Work From Home Opportunities – What To Know When Finding Something

There are many appealing work from home jobs available to low-income residents. These jobs include everything from side projects people can do to full-time tasks that anyone can make lots of money from.

The odds are there are some alluring work from home opportunities that fit your skillset and schedule. But there are also some risks associated with these work from home jobs. It doesn’t take much for anyone to fall into a scam.

You’ll see in this guide what to watch for in a job listing and what to avoid. You’ll also find there’s a diverse array of jobs to choose from, with many online platforms helping people search for the jobs they want.

Working From Home Is Rising

You’ll find many different work from home jobs out there, as today there are more companies willing to hire people who will work entirely from home. In the early days of the global pandemic in 2020, there was an increasing number of people who were working from home. Many people were forced to work from home because various office spaces were shut down.

As time progressed, it became clear that people wanted to work from home when possible. Estimates suggested that about 20 percent of Americans were working from home in the years after the pandemic’s peak. They wanted to work from home because they felt more comfortable doing so, plus they could save time and money on commuting. Employers also found they could save money by not having to rent offices or deal with various supplies the employees could use on their own.

What Are the Most Common Work From Home Jobs?

The options for work from home opportunities are varied, as many different positions will allow you to complete everything from where you live.

Here’s a listing of some of the different work from home jobs available. This is not a comprehensive list, as a simple online search can come up with even more appealing choices:

Call center representative
Customer service
Medical coding
Transcriptionist
Web designer
Virtual assistant
Freelance writer
Social media operator
Software developer
Online tutor
Audio and video editor

These jobs entail various skillsets, from communicating with people online to designing websites and programs to data entry and organization. You can check the job listings for these positions and many others to see what’s available.

Depending on where you go, you may require some training or education before going forward with a job. You might also require some software or hardware, especially if whatever task you’ll complete is overly technical. You can see in a job listing what you’ll go through beforehand, helping you understand what you’ll enter into before agreeing on a position.

What Will You Make Working From Home?

Your work from home salary will vary depending on a few factors:

How much time you’re available for working; many of these jobs are flexible, but you’re more likely to be paid if you’re more open
The level of your position
Your prior experience in a field
Any prior education or certification you hold; people with more certifications tend to earn more
Whether you’ll be paid by the hour or for completing specific tasks; for example, a writing position may pay you based on the number of words you complete

You may also qualify for some benefits, including 401k matching, stock options, paid time off, sick pay, and other features. Check any listing you apply for before moving forward to see what’s open.

How Do You Find a Work From Home Job?

There are many great possibilities to explore when searching for work from home jobs. It might seem like a daunting task, what with there being so many websites that can help you find something. There are a few steps to follow when searching for a good work from home position:

Think about the job you’re trying to get first.

Look at the type of job you want to complete. Are you interested in becoming a writer? You can start considering the different writing jobs available to you.

Are you more interested in teaching? You may find some online tutoring positions where you can talk with people online in real time.

Check on what your job would be like, and think about what you’ll be doing. Look at the equipment you’ll need for the job, and see if your prior work and education history suit your position. Tutoring positions are often open to people with teaching backgrounds, for example. Meanwhile, those who have certifications in various programming languages could qualify for software and web development jobs.

Start by updating your social media pages.

Make sure your social media pages are professional in appearance and include your various credentials. You can include keywords relating to whatever job interests you as well. For example, a profile for a potential transcriptionist position could include keywords like “typing” or “attentive listener” or “understanding of technical concepts.”

You can continue updating your profile with any further skills, credentials, academic experiences, or other things you may accrue over time.

Review different job sites to see what’s open.

The options you’ll find are extensive, as major sites like LinkedIn, ZipRecruiter, and Indeed offer many work at home job listings. You can apply to these jobs through these sites, although you’ll require an account with the respective job search site for this move. Checking directly with the websites of the companies that are hiring can also help you find positions they might not post on those sites.

Local databases may also help you find jobs. For example, the North Carolina state government has a site for people within that state to find positions, and Tennessee has a similar place for that state’s residents.

