Monday 21 February 2022

How to Make Money Remotely

The post How to Make Money Remotely appeared first on Millennial Money.

To make money remotely you’ll need an employer who’s work-from-home friendly. You can also take the self-employment route and earn good money for your services as a contractor or freelancer. 

Advantages of Remote Work:

  • Flexibility within your schedule.
  • Save time and money on commuting.
  • Opportunity to live anywhere you want as a digital nomad
  • Higher productivity due to less micromanagement

Working a remote job isn’t for everyone, but in this pandemic era, it’s a choice many workers are happily making. And employers are seeing plenty of benefits as well.

This article will explore the different ways you can make extra cash working remotely, where to look for remote work, and how best to transition into a remote job.

Legitimate Remote Jobs 

With the popularity of remote work on the rise, some people may find it difficult to know which opportunities are legitimate. I’ve found some good dependable choices for you.

One of the first things to decide is whether you’re looking to work for an employer or work independently for yourself. 

“We forecast that 25–30 percent of the U.S. workforce will be working from home one or more days a week after the pandemic.” – Kate Lister, Global Workplace Analytics

Remote Tech Jobs

  • IT specialist – sets up, manages and troubleshoots technology systems; can be a customer service job as well. 
  • Data scientist – gathers and analyzes data to help companies solve problems. 
  • Medical coder – takes information from a doctor’s visit and translates it into coded information for insurance companies. 
  • Web developer – completes large and small website projects. 
  • UI (user interface) artist/designer – creates user-friendly buttons, icons, and graphics for a website, app, or video game.
  • Cybersecurity specialist – creates and performs security audits for software systems. With hackers on the rise in every industry, this is a fast growing role.

Remote Teaching Jobs

  • School teacher – teaches students of every grade level online.
  • Higher education teacher – conducts research and teaches undergraduate and graduate students online.
  • Culinary arts teacher – instructs students in various types of cooking classes. 
  • Tutor – tutors school kids who need extra help with difficult subjects. 
  • International English teacher – teach foreign students the English language.

Remote Training Jobs 

  • Personal trainer – helps clients hit their fitness goals online.
  • Software trainer – teaches people how to use various software.
  • Operations trainer – manages a company’s training department.
  • Product trainer – teaches clients how to use new technology and products produced by the company.

Remote Creative Jobs

  • Ghostwriter – writes content for authors, blogs, and businesses.
  • Graphic designer – designs the graphics for a website, logo, digital product, and more.
  • Video content creator – creates video content for a company’s YouTube channel or TikTok account.
  • Social media manager – manages the social media account of a large corporation or small business.
  • Virtual assistant – assists with just about any online task a business owner might need.
  • Proofreader – catches punctuation, spelling, and grammar errors in print and online writing.
  • Online course creator – Design and sell an online course as passive income.

Other Remote Jobs 

  • Customer service representative – helps answer customer questions or solve problems with products/services.
  • Call center representative – manages incoming and outgoing customer calls for a business/organization.
  • Recruiting specialist – helps companies fill important job positions.
  • Insurance agent – sells policies for cars, houses, life insurance, etc.
  • Grant writer – researches and writes grants for non-profit organizations to secure grant funds for research and operations of programs.
  • Sales representative – finds new clients for companies and sells products to organizations.

What Companies Hire Remote Employees?

If it’s steady income with benefits that you’re looking for, you’re in luck. Many popular companies such as Amazon, Google, Apple, Dell, IBM, and Xerox hire remote workers.

Most of these companies are known for their flexible work policies, which often provide workers with the freedom to manage their own tasks.

Companies Currently Hiring Remote Workers:

Here are some of the top companies hiring remote workers in each major industry.

