one needs a membership. They make sure there are no scams, and all the jobs are flexible or remote. If time is of the essence, these are your guys.
ProBlogger Job Board – Free board for writing gigs.
Remote.io – Some unique leads here sometimes.
Craigslist – Be careful and research before applying, there are scams.
Facebook Groups – Some groups list job openings, but watch out for scams.
You can also use Google and Google Alerts to find openings.
Something I like about paid job boards is they eliminate a lot of the junk, even if they require a small financial investment. Job seekers can search more precisely for their specific line of work.
In FlexJobs, for example, I can quickly find entry-level work-at-home jobs by hitting the Advanced Search tab > Telecommuting Level 100% > Career Level Entry-Level.
I can also hit buttons for full-time, flexible, employee/freelance, and more.
If you want a job that pays well or relates to your degree, consider joining paid websites like FlexJobs or Hire My Mom. These two in particular can be very helpful in finding such opportunities!
A neat trick to find job openings is by using Google and Google Alerts. Some recruiter websites may not show many job leads right away, but you can discover some by doing a quick Google search.
Visit Google and type in the following:
“ Site:greenhouse.io + remote ”
You’ll get a list of pages to check out for possible remote listings. It might be helpful to filter them by date too.
Check out my post on remote night jobs if you don’t mind working evenings and/or weekends.
You can also try searching for job openings on workable.com, jobvite.com, and other similar websites.
Another tip is to search for words like “remote,” “telecommute,” and “work at home” on Google.
You can even set up Google Alerts to let you know when new job listings matching your interests are posted.
Common terms to use when searching job boards:
- 1099 – Freelance
- Digital Nomad
- Distributed Team
- Flexible Location
- Home Based
- Nationwide
- Offsite Position
- Own Home Office
- Remote
- Telecommute
- Telework
- Virtual Company
- Virtual/Online
- Work from Anywhere
- Work from Home
You can also reach out to companies directly and inquire about WFH opportunities. This is often called “cold pitching”. I recommend searching LinkedIn for the HR manager or the Editor if you are a freelance writer.
You can also head to the Indeed job board and do a search.
Put “work from home” or something similar in the What box. Include the quotation marks to help narrow things down.
In the Where box put your state.
The most important advice I can give you is: make your job search a priority.
“Unemployed people spend less than 40 minutes a day looking for work but over three hours watching television……set your priorities.”
How to Avoid WAHM Scams
One big worry about working from home is, “How do I stay away from scams?” It’s a real worry! Scams are common these days.
There are many people trying to get your money and personal info. Thankfully, there are signs that tell you to stay away from a job listing.
Here are some things to watch out for:
- They don’t tell you the company name. Why wouldn’t they want you to know who you’re working for?
- They don’t have a website. If you can’t find a website for the company, that’s fishy. Even small companies usually have a website.
- Their website seems more focused on selling to you than being real. If they talk too much about how much money you’ll make, be cautious.
- They want you to handle payments. No real company will ask you to deposit checks into your bank account.
- Be careful with schemes where you cash a check and send them money. That’s a big no!
- Look them up on Google, Glassdoor, and the BBB for reviews. Check their social media too. Do you see complaints?
- Check if the pay they’re offering matches the work. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
- Be wary of surprise emails from unknown companies offering work-from-home jobs. Legit companies usually don’t do that!
Stay safe and smart when looking for work-from-home opportunities!
