Being able to work from home seems like an ideal scenario. Traditionally, however, working from home might have meant a difficult task with very little pay. Nowadays, there are plenty of opportunities for a much higher payment than ever before. The internet has opened up a wealth of opportunities for people of all ages and abilities. The digital world of business means that there’s no better time to work from home, and millions of people are choosing to do it.
There are several reasons why you might want to work from home. Perhaps you’re fed up with the daily commute to work. Having to care for a loved one or raise a family are two more reasons you might want to ditch your 9 to 5. Perhaps you’d relish the challenge of running your own business. It might surprise you to learn that in the U.S. alone, more than 43 percent of workers now work remotely. Not all of these people work full-time. For some, their legitimate work from home jobs are a supplement to their income.
Very little is required if you’re thinking of making the change to working remotely. Some positions require professional qualifications and advanced education. However, there are also part-time or full-time home jobs, which require excellent communication skills and a few essential pieces of equipment.
Before you hand in your notice and quit your day job, keep reading. You’ll have all the information you need to make a more informed decision.
What Does a Legitimate Work-From-Home Job Mean?
The concept is straightforward. It’s a way by which an employee does their job from home. You might also hear it called remote working, a virtual job, a home-based job, home-based business, or telecommuting jobs. These terms are all interchangeable. However, there are some subtle differences.
Remote Working
As the name implies, this is the type of job you do in a remote location. This location often means from home, but it can equally mean sitting on the beach, on top of a mountain, or out on the road.
Telecommuting
This type of role means swapping the typical commute for a home-based position. Rather than commuting by train, bus, or car, you’re commuting by telephone and computer. Your role may be full-time or part-time work, which could mean having to go to the office for meetings or face-to-face work.
Virtual Job
This role requires a virtual connection with your employer. You will probably be working all of the time from home and keep in contact via telephone and the internet. Advertised home jobs of this type tend to have the word “virtual” in the job title. Some examples include a virtual assistant or a virtual teacher or even a transcriptionist. Virtual jobs are typically paid per project or per hour at a set hourly wage.
Home-based Jobs
As you would expect, home-based jobs are work you do from home. They include online jobs such as a customer service representative, translator, data entry clerk, proofreader, and medical transcriptionist. Broadpath Healthcare Solutions is an excellent example of a company that has embraced remote working.
Working from home has its benefits for both employees and employers. The employee can enjoy an excellent work-life balance, while the employer benefits from increased levels of productivity. There are several more benefits for you if you’re considering working from home.
The Benefits of Working From Home
What do you picture doing if you decide to start working from home? Do you imagine being able to answer emails while still in your PJs? Is it a case of jotting down notes while standing in line at the store? Would you like to be able to work in the early hours of the morning because you can’t sleep? All these scenarios are possible, but there are plenty more. Securing a great remote job will change your life in many different ways. It can also bring in extra money. Let’s look at some of the benefits you can enjoy.
You Can Ditch the Daily Commute
This is a significant advantage of working from home. It means no more sitting in traffic for hours at a time — no more stressful train or bus journeys. Working from home means you get as many as four extra hours of working time or time for yourself. You might even be able to save money on your car insurance because you won’t be using your car for commuting.
You Can Be Your Own Boss
Entrepreneurs, freelancers, and bloggers make up a large percentage of the people who work from home. Being able to work for yourself can be very liberating.
Your Work Day Starts and Ends When You Want It To
Having a 9 to 5 or 6 job can be very draining. Choose legitimate work from home, and your working day starts and finishes when you want. If you’re going to sleep late and not start work until 10, you’re free to do so. If you’re going to take a break during the middle of the day and head to the store to do your shopping, it’s not a problem.
You might find you’re more productive working in the middle of the night or early in the morning. When you don’t have to worry about set working hours, you’re able to work when it’s most comfortable for you.
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Office Politics Will Be a Thing of The Past
Anyone who’s ever worked in an office will appreciate this benefit. When groups of people work in close contact with each other, there’s always a certain amount of rivalry. Sometimes it can get so bad that going into work every day can be a nightmare. Office politics can be very damaging for employers and part-time and full-time employees alike.
When you’re working from home, it’s generally just you and you alone. The only person you’ve got to compete with is yourself.
Reduced Stress Levels
Many of you will agree that going to work can be very stressful. That’s not to say working from home isn’t the same. There is, however, far less pressure when you have home-based work.