Healthcare:

  • Mayo Clinic 
  • CVS Health
  • Anthem 
  • UnitedHealth Group
  • American Red Cross

Tech:

  • Dell Technologies
  • Apple
  • HubSpot
  • GitHub
  • Mozilla
  • Pantheon

Finance:

  • Wells Fargo 
  • US Bank
  • Stash
  • Coinbase

Education:

  • Kaplan
  • iTutor
  • Literably
  • Bilingual Therapies 

There’s definitely not a shortage of dependable companies who are hiring. In the age of “The Great Resignation” where people are leaving jobs they hate in droves, job seekers these days have hundreds of choices for employment.

Equipment Needed to Work From Home

The equipment you’ll need to work from home will vary according to your field, but things such as reliable internet connection, a computer or laptop with good storage, and a dedicated place to work are the top three must-haves.

Other Equipment You May Need as a Remote Worker: 

  • An ergonomic office chair to avoid back, neck and arm strain.
  • A desk or standing desk combination as an alternative to sitting for hours.
  • A web camera for remote meetings.
  • Not everyone needs a printer but some might find it handy.
  • Office supplies such as pens, printer paper, and the like.
  • A bulletin board or whiteboard for keeping track of tasks. 
  • Some shelving or bins to keep things organized.
  • A filing cabinet may also be a good idea for client files.

If you’re part of a remote team with an employer, they’ll likely have some of these tools covered for you. Or you may receive reimbursement for various equipment.

Self-employed workers and digital nomads will need to purchase their own office or work supplies which can usually be added to expenses at tax time. (Always check with a tax expert first.)

I can personally recommend a few tools for anyone working remotely. These include noise-canceling headphones and some extra computer gear. 

  • If you’re a writer, or do research and reports regularly, consider an extra monitor (or two) hooked up to your laptop. You can keep 12 tabs open on one monitor and your actual report open on the other.
  • I also suggest a separate ergonomic keyboard with wrist pad to avoid hand and arm pain. And a wireless mouse is a handy addition as well. Keeps the cords at bay.

Remote Working Apps

There are some fantastic digital tools and apps that can keep a remote team on the same page. These include various meeting apps and organization tools. 

An online job comes with some challenges for sure, such as not being able to ask coworkers for help in real time, project management, and more. 

But never fear, there are tools to help just about any remote position you take.

Apps and Tools for Communicating With Team Members

  • Zoom – the ever-popular meeting software that’s transformed the online work space. You’re always just a Zoom away from training, meetings, and answers.
  • Slack – a real-time chat app that’s super handy for asking questions, discussing projects, and just knowing another person is working “alongside” you.
  • Discord – another tool used for real-time messaging and discussion.
  • Basecamp – another handy app to keep remote teams on the same page with tasks and good communication.

Project Management Tools List 

  • Asana – a project management software that provides a place to list team projects, progress, feedback, and status updates.
  • Trello – another great collaboration tool that separates tasks and projects onto boards and allows team members to view projects and progress at a glance.
  • Monday.com – a planning, project management, and data organizer that’s highly customizable and integrates with many other apps.

That was only a small list of great tools for working remotely. There’s no shortage of digital tools you’ll find helpful when you’re flying solo at home. 

Transition to Remote Work 

Whether you’re transitioning to strictly remote work or a hybrid work situation, there are some guidelines that will help you make the most of this new adventure.

It’s normal for remote employees to have some anxiety about how to make the most of working from home. Some common concerns include time management, having adequate communication with the office, and feeling isolated.

Let’s address these.

Time management fears are totally legit. If you’re like me, and house chores distract you, practice separating your work life from home life.

You may find it helpful to work from a library, coffee shop, or coworking space a few times a week.

If you’re self-employed, it’s your call as to where you do your best work. For employed folks, you may need to ask if library or coffee shop working is permitted.

Maintaining good communication with the office, colleagues, and other team members shouldn’t be hard with all the great digital tools available these days.

Your employer is sure to provide you with real-time ways to get in touch, ask questions, and receive additional support/training as needed. That’s what Zoom is all about.

Feeling isolated while transitioning to a home working environment is a biggie. All the more reason to request frequent check-ins via Zoom.

