Have you ever dreamed of working from home? Working from home provides more flexibility and your “home” can be anywhere. Employees spend less time commuting and a home office allows for more time with their families. Technology has made working from home easier than ever, whether workers are starting their own small business or simply using their home as an office while employed by a larger company. In fact, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 24 percent of employed Americans did some or all their work at home in 2015.
Are you looking to make the transition to earning money without going in to an office? Here are some of the best ways to make money from home.
Use Your Words
Freelance writing is an area where there is a lot of opportunity if you are good with words. The explosion of the Internet has created a high demand for new content. Freelancers may write for print or online magazines, or get hired to contribute to blogs or other web sites. To break in to the industry, someone new to the freelance market should think about the area she would like to pursue and create samples to share with prospective employers. Freelancing jobs are usually posted on job boards, such as Elance, Freelancer, or Guru. You won’t need much equipment to begin. A computer with a fast internet connection and good word processing software is often all that is necessary.
Use Your Voice
Working for a corporate call center is another way to work from home. This isn’t the same as telemarketing. Employees working for a call center don’t make any outgoing cold calls. Instead, large corporations like J. Crew or 1-800-Flowers may have their calls from a central number routed to their employees’ homes. Those with a pleasant “telephone voice” who can quickly organize information without getting flustered may find call center work a good fit. To do this job properly you do need a home office or other quiet place to work free of distractions. Unlike most work-from-home jobs, call center employees often work for a large company and receive benefits, such as health insurance or a 401(k).
Use Your Gaming Skills
Becoming a professional gamer or gambler is a dream job for many. Most people who earn a living by gambling think of themselves as investors. They know the rules of the game and bet accordingly. To become a professional gambler, it requires a surprising amount of knowledge. The very best have risen to the top of their field after hours of study. Gamblers spend hours studying the odds, learning how to best bet when they have an edge. A professional gambler is an expert at his or her finances and bets using logic rather than emotion or superstition.
Use Your Knowledge
If you have a high level of expertise in a certain area, you may consider working as a consultant, tutor, or even as an English second language instructor. To sell your knowledge, you should have proven skills and experience in your given area. You may choose to consult with local clients you meet in person or conduct business online. Either way, you will need to market yourself by attending networking events and being active in professional organizations. Web sites such as About.com also hire experts to write columns about a wide range of topics. Here is a chance to take your passion, share it with others, and make money at the same time.
Use Your Computer Skills
Working as a medical transcriptionist is another way to earn money from the comfort of your own home while working flexible hours. Transcriptionists listen to doctor’s audio notes and type them up for patient files. To work in this industry, you need to have knowledge of medical jargon and strong keyboarding skills. But you can’t simply jump in and offer your services. Most doctors use a third-party company to provide transcription. To work for one of these companies, you often need an expensive training course (approximately $3,000) that takes between 9 and 18 months to complete.
When it comes to working from home, the options are endless. If you are looking to make your new job a career, experts advise making the transition to first complete your due diligence and then treat your new job as you would the start of any other career.
For all those whose dream is a commute that is no longer than the distance from the bedroom to the den, with some research and a bit of ingenuity, the perfect work-from-home job is out there!