From the moment you wake up in the morning, you don’t have to stress about rushing out of the house to ensure you’re not late for work. You’re going to be working on your own, possibly with the occasional visitor, family, friends, or your pet. This must be less stressful than facing your colleagues at the office. Reduce your stress levels, and you’ll be able to concentrate on your work.
You Can Enjoy More Family Time
There are many different occasions when it’s essential to be at home with your loved ones. You might have an elderly parent who’s ill and needs extra care. When your children are young, it’s always good if you can be around more to watch them grow. There doesn’t even have to be a reason for wanting to spend more time with your partner, children, or other family members. If you work from home, you’ll have more time to spend with them.
You’ll Be Able to Save on Your Work Expenses
We’ve already mentioned that you’ll be able to ditch the commute to work, so that’s a noticeable saving. There are also savings to be made on work attire because there’s no official dress code if you’re working from home. Expensive company meals are also going to be a thing of the past.
Anyone wanting to run their own business from home will be able to do so very cheaply. No particular space is required, and very little equipment needs to be purchased. There are also several online tools you can take advantage of, many of which are free. Google Docs, HubSpot, Slack, Trello, and Calendly are just a few examples.
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You Can Look for an Opening From the Comfort of Your Own Home
As you might expect, the best place to look for job openings is online. It might also be possible to negotiate with your current employer for a part-time job at home. An excellent place to start is with an online search. Type “remote jobs or telecommuting job listings” and see what pops up. Online job boards are another way to find the right kind of job.
Sounds pretty amazing, right? Before you take the plunge, bear in mind that many of these benefits are a double-edged sword. In the interest of providing you with a fair and honest picture, let’s look at some of the disadvantages of working from home.
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The Disadvantages of a Work-From-Home Job
For many people, working from home is a dream to which they aspire. There’s no denying that there is any number of benefits. However, there is also an equal number of disadvantages.
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It Can Get Very Lonely
Working from home means you’re going to be alone most of the time. There might be conference calls and online meetings you need to attend. You might also get a few visitors. Family members are bound to pop their heads around the door of your office now and again. Nevertheless, you can expect there to be a severe lack of social interactions. For many people, this is not acceptable.
It can also have an effect on your health with an increased risk of disrupted sleep patterns, higher levels of stress, increased inflammation, and altered immune systems.
There Are Lots of Distractions
It’s all too easy to get distracted by things such as washing dishes and laundry, grocery shopping, cleaning the house, and any number of other things. If you’re working at home, there are distractions all around you. It’s also very likely you’ll be working on a computer, which is a distraction in itself. It takes a lot of discipline not to be constantly checking your Facebook newsfeed or looking for the latest last-minute travel deals.
Fortunately, there are apps you can use to help you stay focused. There’s also the option of turning off all your other devices and removing social media channels from your work computer.
Lack of Productivity
If you’re distracted continuously, it’ll be a struggle to get anything done likewise, if you lack motivation. Many people prefer to have someone looking over their shoulder because it means they’ve got the pressure to get something done. It can also feel like you’re not working at all if your office is at home. Missing the feeling that you’ve got a working day ahead of you can also lead to a lack of productivity.
It Can Be Hard to Switch Off
Separating your private life and work-life can be very difficult if you work at home and sleep in the same place. With no set working time, you might find yourself working all hours of the day and night. Before you realize it, your whole life revolves around your job, and there’s little time for yourself or your family.
If the job you’re doing is something you like, this might not seem like a problem. However, it could lead to burn-out if you’re not careful.
Your Health Could Suffer
If you’re going to be sitting at a desk all day, you really should invest in the best equipment. When you’re working for an employer, it’s their responsibility to ensure your chair is ergonomic. It is also their job to make sure your desk is at the right height, and your IT equipment is not damaging your eyes.
Working from home means you’ve got to invest yourself, and it might not seem so important. You could laze around on the couch when you’re working, but it’s not going to be good for your back, necks, shoulders, wrists, or eyes.
Now you should appreciate the pros and cons of working from home. Before we put you off too much, let’s look at some of the opportunities for anyone looking for real work-from-home jobs.