As you apply, be open to ideas.

A job opening will include various terms, including rules on when you’d work and what your duties would be. Be willing to be flexible to whatever ideas may come up.

Depending on what happens, an employer might contact you about a position.

If you are contacted, you may be asked to go through an online interview where you can talk more about your experiences and how you can handle different tasks. The interview process often determines who will get a job, as an interview can help employers learn more about prospective employees.

If you do receive the position, you’ll go forward with onboarding.

The timeframe for when you’ll get a response about a possible work position will vary, but if you do get the job, you’ll go through an onboarding process with your new employer. The onboarding includes helping you learn how the business does things, what your roles will be, how to complete certain tasks, and how to receive payments for your work.

Reviewing a Work From Home Job Listing

You’ll find many work from home job listings online, but they’re filled with lots of terms. Let’s look at a few things to notice when checking a listing:

Who is running the listing?

Check on the company that is posting a work from home listing. Look at its website and see if the company has the same values you hold and that it has a culture you’ll appreciate. It’s easier to fit in when you work for someone you can trust.

What roles are there?

Look at the roles you’ll take on when finding a job. Many work from home listings will include all the duties you will complete, what assets you might use to handle them, and who you might report to.

A position should have enough details so you won’t have to email the company for further clarification. If you are confused about something, avoiding that listing is best.

What are the qualifications?

A job listing should include two types of qualifications. First, there are the minimums you should meet to get into the job. Second, there are the preferred qualifications.

For instance, the minimums to get a writing position can include completing a writing speed and analysis test and going through enough verifications to confirm your identity. The preferred requirements would be that you have a degree in a relevant field for writing or that you have years of experience.

You still have the potential to get a job if you only meet the minimum requirements. Your chances won’t be as strong as that of someone who meets the preferred requirements.

What type of job is this?

Some jobs are full-time positions that pay the most. Part-time positions and contractual jobs that last a brief period are also available. You’ll want a full-time position if you want to make a career out of something. Part-time positions won’t give you as much money, and contractual jobs don’t last forever.

A job search site should let you filter results based on the type of job available. You can use this to ensure you only find full-time positions if that’s what you’re looking for.

What benefits are there?

Look at the benefits your prospective employer will provide. Low-income households can benefit from such things as 401k support with matching contributions, sick leave, and vacation pay.

What do you need to provide during the application process?

You might have to submit things like cover letters, resumes, transcripts, identification documents, and other items. Make sure you review the company you’re applying to and review their standards beforehand so you don’t risk harm.

Listings can be a few paragraphs long, or they might be a few pages long. You should find enough info in a listing to help you see what’s open.

Watch For Work From Home Scams

The last point to note about work from home opportunities entails possible scams. Many groups that post these ads will target low-income households looking for quick ways to make money. But sometimes, these groups are shady and will take advantage of people by gathering their financial info and roping them into positions where they don’t have much control over what’s happening.

There are many signs of work from home scams to watch for. Here are a few points that suggest a position may not be safe:

You can’t find information on the employer.
The employer is asking for an upfront payment from you; this sign suggests the group wants your money and won’t guarantee you anything.
The group isn’t upfront about what you will do or how you’ll be paid, let alone how much you’ll earn.
The group is asking for personal information from you too quickly. They might be asking for a government identification number, for example.
You could also find some grammatical errors in a listing. This sign shows a group is hastily throwing something together to prey on people.
The listing is too brief. Anything that isn’t a few paragraphs long or greater might be too vague. The company could be hiding some important details or might not be forthcoming on what’s happening.

Watch for these signs when looking for work from home jobs, as scams can hide alongside many of the more legitimate openings.

Conclusion

Work from home jobs are appealing for how they can help you get more income while doing things you enjoy from home. The options you’ve got for working from home are extensive, and the odds are there’s a job that you can benefit from today.

Make sure when searching for job openings that you know what you’re getting yourself into. Avoid anything that looks suspicious, and check on whoever is posting an opening before starting. Knowing what you’re applying for is necessary when getting into a great job from home.