Today it’s easier than ever to find flexible work.
Whether you want to work from home some days or every day, there are plenty of careers that lend themselves to this type of flexibility. Remote workers save themselves time and money by working from home and they even save employers money too.
Before you find a remote job, you should think about what you want to do. What skills do you have? What type of hours do you want? Do you want a position that requires you to work 9 to 5 or do you want to complete your job during hours that are convenient for you? These are a few questions to ask yourself before looking for a job from home.
Are you not sure what you want to do yet? Check out the top five careers that you can work from home to get you started.
Virtual Assistant
Virtual assistants are like the jack of all trades. They provide various levels of support, whether customer-based or executive based from home. Most Virtual Assistants provide administrative services, but some also offer technical services too. Virtual Assistants typically specialize in a niche, such as law, medical, or finance and offer specialized services in that niche. The services range from data entry to more complex tasks, such as web design.
Virtual Assistants typically need basic skills, such as the ability to speak and write well, multi-tasking skills, as well as specialized skills pertaining to the industry. For example, if you work in the medical field, you may need a degree or certificate proving that you have knowledge of the medical terms needed. If you provide specialized services, such as web design, you’ll need training and/or a degree proving your skills. The highest-paid Virtual Assistants typically work for high-level executives. Companies that hire virtual assistants include:
Transcription
Transcribers are experts at listening to audios and transcribing or typing what they hear. Transcribers turn audio into written reports for the medical and legal industries, as well as other miscellaneous industries.
Transcribers need a variety of skills including the ability to listen intently, speak and write well, and be able to multitask. Transcription is an easy job to work from home as all you need is a computer, word processing software, transcription software, and a headset. Transcribers often must take tests to prove their skills before getting hired.
While the newer technology that automates transcription may decrease the demand for transcriptionists over time, there are still plenty of companies that hire humans rather than using technology to transcribe their documents. These companies include:
Data Entry
Data entry clerks are administrative specialists. They handle a variety of administrative tasks, namely entering data into the system. Data entry clerks work closely with executives, ensuring that all necessary information gets updated in the database in a timely manner.
Data entry clerks often also help process invoices and orders. Data entry clerks must make sure all data is accurate, up-to-date, and organized. Each company uses data entry clerks differently, but the most important role is to ensure that all data is accurate and provides the most accurate snapshot at that time.
Data entry clerks need to have great attention to detail, the ability to multitask, understand computer basics, and be able to effectively communicate. Data entry clerks are needed in many industries including healthcare, legal, finance, and government industries. The top companies that hire data entry clerks remotely include:
Medical Jobs
It may seem strange to work medical jobs from home, but there are a variety of options. Whether you are a medical professional and provide remote health services or you work as a medical transcriptionist, biller, or admin, there is something for just about anyone that wants to work from home in the medical field.
Obviously, the position you choose will determine the skills you need. Medical administrative positions are typically with insurance companies or medical offices, assisting with the billing. Billers and coders often need a certificate or training to ensure that you understand the terms, regulations, and requirements. You can also work as a nurse, consulting physician, or answer calls as a part of a medical call center. For these positions, you’ll need a medical degree that coincides with the position.
Companies higher medical professionals remotely include:
Fully Remote Positions
Some positions are part-time remote, meaning that you work part-time in the office and part-time from home. Fully remote positions, on the other hand, mean you work completely from your home. You could work for a company that is halfway across the world if you work remotely. It opens up the possibilities for you to try new positions or find different companies to work for.
Fully remote jobs typically must be done online as it’s the only way to stay in touch with the company and tap into their system. A few examples of fully remote jobs include:
Some leading companies that hire employees for fully remote positions include:
Working from home has its pros and cons. You have to be a self-starter and a well-organized person in order to make it work. Because you won’t have a boss breathing down your neck, you’ll need to prove that you can be productive and complete your work on time. Just because your boss isn’t in the room with you, you’ll still have to answer to someone and be accountable for your actions.
Check your work from home opportunities to see what options you may have. Telecommuting may save you time and money as well as give you more time with your family – the things most people want out of life.