Top 20 Best Work From Home Jobs

Work-from-home jobs

The ever-changing work landscape has finally made it easier for both job seekers and employers to explore their best options by working from home. Said benefits include increased productivity, flexible hours and increased levels of job satisfaction while maintaining the benefits of traditional work like customizable health plans and paid time off.

A survey conducted by Statista found that the benefits of working remotely for employees included greater flexibility in their work schedule, decreased commute time and more time to spend with family.If you want a reduction in office-related anxiety, enjoy exploring growing industries and if you prefer more flexible working hours then a work-from-home job may be ideal for you. In this article we will discuss:

• How you can search for work-from-home jobs
• Tips on how to get a work-from-home job
• Top work-from-home jobs you should look into
• Major employers who offer work-from-home opportunities

Top 20 work-from-home jobs

Remote jobs can be found in a number of industries on both full-time and part-time bases. While it is true that there are more entry-level work-from-home jobs in the technology and customer service industries, more and more fields are opening up to the possibilities of flexible and remote work-from-home jobs. This is partly because of the current work climate but also because of a wide-scale push for a better work-life balance.

Here are some common roles for people who want to work from home on a permanent basis:

• Customer Service Rep

  Customer service representative remains one of the most common remote roles found on job sites. Whether you are answering emails, acting as an instant messaging connection for a large company or providing customer support from a back-office position this is a common role that is easy to get into without further education or lots of previous experience. Large companies like Amazon often offer remote work-from-home jobs in these roles, especially if the role involves providing support via telephone or email.

• Data Entry Clerk

  Inputting data for businesses is a reliable role for those looking for an entry-level work-from-home job. Most data entry clerk positions do not require job seekers to have a lot of previous experience and come with a decent starting hourly rate. Most also look for potential employees to have a high school education.

• Call Center Rep

  One of the most popular and numerous remote or flexible working roles is the position of call center representative. While call handlers used to work in large call centers as standard, it is now becoming more common for them to work from home.

• Secretary

  The main duties of a secretary are to organize files, prepare documents, manage office supply inventory and schedule appointments. At one point, all of those duties required an in-person element as files were locked in large cabinets and executives were hard to track down but now all of these ideal support functions can be done from home.

• Editor or Proofreader

  The literary and publishing industries have been frontrunners in the remote-working revolution for a long time. Working as a proofreader or editor is relatively easy to do from home. In order to do this work, however, you will need appropriate education or experience, and be prepared to pass an editing test.

• Copywriting

  The skills needed to work as a remote copywriter include an excellent grasp of grammar and language along with digital and technological literacy. The overall goal is to write quality content that aims to increase brand awareness, an activity that can be as mobile as you are.

• Tutoring

  If you can showcase that you are qualified in a particular subject and want to help others who are struggling then being a tutor could be right for you. There are several online tutoring centers that can match you with students that need help in your area of expertise. There’s also an array of group tutoring sessions you could moderate or you could be an on-call resource for students that have incoming questions via mobile app.

• Graphic Designer

  Designers have to have an innovative approach to idea and concept development and for some, working from home is the best way for those ideas to flourish. Unlike some of the other jobs on this list, depending on your discipline and design background you may need to procure specialized graphics software and equipment to fully perform in this role.

• Affiliate Marketer

  Affiliate marketing or “influencing” has become a high-demand career, requiring a significant audience and digital presence to promote a product or service from a retailer. However, using this skill as a WFH opportunity doesn’t require you to be Instagram-famous. As long as you have a captive audience on a platform and can cultivate content they enjoy, you can fund said content through affiliate sponsorships where-in you receive a payout from the retailer based on how many people visit your custom link to the retailer’s product.

• Virtual Assistant

  A virtual assistant is an individual who does personal assistant and administrative assistant duties but handles them from a distance. So if you can schedule appointments, run video calls and develop effective organizational methods, this could be the role for you.

