A “normal job” usually meant working in a cubicle 5 days a week from 9-to-5. But times have definitely changed. The pandemic turned most office positions into work-from-home jobs. But that’s not what I’m talking about today. Even before the pandemic started, many companies started embracing the power of a remote workforce with all the technology we have these days, making telecommuting more and more common.
With unemployment shooting up again, many people could use some more ways to make a few more bucks. So how exactly do you find these work-from-home jobs? I’m going to tell you first that it’s not that simple and the number of remote positions are still small compared to traditional jobs. Plus, as you can imagine, the added flexibility of being able to work from anywhere has made the competition for these limited positions pretty intense. Still, don’t give up. We are talking about finding a company that will allow you to work from the comfort of your own home here even when the pandemic is over and we go back to a more normal life. It’s worth the effort. Take a look at these five work from home jobs anyone can do, starting right now:
Virtual Assistant
Virtual assistants are in high demand these days. Many small businesses don’t need a full-time in-house assistant but the owner could use extra help from time to time. That’s when they call upon a virtual assistant. Virtual assistants are jacks/jills of all trades – their job consists of everything from responding to emails to managing calendars. You can either start a business by offering your services to various companies or work solely for one client. A quick search on Upwork.com shows hundreds of posts looking for virtual assistants. Start there.
Writer
You may not consider yourself a writer. But trust me, anyone can write. It just takes a little bit of practice. Many blogs and content sites rely on freelance writers to keep their content fresh on a daily basis. Start by reaching out to blogs that interest you and ask if you can guest post. Once you build up a portfolio, you can move on to paying gigs. Start writing about topics that you care and know about. A hobby is a topic to start with because you naturally want to spend time thinking about the subject and you probably already know quite a bit about something you love.
Reseller
Believe it or not, eBay is a full-time job with income that feeds the whole family for many people. The auction site isn’t just a place where you sell things around your house you no longer need but an ecosystem you can tap into for income. Now don’t be a scalper and buy up inventory on some hot goods like the recent Playstation 5 just to sell for a quick profit. Instead, one way to start a business on eBay is through importing goods. If you have a product you can buy cheaply in bulk that’s not readily available in the U.S., you might be able to resell it on eBay and make a nice profit. The key though is finding the right product and understanding tax implications and expenses.
Call Center Representative
Being a call center representative isn’t the most fun job in the world. After all, we all know that some customers can be tough to deal with. But it’s a very stable job and it can be done from home. I have a friend who worked at the same company as a customer service representative for two decades, putting two kids through college. Many companies are choosing to have remote “call centers” to save space and expenses. If you’re great on the phone and don’t mind dealing with agitated customers from time to time, this might be the perfect work-from-home job for you. Just remember that if you do work from home, you’ll need a dedicated space that’s free of noise and distraction, as well as reliable communications equipment.
Tutor
Now that the school year is back in full swing, many parents are looking for tutors. This could be a great job for you if you have a degree or expertise in a certain field and like working with kids. It’s flexible and can pay well. With the explosive popularity of Zoom, many parents are much more receptive to virtual sessions too. This is a big boon for tutors because they can cut down on traveling costs significantly and smart tutors can even turn their tutoring into a class, offering their services to many students at once.
As you can see, it’s completely possible to work from home these days. If you crave the flexibility and convenience of a remote position, do your research and figure out what positions are right for you. While certain industries and jobs may be difficult to break into at first, be patient and remember to network. There are plenty of work-from-home jobs out there and the right one is waiting for you.
{ read the comments below or add one }
I teach the basics of budgeting, banking, borrowing & credit to low income individuals, some who are unemployed. We talk about ways to make extra money. If I was to mention Virtual Assistants, I know they would ask me how do you find legitimate VA jobs. I don’t know the answer to that. Can you help answer that? Thank you!
I’m a blogger, not a VA, but if I were to hire one, I’d look for recommendations from other bloggers. My first stop would be blogging Facebook groups.
Great article, I have been working online 6 years and found out this: for newbies the best way to start is taking surveys for money. You can make extra up to 1000 buskc per month. Then invest to develop own blog and start blogging.