What is the Best Job to Work from Home? [best part-time jobs work from home]

The best work from home job is one that fits your skill set and lifestyle demands. Luckily, there are a large number of ‘work from home’ opportunities available from companies of all sizes. Many do not require a college degree or technical skills. You could also start your own home-based business.

Your happiness in life is directly related to what you do to make a living. Wouldn’t it make you happier to not worry about a manager looking over your shoulder every five minutes, sitting in a cubical all day, dealing with the stress of a long commute, or an office dress code?

That may sound too good to be true, but many people are finding a way to avoid these typical workplace concerns by working from home. The good news is that there are more work from home jobs now than ever before!

Also, more and more workers are considering a home office setup as a primary career. Especially with the onset of the pandemic and lots of companies shifting to this remote worker model. 

The viability and efficacy of remote job opportunities are becoming more commonplace. People are even leaving their current companies remote positions where they work from home.

This has major implications for employees, their companies, their families, and their entire lifestyle. However, most see this approach as a benefit and not a drawback. Remote workers are now in high demand!

Let’s explore some of the benefits of Working From Home, and see if it’s possible for you to Work From Home!

Is Working From Home a Good Idea?

Working from home (WFH) is just what it sounds like. Performing the regular duties of your job from your home, instead of traveling to an office space or worksite.

In most cases, this doesn’t look too different from a “typical” career position. There are set work hours, the same workload is still expected, and regular communication and collaboration with other employees are required.

The only difference is that you are not physically present with your coworkers unless special circumstances arise.

The other side of Work From Home is what is commonly known as the “gig economy,” or freelance work. In this model, an individual finds a type of work they enjoy and operate as an independent contractor.

They find their own clients, either on their own or through a service, and do their work without the oversight of a traditional manager or corporate structure, although they are still required to fulfill their client-facing obligations.

In either case, Work From Home employees typically have some amount of space and resources set aside in their homes strictly for work purposes.

Sometimes a company will provide equipment, or a person with a thriving Work From Home career may purchase their own materials as needed.

This also involves office space, even if it’s a table or desk in a shared area of the home. Real estate agents will sometimes highlight specific rooms in a house or apartment as Work From Home options depending on their client’s needs.

By the way, real estate agents can be a great Work From Home career option!

Is Work From Home Right for Me?

Of course, choosing to work from home is not necessarily the right decision for everyone. For those that thrive on personal interaction, Working From Home might get lonely after a while.

Some people are more outgoing and tend to thrive on engagement, needing social interaction to feel good. If you have a hectic family life with others constantly around your intended workspace, Working From Home might become too great a distraction to allow you to work effectively.

Furthermore, even though Working From Home is becoming more widely accepted, many companies still have not fully shifted to this approach.

The vast majority of businesses still maintain physical office space and expect their employees to “come in” to work on a daily basis, in order to keep teams closer together and allow for better collaboration.

Even with the explosive growth of tools like Zoom and project management software, such collaboration can sometimes work better in person.

Benefits of Working From Home

That being said, WFH can be a perfectly viable and fulfilling option for many workers. Here are just some of the benefits to a WFH career:

• You can set your own work schedule.
  
  Especially for freelancers, Working From Home gives you the power to choose your own hours. This allows you to find the times that allow you to be most productive or creative.
  
  Even if you work a “traditional” position with an established company, they may offer flexible options on expected work hours based on your situation. 
  
• Commutes become a thing of the past.
  
  One major selling point for Working From Home is the lack of a commute. Some people can spend an hour or more traveling from home to the office, then repeat the trip at the end of the day.
  
  By working from home, you can eliminate the need for a commute that can cost you valuable time and money, and allow you to make better use of them elsewhere.
   
• The dress code can be more casual.
  
  Unless you have an onsite function, many Work From Home employees is not expected to follow the same dress codes as they would in an office setting (with some exceptions).
  
  One of the earliest consumer reports from the onset of last year’s pandemic was that sales for business and professional clothing dropped dramatically with the shift to Working From Home.
  
  This may seem like a relatively minor selling point for some, but a few extra creature comforts can go a long way toward happier employees.
  
• You can save money Working From Home.
  
  Working from home has numerous areas of hidden savings. The cost of transportation drops by not having to spend as much money on gas or commuter travel like buses or subways.
  
  You can also save money by shopping for groceries more instead of relying on takeout. As we’ve seen, you may also be able to save money on expensive business clothing as well.
  
  On the other hand, freelancers should take into account the specialized equipment and materials they may need to purchase on their own for their chosen line of work.
   
