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!
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:
- Decide what type of work interests you
- Figure out which industries you’re drawn to
- Consider what suits your unique situation, interests, and background
There are many different paths you can choose when it comes to working from home. Some jobs are great for beginners and don’t require any prior experience. However, other jobs may need specific degrees or work backgrounds.
Let’s take a look at some popular options and the skills and qualifications they usually need.
- Customer Service – Phone
Skills needed: Good communication skills
Requirements: A landline, high-speed internet, and a quiet environment
Experience: Often entry-level, but some prefer previous customer service or telemarketing experience
- Customer Service – Chat or Email
Skills needed: Strong communication skills
Requirements: High-speed internet
Experience: Usually entry-level, but some prefer previous experience
- Freelance Writing
Skills needed: Excellent grammar and research skills
Requirements: Some experience in the chosen industry (e.g., personal finance, parenting, health & wellness, business)
Flexibility: Work from anywhere, anytime
Skills needed: Ability to follow directions and take initiative
Requirements: Depending on the niche, marketing or writing skills may be necessary
Desire: Learn about the client’s industry and contribute new ideas
Skills needed: Fast typing skills
Requirements: Quality headset and foot pedal (for medical or legal transcription)
Training: May be required for specialized industries
- Healthcare
Training: Required for medical transcription, remote nursing, billing and coding, patient advocacy, etc. Data Entry
Availability: Legitimate opportunities are limited
Skills needed: Fast typing skills
Pay: Typically, piecework with low rates due to competition
- Tutoring
Skills needed: Comfortable with video chat
Requirements: High-speed internet
Certification: Needed for tutoring elementary and high school subjects
- Editing
Schedule: Highly flexible
Pay: Usually per project
Experience: Writing or editing background required
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, but it’s worth it! 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.
Paid job boards like FlexJobs are pretty solid. They sift through all the junk so you don’t have to. That old saying, “you get what you pay for,” really hits home with job boards.
HireMyMom.co – This board’s got some top-notch remote gigs, perfect if you’ve ever been turned down for being overqualified. Can you believe that’s actually a thing? Lol.
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 job listings. It might be helpful to filter them by date too.
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!
