Comments on: Can I work from home doing a real job?

Question: Can I work from home doing a real job?

lgyre — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 21:27:55 -0800

I would like to work part time from home, earn a reasonable wage (at least $10/hour and preferably more), have some job security, and if possible set my own hours. Is that realistic? And how can I do it?

I have a humanities degree from a well-regarded university. I graduated years ago, but have no job experience as such because I've been self-employed piecing together little bits of anything I could get paid to do since then (which is a lengthy list but includes making and selling art, writing, and food, as well as dancing, playing music, and doing construction, child care and massage therapy--so lots of breadth of experience but not too much depth). I'm definitely allergic to traditional job structures, but I'm getting to the point where I would really prefer a little more stability.

I've heard of people doing editorial work from home. Is this ever an entry-level position, and if so, how would one go about getting this type of job? Also, any other suggestions? I'd try pretty much anything unless it involves agressive sales.

By: ThePinkSuperhero

ThePinkSuperhero — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 21:28:51 -0800

Data entry work, although those sort of jobs are beginning to get shipped overseas.

By: Kraftmatic Adjustable Cheese

Kraftmatic Adjustable Cheese — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 21:40:40 -0800

You could learn medical transcribing -- takes about six months via online courses -- and do transcription from home.

By: lgyre

lgyre — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 21:41:34 -0800

Hmm, I wonder about data entry. I looked into something like that once, but it was actually someone trying to sell a course on data-entry rather than an actual job. That could be a possibility, though, if I could find a real one.

By: acoutu

acoutu — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 21:42:29 -0800

By becoming a freelance worker, consultant or contract worker, you can work from home. However, you'll need to identify your unique skills and attributes, then match them to a field.

Do you only want to work from home? Would you rule out self-employment that involved sometimes working outside the home, such as for teaching, meeting clients, etc?

You do have job experience. You just listed eight positions.

I run a website on becoming a consultant. (Link in profile.) I'm a big advocate of doing a self-inventory and also assessing your entrepreneurial spirit. Once you've done an inventory of all your skills, experiences, goals, values, interests and other attributes, you'll be in a better position to start exploring self-employment opportunities. (Heck, this helps with any career planning, self-employed or not.)

If you are just looking for some ideas and you don't want to do that kind of exercise yet, I'd advocate freelance writing, editing, childcare, massage therapy, research, market research, catering, meal planning/preparation, home inspection...just going on the scant info you provided.

By: lgyre

lgyre — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 21:49:36 -0800

Thanks acoutu,

a lot of the stuff you listed in your last paragraph is basically what I'm already doing. What I'm mostly looking for at this point is a way to transition one or more of these jobs into something a little more stable (less dependant on what I manage to sell or what one-off job I come across in any given month). And I am willing to leave my house sometimes, but I don't have a car.

Your website sounds interesting, I'll look it up.

By: jourman2

jourman2 — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 21:54:46 -0800

I've heard Jet Blue has some great program where they allow their customer service reps to work from home.

Here's an article about them.

Here's where you could apply (it says Salt Lake City as a location - but I'm not sure if you actually have to live there to apply).

Good luck.

By: acoutu

acoutu — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 22:38:32 -0800

This is not a discussion of what to charge, as I don't want to get into price fixing. But, when I was a lowly freelance writer/editor fresh out of school, I started charging $35 an hour. And I steadily increased it from there. Now I do marketing consulting, but I still charge out for writing at a significant multiple of what I started at.

I know massage therapists who charge $65-$75 an hour. Community centre instructors who charge $40-$75. Caterers who charge $65. Business consultants who charge $150-$300. You can make a lot more than $10 an hour. But not all hours of work are billable, of course.

By: thanotopsis

thanotopsis — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 23:17:25 -0800

One thing no one's mentioned yet is phone-sex worker. I suggest this with tongue only half-way placed in cheek. Sure, it's pretty humiliating, but a friend of mine practically put herself through college on that money, and she could do it while studying.

Be very careful checking out any work-at-home opportunities online. The vast majority of them are pyramid schemes, outright fraud, or at the very least marginally ethical.

By: philomathoholic

philomathoholic — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 00:42:46 -0800

Phone Sex! on AskMe.

By: Otis

Otis — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 06:20:19 -0800

There is quite a bit of good information here.

Also, whether you are a parent or not, try using the search term "WAHM" (Work at Home Mom).

By: greta simone

greta simone — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 07:42:44 -0800

You can score for ETS from home, make your own schedule (4 hour shifts at a time), and get $10-$16 hour to grade standardized test essays. Must need a phone and a good internet connection.

By: adriana

adriana — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 20:30:38 -0800

You could look into becoming a VA (virtual assistant): search in google, and you should find lots if info.