Ten Real Work-From-Home Opportunities
A few decades ago, the only work from home opportunities would have been jobs such as stuffing envelopes, craft making, glove making, or mystery shopping. Fast forward to today, and anyone who wants to enjoy the benefits of a home-based job has a wealth of roles to choose from. A study undertaken a couple of years ago by Upwork and the Freelancers Union predicted that the majority of the U.S. workforce will be working remotely within a decade. The study also found that almost 50 percent of Millennials were already doing it.
Here are ten real work-from-home jobs that might interest you.
Virtual Assistant
An increasing number of modern businesses operate wholly or partly online. This means there are plenty of opportunities for remote work. If you’re a whizz at organizing and administrative tasks, you could become a virtual assistant. The official definition of this type of role is an independent contractor who works from home or remotely, supporting many clients by providing technical, creative, and administrative services.
This role can vary considerably, depending on the company you’re working for. Therefore, it’s imperative to clarify what you’re required to do before taking on this type of job. Tasks could include writing and creating content for a website, writing emails, responding to a variety of inquiries, creating business-related documents, organizing a person’s business diary, and a host of other things. The skill level that’s needed depends on the tasks you’re required to perform.
Translator
Translators are required in a variety of different industries, and you may or may not require official qualifications. The essential requirement is that you speak two languages fluently. About a quarter of translators are currently self-employed and spread across industries as varied as hospitals, scientific and technical services, the government, and private educational services.
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Web Developer
Do you know how to build a website? Have you made your own or helped a friend build theirs? It’s not as difficult as many people think, and there is a significant demand for people in this area of business. It’s possible to make a living by building websites because so many people don’t have the time, inclination, or interest in building their own.
An advanced degree would be a good thing to have. There’s no shortage of work for web developers with a college degree, sufficient experience, and a portfolio to share with potential clients.
Travel Agent
You might have noticed that there’s a distinct lack of travel agents on the high street. Not so very long ago you would have had plenty to choose from if you wanted to book a vacation. Nowadays, travel agents work online and use the power of the internet to find clients and help them plan the vacation of a lifetime.
There are more opportunities for travel agents who specialize in a specific type of vacation or have experience in certain regions around the world. Tours, adventure vacations, and group travel are a few more areas you could concentrate on.
Online Writer
Do you enjoy writing? Writers are in high demand at the moment, and writing jobs are something you can easily do from home. Content marketing is a buzz word right now, and every smart business owner is looking for someone to craft that content.
Become an online writer, and you can work entirely around your schedule. There are also plenty of online courses if you want to brush up on your spelling, punctuation, and grammar skills.
To get started, you need a portfolio to present to prospective clients. It’s also a good idea to think about a niche market you can target. Often, the best area will be something you’ve got experience in, like parenting skills, or something you’re passionate about, like gardening or the environment.
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Virtual Bookkeeper
A bookkeeper is a person who records financial transactions for small business owners and individuals. This role is a little different than an accountant. Formal qualifications are not required. Instead, all you need is to be good with numbers and have a high school degree. There are lots of online tools you can use to make the job easier and online courses you can sign up for to polish up your number skills.
English Teacher
Online English teachers are in high demand, particularly in developing countries. If you’re interested in online tutoring, you can do so without a formal teaching qualification. However, you do require proficient English skills. Teaching English online has experienced rapid growth in recent years, and demand isn’t slowing down.
Before you start looking for work, you must decide what age or level of English you’d prefer to teach. Another essential is a reliable, high-speed internet connection, a computer, and a webcam.
Graphic Designer
Branding is vital for the success of a business. You’ve only got to think of companies like Coca-Cola, Nike, and Amazon, and their logos pop into your head. Finding the right logo is not an easy thing to do, and it takes a certain kind of person to design the right one. To be a successful online graphic designer, you need a working knowledge of online programs such as InDesign and Adobe Photoshop. You also need to have a certain artistic flair.
The best place to start is by freelancing your skills and building a portfolio. Once you’ve got some examples of your work, you’ll be in a better position to look for your clients.
Digital Marketing Freelancer
Smart business owners who want to grow their online presence use the services of digital marketing experts. People experienced in this field are in high demand. You don’t necessarily need a bachelor’s degree, college degree, or high school diploma to do this type of work from home.
To achieve a level of success, you should choose a particular niche to work in. Areas to consider include content marketing, affiliate marketing, social media manager, SEO, multi-level marketing, or pay per click.