• Event Manager

  From small gatherings to weddings, events need planning so if you have a talent for managing different groups, sourcing vendors and selecting the right venues then this could be a perfect role for you. While there are some in-person elements that may be required, the basics like meeting with clients and coordinating with your team of planners can be done from anywhere.

• Bookkeeper

  Organizational skills and proficiency in data management, along with financial software knowledge are the keys to this role. However, depending on your level of expertise and the company you are working with, you can do this role from home — especially for general bookkeeping roles.

• Consulting

  Consultants get paid to look at other groups’ projects, organizations or presentations and determine what they can do to make them better. If you have a background in business or human resources and have excellent leadership skills, this role can also become a remote or hybrid position.

• Grant Writer

  Grant writers research, draft and submit proposals that help organizations or individuals receive funding. This is a job that is heavily based on both your writing and research skills as it is imperative for the nonprofit or charity origination to get funding from the private sector or the government based on the persuasive argument in your proposal.

• Online Teacher

  If you’re a subject matter expert that is passionate about helping others learn and succeed then becoming an online teacher may be right for you. To be a great online teacher you need to know and be adaptable to your target audience and develop relevant course materials (written courses, video presentations, exams, sides, etc.) as a way to best explain your subject of choice.

• Product Reviewer

  As a product reviewer you’ll use the test subject to its full capacity and then craft a carefully explained, quality review that describes all of your experiences before, during and after the testing process. If you enjoy trying new methodologies and products across different industries then this could be an excellent fit for you.

• Programmer

  To be a successful programmer, you need to have knowledge about software development, programming languages and other important technical skills. If you can find out-of-the-box solutions to new and unforeseen problems every day and help bring new innovations in software development into common practice then this could be the work-from-home opportunity for you.

• Social Media Manager

  If you excel in market research, strategic planning, public relations, brand awareness, community management or a combination of these areas then social media management could be the path for you. If your ability to work with brands and build an online community can be utilized in a variety of locations, so can you.

• Tax Preparer

  If you like helping people take the confusion out of their income tax returns then becoming a tax preparer does not require an advanced degree for basic certification, but you do have to show competence through a formal exam.

• Transcriber/Transcriptionist

  To be an excellent transcriber you need to have a mastery of your target language, great comprehension and retention skills, and the ability to adjust the material to different competencies. This is an ideal position for those that can write and communicate effectively while helping others do the same.

• Website Tester

  Making sure a website and its features run smoothly is a very important job and one that can be done without a lot of formal training. If you are tech-savvy with a background in open-source projects this could be an ideal work-from-home opportunity for you, one that can lead to more advanced roles in web development and design.

Top 5 employers for work-at-home jobs

• Amazon

  While most of Amazon’s hourly job opportunities require being at a local Amazon facility, there are some job roles in customer service and corporate that offer partial remote or work-from-home. Some of these roles are: customer support specialist, operations engineer and content developer.

• Aquent

  This staffing and recruitment agency helps workers find both permanent and contract placement in the following areas of expertise: online marketing, interactive design, marketing, graphic design and information technology. They offer both in-house and outside placements for a variety of remote opportunities.

• CVS Health

  CVS Health is the nation’s largest provider of health care services and prescriptions with roles across the US in a variety of industries. Postings include hybrid remote, fully remote, part-time, flexible schedule, freelance and occasional jobs in fields such as account management, sales, insurance and customer service.

• Kaplan

  Kaplan is a global, for-profit education company whose goal is to deliver excellent academic instruction and support. Their main focus is education and training-based roles but also offers customer service, software development and operations support.

• Salesforce

  Salesforce is a global leader in customer relationship management with their goal being to transform their businesses, across sales, service, marketing, commerce and more by connecting with customers in a whole new way. Their “Success from Anywhere” campaign involves having a variety of roles now available as “office flexible” and remote.

