How To Find Remote Entry Level Jobs
One of the hardest times to find work is when you have no experience. Many employers want you to have at least some experience, so there are a lot of jobs you just don’t qualify for, regardless of your education. It can be even harder to find remote entry level jobs.
But a lack of experience doesn’t necessarily mean you have no qualifications. You need to take a better look at the qualifications you have, and how you can demonstrate them to potential employers.
Remote entry level jobs are out there. They can be hard to get since the qualifications aren’t as demanding as jobs that require experience, but they are out there.
Just because a job is entry level doesn’t mean they won’t require that you have certain skills. Medical transcriptionists and medical coders, for example, have to take training courses before they can work in those fields. Employers aren’t going to take you on if you have no skills appropriate to the job you’re seeking.
Consider Your Skills
The first thing you need to do is consider the skills you have. What have you learned to do in high school, college, technical school, online school, or any other training you’ve taken?
Also look at any volunteer work you’ve done. Volunteer work can be counted as experience. If it’s something you’ve done regularly, it can at least use to show that you can keep to a schedule. Depending on the volunteer work you do, it may give you some practical skills as well.
Some companies have online tests they will give you to determine if you’re qualified to work for them. Transcription companies, for example, may have you transcribe a sample dictation. Other companies will test your typing speed.
You should also make sure that you have a good workspace and can avoid all distractions while you’re working. This includes your kids. Working at home doesn’t necessarily mean you can watch the kids too.
Possible Employers For Remote Entry Level Jobs
There are a number of employers that may be hiring for remote entry level jobs. I can’t promise which ones are hiring at any given time, but this is a place to start. Not every position with these companies will be entry level of course.
Remote Entry Level Customer Service And Phone Jobs
Advise Tech – Prefers to hire college students and retirees for just a few hours of work as a telemarketer per week to start.
Continental Message – Pay attention to the location listed for work at home positions here. They may require you live in a particular area. It requires 1 year prior work experience, but there is no apparent requirement that it be in customer service.
LiveOps – While having experience helps, you can get started with LiveOps without experience. As you work you can build the experience needed to get onto the better accounts. This is an independent contractor position. This means any training you need for different accounts is unpaid.
NexRep – Take calls for various companies while working as an independent contractor.
Sitel – Handle incoming calls that may include account or billing inquiries, product orders, scheduling and more. This is an employee position, not independent contractor. Experience is preferred but not required for some positions. Benefits available for full time employees.
SiteStaff – This company hires independent contractor chat hosts to work from home. They don’t list experience requirements, but you do need to type 65-75 wpm and be able to handle multiple chats at once.
Sykes – This company says customer service experience is nice to have, but not required. This is a regular employee job, not an independent contractor position. Unlike many work at home customer service positions, this one offers benefits, and you’re paid per hour you’re scheduled, not per minute you talk.
Talk2Rep – The job listings show that customer service or sales experience is a plus, but it does not say required. Other than that, you need to be able to type, use their software, and have good grammar, spelling and communication skills. You also need to have a high school diploma and general education degree. Some positions require that you be bilingual.
TTEC@Home – This used to be TeleTech@Home. Some customer service positions with this company do not require experience.
U-Haul – Search for “work at home” on their job site to find openings. Positions may include customer service or roadside assistance positions.
Working Solutions – You can apply at Working Solutions regardless of experience, but the programs you qualify for may depend on your experience. It can take weeks to hear back if you have been accepted as an independent contractor agent. If you are accepted, then you can apply for the programs you are interested in.
See more remote customer service jobs here.
Online Research Jobs
Wonder – This company posts leads on my job board sometimes. People ask questions on their site, and researchers find the answers for them. I’ve seen on some reviews that they can be very picky about answer quality.
Social Media And Search Engine Evaluators
Appen – Appen offers a variety of remote positions, but most openings are for social media evaluators or web search evaluators. Social media evaluators need to be active users of social media. Evaluators can set their own schedules. Appen has recently acquired Leapforce, which does similar work. It is not clear as of this writing if the companies’ job listings will be combined or remain separate. https://www.leapforceathome.com/qrp/public/home
iSoftStone – Most of the opportunities listed here are for search engine evaluators in various countries around the world. There may be other opportunities as well, such as transcription.
