Evaluating Work At Home Jobs
It's no secret that it's tough to make a living these days. And with the increasing costs of things like food, housing, and education - not to mention all the other expenses life throws at you - people are exploring alternatives to working a traditional 9-5.
One option is to work remotely as a freelancer or contractor. But it can be hard when evaluating which jobs are worth considering and which ones should be avoided. That's why we created this guide on how not only to evaluate work at home jobs but also how remote working can improve your quality of life.
What are remote jobs?
To put it simply, remote jobs are anything that don't require you to go into an office every day. They could be full-time or freelance positions and some are more lucrative than others.
Some of the most common types of work at home jobs include:
Programming/coding/IT: This includes work like writing code, creating new programs and applications, and troubleshooting existing software. It doesn't matter if your degree is in computer science or not, you can likely still find places looking for freelancers with this skillset.
This includes work like writing code, creating new programs and applications, and troubleshooting existing software. It doesn't matter if your degree is in computer science or not, you can likely still find places looking for freelancers with this skillset. Writing/editing: This could mean blogging, social media management, editing photos and videos, or anything else writing or photo related.
This could mean blogging, social media management, editing photos and videos, or anything else writing or photo related. Transcription: Transcription involves listening to audio recordings and typing up what was said. It's usually used by hiring managers to make sure they got everything a candidate said correctly during an interview.
Transcription involves listening to audio recordings and typing up what was said. It's usually used by hiring managers to make sure they got everything a candidate said correctly during an interview. Video editing: This is probably the most fun type of remote job (or "stay at home job" in this case) because it means wowing your clients and friends with your creativity and skill. You'll edit videos for different types of content such as corporate training, explainer videos, webinars, etc.
This is probably the most fun type of remote job (or "stay at home job" in this case) because it means wowing your clients and friends with your creativity and skill. You'll edit videos for different types of content such as corporate training, explainer videos, webinars, etc. Transcriptionist: This can include transcribing audio for videos, radio shows, podcasts, etc.
This can include transcribing audio for videos, radio shows, podcasts, etc. Data entry: This is a very common type of remote job that involves inputting or entering data. It's used in all sorts of fields including medical transcription and data entry in the financial community.
This is a very common type of remote job that involves inputting or entering data. It's used in all sorts of fields including medical transcription and data entry in the financial community. Data analysis: This is a bit more complicated than data entry but it's still pretty common. It involves analyzing data sets, so if you're not a math and science major, you can apply for jobs like this.
This is a bit more complicated than data entry but it's still pretty common. It involves analyzing data sets, so if you're not a math and science major, you can apply for jobs like this. Customer service: While this may seem counter-productive to something that requires mostly sitting down at the computer all day long, it could actually be an awesome alternative to working in an office every day. It's basically an extension of helping people you're already doing at home.
While this may seem counter-productive to something that requires mostly sitting down at the computer all day long, it could actually be an awesome alternative to working in an office every day. It's basically an extension of helping people you're already doing at home. Translator: Some companies need translations for their websites or marketing materials and will hire individuals specifically for this job using platforms like Upwork or eLance.
Some companies need translations for their websites or marketing materials and will hire individuals specifically for this job using platforms like Upwork or eLance. Virtual assistant: A virtual assistant is someone who provides administrative, technical, and creative support to clients from a remote location. You can usually find these jobs on platforms like eLance or Upwork.
A virtual assistant is someone who provides administrative, technical, and creative support to clients from a remote location. You can usually find these jobs on platforms like eLance or Upwork. Writing assistant: This position is similar to being a virtual assistant but you're focused more on helping writers than other people in general. They could be journalists or bloggers for publications or businesses.
This position is similar to being a virtual assistant but you're focused more on helping writers than other people in general. They could be journalists or bloggers for publications or businesses. Consultant: This is like a virtual assistant in which you're helping clients with their own unique challenges.
Obviously, this list is far from complete and every type of remote job exists out there. It's important to note that even though they're common today, they weren't great 10 years ago and most of these jobs are only going to be more relevant as time goes on. If you have the right personality and the right work ethic, remote jobs can really improve your quality of life.
Conclusion
Remote jobs are becoming more and more popular because they provide you with flexible hours and the ability to network without having to leave your home. If you want to work from home but aren't exactly sure how to go about it, this is a good place to be.
About the author: Michael D'Agostini is a freelance writer with over 10 years of experience and has written for some of the best websites and magazines in the world. He's created numerous websites, including a personal finance blog and a variety of others. Learn more at www.michaelagostini.com or https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelagostini/.