Want to start working from home but don’t know where to start? We completely understand.
When I started looking for a job remotely, I didn’t have a job I liked (I worked as a nurse), so I was willing to do whatever it took to make money and be home with my daughter. .
I’m sure you feel the same way.
But if you start your remote job search by checking out random job postings, you’ll end up losing valuable time and getting scammed.
So how do you start working from home if you don’t know what you want to do or where to start?
Here’s a quick overview to follow to narrow down which remote work opportunities are right for you.
1. How much money do I need to earn?
If you need to make $60,000 a year, a part-time job that only pays $13 an hour won’t be enough. Depending on your answer, you might want to check out our remote job board with companies hiring for full-time and part-time roles.
If you want a full-time job with benefits, we recommend checking out this list of legitimate companies that offer benefits to remote workers.
Knowing how much you need to earn can help you narrow down the companies and positions you consider. If the job posting doesn’t list a salary range, you can check Glassdoor.com for a salary estimate. If you want a six-figure salary while working from home, check out job site The Ladders.h corresponds to high-paying jobs of $100,000 or more.
2. Do you already have a job you like?
Do you already have a job you like? If you are currently employed, you may want to create a work-from-home or flextime proposal and submit it to your boss. When I worked as a Medicaid nurse, I was able to write a flextime proposal and get flextime for my department. They were able to decide their own work and exit times each day. Many companies are willing to allow employees to work from home at least occasionally. Focus your proposal on the benefits to your company.
3. Do I need health benefits?
If you need health insurance and don’t want to pay for it out of pocket, you should look for a company that hires employees to work from home and offers benefits. You also need to work full time. As far as I know, Starbucks and REI are the only companies that offer health benefits to part-time employees, and those are for in-store positions.
If you choose to work part-time or as an independent contractor, you will need to enroll in your spouse’s plan or pay for your health insurance out of pocket.
4. Are you willing to go back to school or take a course?
If your career plans include changing jobs, you may need to take online courses or go back to school for additional training. Luckily, there are many ways to get the education and skills you need to change your career, from online college classes and certificate programs to self-paced online courses.
For example, if you want to work remotely as a data entry clerk, but your Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel spreadsheet skills are waning, you might want to refresh your skills so you can acquire the right skills for the position and complete your assigned duties. Must be. Perform your duties with confidence.
5. Do you have money to invest in your business?
Starting your own business can be difficult if you’re starting from scratch with no money in your savings account. Even a small Business-in-a-Box or direct selling opportunity can cost hundreds of dollars to get started. It also usually takes a few months to get back on track and start receiving income. But if you’re going to be your own boss and you’re willing to moonlight or borrow money from family and friends, you can do that too. You will be able to make it work. Be sure to consider these aspects before quitting your daily, secure job.
6. What are your interests and personality?
Even though I started my remote job with the intention of doing anything, if I had taken a remote job as a customer service representative, I would have been miserable. Before jumping into a work-from-home job, consider what you want to do, what you’re good at, and where your skill set lies. Most people spend at least eight hours a day at work. In fact, wouldn’t you like to enjoy the work you’re doing even half-heartedly?!
If you have trouble determining your interests and passions, take career tests, conduct informational interviews, and volunteer. By learning more about a career you think you’re interested in, you’ll be better able to decide whether it’s actually right for you. If you’re not sure what types of work-from-home careers are out there, this list has 99 work-from-home career ideas.
7. How many hours can I work?
When I started looking for work from home jobs, I could only work a few hours each day (while my daughter was napping). Make sure you know when and how many hours you can work. Many telecommuting jobs require shifts of at least four hours and a dedicated, uninterrupted office space. If you want complete flexibility, consider starting your own business or freelance work where you can work on projects at any time.
8. What equipment will I need in my work space?
Most remote jobs require a fairly new laptop or computer and a high-speed internet connection. However, in addition to these two, you may also need items such as a dedicated phone line, headset, Windows operating system, printer, and VPN. Be sure to read each company’s equipment requirements to ensure you have the appropriate equipment for your home office. You should also consider the cost of certain items (such as a dedicated phone line) and whether the hourly rate is sufficient to cover the cost of regular equipment and services.
If you are looking for a company that provides equipment, check out this article.
9. Do you have the right personality?
When I used to work in a cubicle, I dreamed of working from home. I imagined lunch dates with friends, sitting by the pool with my laptop, and leisurely doing laundry while answering emails. This is not how you work from home. Working from home requires a lot of focus and motivation. If you can’t block out distractions and complete tasks on your own, it will be very difficult to make it work. Before you start working from home, consider whether your personality type is suited to this type of arrangement.
10. Avoid scams
Now that you know what kind of career you’re looking for, it’s time to start searching and applying for jobs. There are many job sites and platforms you can use to start your work-from-home job search, including Indeed, LinkedIn, and Upwork. Although these sites are legitimate and good for finding remote jobs, these sites are full of scammers posting fake job ads.
Before accepting a job offer for an interview, be sure to verify the identity of the person you are communicating with. If they claim to be a recruiter, you should be able to find their profile on LinkedIn. You should also use a professional email address, not a free Gmail, Hotmail, or Yahoo email address. Tracking your job applications in a spreadsheet or career planner can help you avoid unsolicited job offers, which are often scams.
Legitimate companies do not conduct interviews via messaging apps such as Signal, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, or Telegram. When companies conduct video conference interviews, they typically use Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or Google Meet. Being familiar with common work-from-home scams is the best way to avoid falling for a work-from-home scam.
11. Explore work-from-home opportunities
If you want to make a little extra money from home, there are plenty of online 1099 jobs available. Things to consider include AI training, transcription, translation, tutoring, social media management, freelance writing, and virtual assistance. These side jobs usually allow you to work as much as you want and create your own work schedule.
As a 1099 independent contractor, you are considered self-employed. As such, you are responsible for paying quarterly self-employment taxes and receive no benefits. How much you can earn as an independent contractor depends on the work you do, but according to Indeed, the average hourly wage for contractors in the United States is $29.94.
If you want to become a part-time or full-time employee (W2 worker), check out different companies, staffing agencies, and job boards. One unique way to search for a remote job is to create a list of 20 dream companies you’d like to work with. Once you’ve made your list, visit each company’s website and research job openings. Most companies now have remote or hybrid roles available. By going directly to the website, you can avoid fake job postings and may find jobs that are not listed on major job sites. If you see a small company listed that does not have job openings on their website, contact them directly to inquire about current openings.
You can also sign up for our free newsletter. This is a great way to stay on top of the latest job openings for remote employees.
Start working from home
Working from home allows people to achieve a better work-life balance while still earning an income. However, before you start working from home, you should consider these factors to see if it really is your ideal situation. If you don’t have the right skills or personality, or if you’re not paid enough, it can be more frustrating and stressful than working in a traditional office.
First published April 3, 2009, content updated November 2024.
