These are top telecommuting jobs available today. The jobs below are the most popular with our members and job seekers. Candidate’s with the right experience and education have the best chance of getting hired for these jobs. Many job seekers already possess the software and equipment required to get started immediately. Applicants have the best chance of getting these jobs because of the amount available. Hundreds of these jobs are offered every month so the chances of getting hired are very high.
1) Medical Transcription: Medical transcriptionists listen to voice recordings that physicians and other health professionals make and convert them into written reports. They interpret medical terminology and abbreviations in preparing patients’ medical histories, discharge summaries, and other documents. Medical transcriptionists work for hospitals, physicians’ offices, or third-party transcription service providers, or they are self-employed. Many transcriptionists work from home offices, receiving dictation and submitting drafts electronically. Medical transcriptionists typically need postsecondary training. Prospective medical transcriptionists must have an understanding both of grammar and of word-processing software. The median annual wage of medical transcriptionists was $32,900.*
2) Customer Service Agents: Customer service representatives interact with customers on behalf of an organization. They provide information about products and services and respond to customer complaints. Some also take orders and process returns. Many customer service representatives work in customer contact centers. Others work in insurance agencies, banks, stores, or other places that have contact with customers. Most work full time, although part-time and variable schedules are also common. Customer service representatives typically have at least a high school diploma and are usually trained on the job. They must be good at communicating and dealing with people. They also need basic computer and phone skills. The median hourly wage of customer service representatives was $14.64.*
3) Virtual Assistants: A virtual assistant is generally self-employed and provides professional administrative, technical, or creative (social) assistance to clients remotely from a home office. Because virtual assistants are independent contractors rather than employees, clients are not responsible for any employee-related taxes, insurance or benefits, except in the context that those indirect expenses are included in the VAs fees. Clients also avoid the logistical problem of providing extra office space, equipment or supplies. Clients pay for 100% productive work, and can work with Virtual Assistants, individually, or in multi-VA firms to meet their exact needs. Virtual Assistants usually work for other small businesses. It is estimated that there are as few as 5,000-8,000 or as many as 25,000 virtual assistants worldwide; the profession is growing in centralized economies with “fly-in, fly-out” staffing practices. Common modes of communication and data delivery include the Internet, e-mail and phonecall conferences, online work spaces, and fax machine. Professionals in this business work on a contractual basis and a long-lasting cooperation is standard. Typically 5 years of administrative experience in an office is expected at such positions as executive assistant, office manager/supervisor, secretary, legal assistant, paralegal, legal secretary, real estate assistant, information technology, et cetera. In recent years, Virtual Assistants have also worked their way into many mainstream businesses and with the advent of VOIP or other services such as Skype it has been possible to have a Virtual Assistant who can answer your phone remotely without the end user’s knowledge. This allows many businesses to add a personal touch in the form of a receptionist without the additional cost of hiring someone. Virtual Assistants consists of individuals as well as companies who work remotely as an independent professional, providing a wide range of products and services both to businesses as well as consumers. The virtual industry has changed substantially as it attracts others new to the field. Virtual Assistants come from a variety of business backgrounds, but most have several years experience in the “real” (non-virtual) business world.**
4) Sales Representatives: Wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives sell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers to businesses, government agencies, and other organizations. They contact customers, explain product features, answer any questions that their customers may have, and negotiate prices. Wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives work under pressure because their income and job security depend on the amount of merchandise they sell. Some sales representatives travel frequently. Educational requirements vary, depending on the type of product sold. If the products are not scientific or technical, a high school diploma is generally enough for entry into the occupation. If the products are scientific or technical, sales representatives typically need at least a bachelor’s degree. The median annual wage of wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives, technical and scientific products was $73,710. The median annual wage of wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives, except technical and scientific products was $52,440. Most sales representatives earn a combination of salary and commissions or salary plus bonuses.*
By S. Marie Surles, President of HEA-Employment.com
*Data received from the Bureau of Labor Statistics as of 2010.
**Data received from the Wikipedia as of 2011.