Drop Shipping
Would you like to be involved in selling products? Being an online retailer used to mean having a warehouse and lots of stock. Drop shipping has revolutionized the retail industry because you no longer have to worry about inventory or product fulfillment. All you need is an online drop shipping store. You advertise products from a third party in your store. Customers using your website place orders. These orders are forwarded to the third party, and they’re responsible for making sure the product is delivered.
To be a successful drop shipper, you must choose a niche market and determine what products are going to sell best. You also need to do some research and look at what your competitors are selling. Another important aspect is to find a reliable and trustworthy supplier.
There is a lot of competition, but if you do it right, there is plenty of potential.
Here is a small selection of the work-at-home jobs that are available. You’ll find plenty more examples if you look online.
How Much Money Could You Earn Working From Home?
This has got to be an essential question for anyone looking to change their career. How much money you can earn could be the deciding factor for some of you. If you think the potential to make big money is limited, you couldn’t be more wrong.
Several industries are now looking to offer more flexibility and good pay to retain their top talent. The finance, medicine, and technology sectors are at the forefront of the work from home revolution.
The following are just a few examples of the type of work in which you can earn a desirable amount of money.
- Account manager
- Business development manager
- Full-stack web developer
- Project manager
- UX designer
- Client services director
- Senior software engineer
- Physician
The average hourly wage and average salary are much the same as someone working in a more traditional workplace.
Even if you’re not a particularly high flyer and money is not the primary influence in your life, your potential earnings have no limit. Some jobs can provide a little extra money to supplement your income. There are also roles which can provide enough money to cover all your expenses and more.
Thus, the real answer to how much money you could earn is however much you need to be happy.
Working From Home Suits What Type of Person?
Working from home isn’t a part-time or full-time career choice that suits everyone. Yes, there are plenty of different opportunities and work-at-home jobs to choose from. However, there is also a type of person for whom working from home fits like a glove. The following personality traits are vital if you want to make a success of your stay at home job.
Independent
If your preference, when it comes to working, is the structure of a 9 to 5 job, working from home might not suit you. Do you perform your best when you’ve got people to bounce ideas off and work collaboratively with? There’s nothing wrong with either of these, but it’s not going to be something you get if you work from home.
A certain amount of independent spirit is required because you’re going to be spending a significant amount, if not all, of your working hours alone. Work-at-home jobs are for people who prefer it when there’s no supervision and don’t mind being on their own for large parts of the day.
Those of you who are independent will benefit from there being no one else around to distract you. You’ll be able to work on tasks individually without the hustle and bustle of a noisy shared working environment.
Strong Self-Discipline
People who work in a traditional environment require sources of motivation other than themselves. There’s the pressure that comes from work colleagues. Pressure also comes from having a boss looking over your shoulder. Home jobs have neither of these, so it’s all down to your motivation.
Every day you must give yourself a pep talk and get yourself in gear. There’s no one else to do it for you, which doesn’t suit all people.
Self-discipline is also about being organized, planning, and evaluating. Unlike traditional workspaces, there are more distractions and temptations. If you’re disciplined, it helps you stay on track and be productive.
Ability to Stay Focused
If you’re reading this at home, take a moment to look around. Now see how many things there are to distract you. You may have a pile of ironing sitting in the corner. The dishes could be piled up in the sink and calling you to wash them. If you’ve got any animals at home, they can be a huge distraction. After all, they constantly need feeding, petting, walking, and playing. The TV, your cellphone, Facebook newsfeed, visitors, the garden, and hundreds of other things can all be a distraction.
Being able to stay focused is one of the biggest challenges for anyone considering working from home. The best way to stay focused is to have a routine and stick to it. With a work routine in place, you’ll find it easy to be efficient, complete your tasks, and meet deadlines.
If you’re able to stay focused and avoid distractions, you’re on the right road to success. If you’re not good at this, don’t panic, because there are things you can do to keep your focus sharp.
Being Resourceful
How good are you at sorting out problems? Do you consider yourself to be good at thinking outside the box? Life and work don’t always go according to plan, so you need to be able to overcome any obstacles. You’re the kind of person who doesn’t panic when something goes wrong. You quickly shift into problem-solving mode. If so, then working at home could be the right career path for you.
Home jobs mean working alone, which means there’s no one else to turn to if an issue occurs. You’re the one who’s responsible should something go wrong.