Lionbridge – This company may have evaluator jobs available around the world. The job description for the US expects potential ad evaluators to be daily users of the internet who can provide feedback on the ads connected to searches. Jobs may require the use of a smartphone.
Entry Level Social Media Jobs
Any of these jobs will require that you are familiar with social media at least through your own use. Excellent writing skills will also be a plus.
Crisp Thinking – Review the risks on the clients’ social media account. You must be very social media savvy.
ICUC – Content specialists for this company help manage the social reputations of various brands. Many positions require that you be bilingual.
LiveWorld – This company looks for people who can handle social media interactions as a customer service agent. Experience is a plus but not required. Positions may require that you be bilingual.
Mod Squad – If this company accepts you as a freelancer, you might moderate forums, chat with customers, or help with clients’ social media. You choose which projects you want to join and the schedule you want to work.
See more remote social media jobs here.
Remote Entry Level Teaching And Tutoring Jobs
Cambly – Working as an English language tutor with Cambly requires no experience. Pay is per minute, and you set your own hours to talk to students who are learning English all over the world.
Englishunt – This company has two kinds of positions they may hire tutors for. The first is video tutoring, and requires a teaching certificate. The second, phone tutoring, does not require a certificate. They want all candidates to have at least a two year degree. As this is international teaching, much of the available work is in the middle of the night or early morning.
iTalki – It doesn’t matter what language you speak, you can offer your services as a tutor on iTalki. This is an international opportunity. As a Community Tutor, you need only native fluency in the language you’re teaching. Professional Teachers have to share their credentials. You have to attract your own students and can set your own rates on their system.
Samespeak – This is one of the few work at home companies I have seen that hires as young as 16 years old. They don’t seem to hire very often, and as of this writing have a surplus of coaches. Your first language must be English.
Tutor.com – To become a tutor on this site, you need to be an expert in your subject, and be at least a sophomore in college or have a college degree. You must be able to teach at least five hours a week. Your pay rate depends on the subject you teach.
See more remote education jobs here.
Telephone Mystery Shopping
ARC Consulting – The site doesn’t list any specific experience requirements. They encourage parents, grandparents, people with disabilities, and students to apply.
Call Center QA – Perform telephone mystery shops and fill out a brief form. Payout is in 7 days.
Confero – You must be at least 21 to sign up for mystery shopping with this company. They offer both in person and telephone mystery shopping opportunities.
Perception Strategies – Healthcare mystery shopping, including telephone and in person visits.
SkilCheck – This company requires that you have an unlimited calling plan as they do not reimburse for phone charges.
Remote Entry Level Transcription Jobs
Accutran Global – This company hires entry level transcriptionists as independent contractors to transcribe on a variety of topics, such as business meetings, teleconferences, focus groups and more. Pay is $0.004 to $0.0055 per word or $0.40 per audio minute as of this writing.
CastingWords – A freelance transcription site that is very flexible. Your pay is based in part on the quality of your transcriptions.
Daily Transcription – This company posts job leads fairly often on my online job board. They accept beginners but warn that the work may be challenging. The transcription is often of footage, including reality television and interviews.
GMR Transcription – Hires general transcriptionists without experience. Spanish speaking transcription/translation positions may also be available. Also hires certified translators.
Go Transcript – Pays up to $0.60 per audio or video minute. Hires worldwide and only requires excellent English skills.
Quicktate – Take their test and pay for their background check to see if you qualify. Pay is low, but that’s common for entry level transcription.
Rev – Take a grammar and transcription test, and they’ll let you know if they want you as a freelancer. As of this writing, they’re only taking emails, as they have enough freelancers at the moment. But it’s worth a look to see if they’re hiring again.
Scribie – Pay at this company is very low. As of this writing, their website states that their rates are $5-20 per audio hour. They break transcriptions up into 6 minute segments, which means each segment is worth $0.50-2.00. It usually takes longer than 6 minutes to transcribe a 6 minute recording, making your hourly rate depend on how many segments you can do per hour.
