Finding Remote Work
Opportunities to work remotely are growing as communications technologies continue to improve and employers become comfortable with the concept. Finding remote work, however, can be a challenge. Scammers are out there and any would-be new pioneer needs to be careful. Wages are competitive and many remote workers are independent contractors, which means they pay self-employment taxes and have to cover their own health insurance and other benefits. Nevertheless, for those who prize the freedom and flexibility that goes with being able to live where you want and work from home, the search is worth the effort.
Freelance Marketplaces
If you’re a computer programmer, a graphic artist or anyone with special skills, you can find short-term assignments online. A number of companies have set up virtual marketplaces where people who need to hire someone can receive bids and qualifications from people who have time and talent to offer. Be aware, these are global marketplaces, so you may be bidding against people in India, Russia or Argentina for this work.
Employers Who Specialize in Remote Workers
A growing number of companies specialize in providing opportunities for at-home workers. These companies get lots of applications, so these jobs are competitive. Work experience, availability, and skills play an important part in landing one of these jobs.
www.alpineaccess.com – Colorado-based company advertises itself as the world’s leading provider of home-based call center services.
www.liveops.com – Silicon Valley-based also provides call center services using “the largest community of highly qualified independent, at-home agents.”
www.arise.com – Florida-based Virtual Services Corporation specializes in home-based sales, customer service and technical support services.
www.iacprofessionals.com – Florida-based company employees remote workers to handle bookkeeping and accounting services. A sister company, IAC Professionals Virtual Assistant Firm hires people to work with executives and entrepreneurs who need a virtual staff assistant.
Scams to Avoid
Get rich quick – any job that seems to promise a lot of money for little work is probably too good to be true. Watch out if they ask for money upfront to learn how to get started.
Give us your personal information – some scammers offer fake jobs online as a way to get applicants to give up personal identity information. Never provide your social security, credit card or bank account numbers without knowing more about where the information is going.