Technology, in particular, can be very unpredictable. When it works, it’s a wonderful thing to have. However, when it decides it doesn’t want to work, correcting the issue can waste valuable time. If you’re able to figure things out on your own and confident enough to take action, you’re the right kind of person for a remote job.
Excellent Communication Skills
Working from home doesn’t involve a lot of communication, but there are going to be times when you need to get in touch with other people. It tends not to be face-to-face, but generally involves emails, telephone calls, or video conferencing. To be successful at your chosen home working career, you need to be comfortable using any or all of these forms of communication.
If your communication skills are good, you’ll be able to express yourself clearly and concisely. There would be no problem with misunderstanding or misinterpretation.
These personality traits are important because they help productivity and ensure you’re efficient when working. However, there are a couple of other things you need to be good at. It also helps if you’re:
Technically Competent
Working from home usually involves working at a computer or laptop. A traditional office will have experts employees can turn to when something goes wrong with the technology. They’re often at the end of the phone or sitting in an office down the hall, and it’s their job to sort out your problems. The go-to piece of advice tends to be, “Have you tried a reboot?” However, they also offer help when this doesn’t work.
What happens if something goes wrong when you’re working from home? You’re pretty much on your own. You must be your own IT geek if you don’t want to spend hours talking to customer service on the phone.
Able to Sell Yourself
This is something that can be very difficult, but you must get a handle on it because your success depends on it. You must be able to make yourself stand out from all the other remote workers offering the same service. To bag your remote job in the first place, you must know how to build up your attributes.
If your personality ticks all these boxes and you’ve found a remote job you’re interested in, let’s finish with some tips to help you make working from home, work for you.
Top 10 Working from Home Tips
Whether you decide to work from the comfort of your bed in your PJs or set up your very own home office, these ten working from home tips are going to increase your chances of success.
Have a Permanent Workspace
It’s essential to have clear boundaries between your personal space and workspace. Find a space, no matter how big, and commit to working only there.
Make Sure Your Office Furniture is Comfortable and Functional
You’re going to be spending many hours sitting at your desk every day. If you’ve got plenty of space, look for a large desk, bookshelves, and a comfortable chair. If space is at a premium, at the very least, you should be investing in an ergonomic chair.
Set Your Working Hours
If you want your working day to be efficient, aim to work during a set number of hours every day. That doesn’t mean you can’t be flexible. The flexibility allows you to work in the mornings if this is when you’re most productive. It also allows you to stop work at five so you can cook dinner for the family and then continue later in the evening.
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Plan, Plan, and Plan Some More
There’s no such thing as too much planning when you’re working from home. Plan your working day, what you’re going to do tomorrow, for the rest of the week, and even longer. It’s not set in stone, but it’s always good to have something to aim for.
Eat a Healthy Lunch
Being at home means you’ve got full access to your kitchen. Don’t let that mean you’re snacking on potato chips and chocolate all day long. Your overall productivity levels will improve if you eat fruit and vegetables instead.
Exercise
Exercise should be a part of your daily routine. It naturally boosts your endorphins, thereby increasing your happiness, enjoyment, and level of interest. If you want to be productive, these factors are vital.
Ditch the Social Media
Are you guilty of regularly checking your social media feeds to see what’s happening? This is a habit you need to break if you want to make a success of remote work. You’ll be amazed by how many hours you can rack up checking your social media feeds.
Give Yourself Rewards
Introduce a rewards system because it will help you get more things done. Allow yourself a walk with the dog when you’ve finished a specific task, for example.
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Work When You’re Most Productive
When do you think your most productive times will be? Are you an early morning kind of person or a night owl kind of worker? Everyone has a natural ebb and flow, and you must know when your most productive hours are. Save the more difficult tasks for when you’re switched on and the more manageable tasks for when your mind is moving more slowly.
Use Tools to Stay Connected
to help stave off the feelings of loneliness. There is an array of different tools and apps you can use to keep in touch with the rest of the team. Staying connected also reminds you that you’re an essential part of the bigger picture.
There are plenty more ways you can be more productive. Nobody ever said working from home would be easy. However, it can be gratifying and is something more people should try.
If you’ve been tempted by what you’ve read, we’d love to hear about your experiences. Working from home can be a voyage of adventure, and everyone has a story to tell.
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