It can also help to join a business group or self-employed community in your area. If you’ve never heard of Meetup, check it out.

People in your town who earn money online are trying to stay connected, too. Look some up and hit a happy hour together. You can also try a coworking space for extra human contact.

Remote Working Guidelines

  • Stay honest. Work when you’re on the clock. 
  • Shoot for stellar communication. Stay in the know with colleagues and employer expectations. When in doubt, ask.
  • Be productive with your time. Worker productivity has actually gone up at least 5 percent with the pandemic-related shift to remote work.
  • Maintain flexibility. You may be asked to work some weird hours every now and then. Take it in stride and do something enjoyable with the other time you have.
  • Make sure your physical environment is set up for optimal work conditions.
  • Grab the right tools for your job for maximum efficiency.
  • Commit to a digital or physical calendar to keep meetings and deadlines straight.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Below are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about making money remotely.

How Much Money Can You Make Working Remotely?

The amount of money you can earn remotely depends on several factors, including how much an employer is willing to pay for a given position. Your overall pay will also depend on whether you’re planning to work part-time or full-time.

The employer who hires you will have a set pay scale unless you’re a contractor and have freelance clients. In that case, you’ll set your own wage requirements.

For positions that require a good bit of experience, you’ll often earn in the middle salary ranges of $50,000–$70,000.

If it’s tech-oriented and you need a degree, you can normally expect $70,000+ per year.

  • A computer programmer can make an average of just over $60,000 a year. 
  • Freelance writers can earn anywhere from $20 per hour to $1 or more per word. 
  • Virtual assistants make an average of $16 per hour.
  • Website and user designers usually make between $49,500 and $60,500.
  • Sales representatives can earn between $2000–$4000 per month depending on commissions earned.
  • Customer service representatives earn a broad range of pay which can be by the hour ($12–$17 range) or a salary range of $30,000–$50,000+. 
  • Software support representatives are being hired in the $14–$16 per hour range for entry-level positions.
  • Administrative assistants hover around the $30,000 per year mark at entry level.
  • Executive assistants with experience can earn well over $60,000 per year.

*The listed wages are dependent on the going rates for the area you live in as well as company budgets, etc. The numbers are meant to be representative, and are not guarantees.

How Do You Find Remote Work With No Experience?

Some of the best ways to find entry-level or no-experience jobs are to peruse large hiring databases such as Indeed or FlexJobs.

There’s also LinkedIn, which is the largest business network in the world. Hop on there, optimize your profile, and start making connections in fields you’re interested in.

You might be one connection away from the beginner-level position that’s perfect for your needs.

Remote opportunities don’t always require advanced degrees or extensive experience. So, don’t stress too much if you lack a lot of specific experience. More companies than ever are willing to forgo the experience requirement and train employees themselves.

If you’re willing to learn and have a can-do spirit, there’s a home job for you!

Just a quick browse on Indeed results in the following job opportunities that are willing to train. With a little time spent on job boards, you’ll find a position that doesn’t require a fancy degree. 

  • IT security specialist 
  • Contracts and pricing analyst
  • Collections specialist
  • Medical billing apprentice
  • Recruitment scheduler

The Bottom Line

It’s a whole new world out there for WFH opportunities. The pandemic shifted everything in the workforce. It’s easier than ever to become a digital nomad. Most of it for the better, if you ask me.

You can find a remote job in almost any field. And it’s easier than ever to shift gears into a new interest, jump into freelance work, or earn extra money—whether it’s a second job or your primary occupation.

Adjusting to remote work isn’t totally easy for everyone, but there’s help for just about every challenge with the excellent digital apps and software available these days.

Just don’t forget to leave your workplace (aka home) every now and then for time away. Enjoy that flexibility by spending more time with family and friends!

The post How to Make Money Remotely appeared first on Millennial Money.



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February 21, 2022 at 10:11PM

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