10 key tips for applying to work-from-home jobs

If you want to work from home because you need to have a flexible schedule, you should be aware that flexibility and unpredictability often go hand-in-hand. A full-time customer service position, for example, is not likely to meet your flexibility requirements even if the job type is remote. Meanwhile, freelance positions offer the flexibility to create your own schedule but also less stability. Either way, you will need an office space that makes it easy to work. No matter which work-from-home opportunities you are seeking, there are a few simple truths you should keep in mind.

1. Do your research

   When people transition from traditional to remote working, one of the biggest challenges they commonly face is maintaining motivation and consistency. So it is important to not just research the type of jobs you want but also what the employer expectations are and how different people work effectively from home.

   While the empty coffee pots and loud phone calls in the office are no longer a problem it is important to note what distracts and what motivates you and find an effective way to manage your time despite any new problems that may arise.

2. Figure out how YOU work best

   Teamwork is important but your ability to work independently and find solutions in an environment where you are isolated from your direct supervisors and managers is key.

   You need to figure out how you best keep deadlines and appointments straight, whether it’s phone reminders, a cork board, a white board, sticky notes, a planner that’s either digital or analog. It’s important to have a system in place for keeping track of only work tasks.

3. Organize your office space

   Home opportunities are great but you need to make sure that you are in a comfortable, distraction free environment so that you can stay focused on tasks during working hours. For that to be effective you need to be aware of what causes you to be distracted. Are you always getting up from the desk because your coffee or tea gets cold? Get a mug warmer. Do you find it hard to focus during long meetings? Try a fidget toy or notebook that you can doodle AND take notes in.

   Remember to customize your work environment to how you work best and keep the things you need like pens, device charges and notepads within easy reach in their own compartments.

4. Consider how you present yourself online

   Who you are online is who you are to employers so make sure that the social media channels you’re using are displaying your best self. You can use your online profiles as a resource for finding new opportunities as well by crafting the sections like you would a resume. First think about the industries you’re interested in then make the “story” told in your profile match those standards by including relevant projects and significant connections.

5. Update your social media profile

   Opportunities for work may come from unexpected places so it’s important to have and update your online portfolio and websites like LinkedIn to not only let people know that you’re open to work but to also showcase your relevant job skills and to make connections with potential employers within your social network.

6. Highlight your relevant experience

   When crafting your resume for a specific WFH position it’s important to give resume job description examples focusing on related tasks, responsibilities and quantifiable accomplishments. Most work from home jobs need someone reliable, diligent and organized so it’s important to highlight examples of these skills in the work history and professional summary resume sections of your updated resume.

7. Show that you can work independently

   Working from home involves a lot of balance and self discipline because your location and circumstances may fluctuate, but deadlines and responsibilities don’t. Proving that you have an excellent record of project completion is a great way to show off this skill.

   In addition, strive to be clear and upfront with your employers about your working hours and conditions as you may be on-call in some work-from-home positions or have different levels of flexibility on different days.

8. Display your communication and teamwork abilities

   Communication is a key skill when it comes to working from home. Having a reliable digital presence and internet connection is vital so that you can track and organize work loads and make sure assignments are running smoothly.

   To showcase your communication, organizational and team building skills use the body paragraph of your cover letter to explain how you successfully executed a past project that achieved a positive outcome thanks to your participation.

9. Consider finding recommendations from people you know with work-from-home jobs

   If you know someone who works from home already, you should talk to them about the realities of their role and ask for recommendations. If they cannot highlight job opportunities for you, they may be able to help you identify flexjobs and work-from-home positions that would suit your skills.

10. Have references ready

    Who you know is often just as important as what you know, so if you have great references from previous jobs or samples from side gigs you’ve successfully completed through sites like Upwork then have those resources ready to go when asked.

    WFH opportunities are not readily available in every industry, so if working from home is important to you, it may be necessary to apply for positions in industries you may not have worked in before. In these cases, you should have these references and samples ready along with using a type of resume that emphasizes your transferable skills.