SpeechPad – You have to pass a grammar test and a transcription test before taking on work. You can select jobs listed that you’re qualified for, and improve your qualifications over time. Pay rate varies quite a bit by assignment.
Tigerfish – This company has been around quite a while and has a transcription test anyone can take to see if they qualify. They also warn you that each test segment should take you no more than 20 minutes, because if you can’t transcribe at least that fast, it probably won’t be worth your while.
TranscribeMe – This may be one of the easiest ways to try out general transcription as a work at home job. There’s an entrance exam, after which you have to wait to hear from them. Once you’re hired, you work entirely on your own schedule. The transcriptions are broken up into very small segments. Pay is not that great.
The Transcription Agency – This company hires only in the UK and does not require experience. They also offer translation services, but the website does not make it clear how to work for them as a translator or what the requirements are for that.
See more remote general transcription jobs here.
Remote Entry Level Translator And Interpreter Jobs
Any kind of remote entry level translator or interpreter job will still require fluency in the languages you use in your work. There will be some kind of test to prove that you can provide quick and accurate translations or interpretations.
Gengo – Once you’re approved to work for this company, you pick the projects you want to work on.
LanguageLine – You must have native or near native fluency in English and one other language. A high school diploma is required, and they prefer education in translation or interpretation, but it is not required.
See more remote translator jobs here.
Entry Level Virtual Assistant Jobs
Fancy Hands – If you’re good on the phone and the computer, you can apply to do small tasks at this company. You might make appointments or reservations for someone, or find a hotel for their vacation. Pay is through Dwolla.
Vicky Virtual – This is work as a virtual receptionist, so you’re mostly on the phone. They like people with a sense of humor.
Remote Entry Level Writing Jobs
Most remote writing jobs are freelance, although you can find the occasional position as an employee. Pay ranges from pathetic to quite good, depending on the employer.
I have a lot of freelance writing opportunities listed at 115 Places To Find Freelance Writing Gigs. Some may require experience, but most care only about how well you write.
Verblio – Previously Blog Mutt. Ghostwrite blog posts on your choice of available topics. If a customer chooses your post, you get paid.
ClearVoice – Fill out your portfolio thoroughly with this company to get matched with clients who might pick you. Payment is through Paypal on approval of your assignment.
Content Divas – This company has you write a sample article and sample blog post to decide if you might be a fit.
Online Writing Jobs – Write for different brands. Pay goes up to $50 per article.
Postloop – Sites that are trying to get forums started pay writers at this company to post on their forums. Pay is per post. It probably isn’t a lot of money, but the work should be easy so long as you make quality posts.
WriterAccess – Take tests to determine the level you start at. You can improve your level (and pay rate) by getting good reviews and being on time with your assignments.
See more remote writing jobs here.
Alternatives To Remote Entry Level Jobs
A remote entry level job is not your only option if you want to work at home. There are a number of other things you can do that don’t require that you have experience – only skills.
Starting a blog is one example. It’s very easy to start a blog. There’s no guarantee that you will earn a living from it – ever – but some people do very well as bloggers. It’s an affordable enough option that it’s worth the try if you’re interested.
You can consider a more traditional option such as starting a daycare if you have a good place for that. You may want to consider some certification before you start – the Red Cross offers childcare training as well as first aid training, and these can be good skills to have.
Freelance work is another option. Freelance work can be a path to a traditional career or a business you run for many years. Sites such as Upwork make it easy to get started even if you don’t have experience. It takes time to build up a good portfolio as a freelancer, but it can be quite worthwhile.
Some people sell on Amazon, eBay or Etsy and do quite well. These kinds of businesses have their own challenges and are riskier financially as you have to buy things so you can sell them, but they can become very profitable if you know what you’re doing.
Whatever you do, don’t give up on the idea of finding a work at home job, even if you have to create your own. Remote entry level jobs are out there. Be persistent and find one that works for you.