• You can find more time for family and social pursuits.
  
  Working extra hours or even a commute can keep you from time with family and friends.
  
  By choosing a Work From Home career path, you may find greater flexibility to spend more time with your family, like picking your kids up from school.
  
  You may also be able to free up your schedule for social groups with proper time management.
  
• You have greater opportunities for self-care.
  
  Don’t feel like driving to the gym after work, or do you feel too tired to make healthy eating choices?
  
  With Work From Home, you can give yourself permission to indulge in some creature comforts, but also engage in better self-care. This can include extra ‘found’ time for exercise, increased ability to choose healthy diet options, and even find more time for sleep.
  
  Rest is an essential element of a balanced lifestyle, and Working From Home can help here too.
  
• In some cases, you can avoid job titles and bosses.
  
  Freelance workers can avoid the corporate structure altogether, becoming their own bosses.
  
  You need an extraordinary amount of self-discipline and drive to make this a full-time career, but those that are motivated to get the job done shouldn’t have any problems.
  
  There are lots of opportunities for freelance workers to make a lucrative career without having to join a company in an official capacity.
  
• You might not even need to find a full-time job.
  
  Maybe you just want to make some extra money. If you don’t necessarily need a full-time position but are comfortable working a few hours a week, a work from home job can be a great way to make it happen.
  
  Freelancers can set their own hours, which also means you can choose how much you are available to work. You can set your schedule based on your life, and what you have available to work.

Frequently Asked Questions about Working From Home

How Much Can You Make Working From Home?

Absolutely! Whether your company allows you to maintain a Work From Home position, or you work full-time hours as an independent contractor, you can make an entire career out of working from home.

Some Work From Home employees even make more than their office-bound counterparts! It can be highly lucrative for the right kind of worker.

Are Work From Home Jobs Legit?

In the majority of cases, yes. If your chosen line of work deals with illegal substances or merchandise, probably not.

Joking aside, most Working From Home jobs are completely legit. Freelancing agencies have many measures in place to ensure security and integrity for workers and their clients, and working with an established company also adds legitimacy to a Working From Home position. 

If you have any doubts about an opportunity, do a little research on the company. If you choose to work as a freelancer, always follow the business terms of your agency as well as good common sense. 

Can I still raise a family while working from home?

Working From Home offers flexibility that an office setting cannot always offer, which makes this an ideal option for those with families.

Single or married parents may choose WFH to let them be more involved in their family’s lives since working at an office can keep them from being as connected as they may prefer.

Even the simple ability to pick up your children from school and being at home afternoons and evenings can be a major selling point for WFH for some parents. 

Do I need a college degree to work from home?

Not always, but it may be required for “traditional” positions that put employees through a normal hiring application process.

Companies that offer Work From Home positions may still have certain criteria for their employees as they would for those who work at the office. However, many WFH jobs, especially freelancers, can establish themselves without formal education based on their experience alone.

There may be some required demonstration of proficiency, and WFH employees should be able to showcase their abilities in appropriate ways when requested.

Work From Home Jobs No Experience

While formal experience may not be required for certain Work From Home jobs, some degree of proficiency in your chosen field of work will likely be required. As with an office position, those that hire you will want to know that you are the best candidate for the work you are applying to perform.

Fortunately, especially for freelancers, some level of work can be attained with little to no experience, and that experience will build upon itself until you are able to command a particular salary level or to pursue advanced work in your field.

It’s important to remember, though, that you shouldn’t let inexperience keep you from getting started at all. There are many ways to gain experience such as online courses and just plain old research into your desired skill set.

Legitimate Work From Home Jobs with No Startup Fee

In general, there should be no startup fees for a legitimate Work From Home job. If there are fees involved with a job you are looking at take caution! That is a warning sign and alerts you to the possibility of a scam.

There are some exceptions though. If you decide to start your own home business, there will be licensing and regulatory fees to consider, as well as startup costs for equipment and materials.

Freelancing agencies may also take a percentage of your earnings as a finder’s fee for connecting you with a job. However, in most cases, the employer should be paying those fees, not you!

Will I Owe Income Tax Working From Home?

Yes. Owing income tax has nothing to do with working from home or from an offie.

Freelancer workers should remember that not all employers will withhold state and federal taxes. This may require an additional filing on your part.

If you own a business you will still need to pay taxes on the income but the method varies based on the type of legal structure you have.

If you do not have Employer Withholding from your income you may be required to make quarterly estimated tax payments to the IRS.

Best Work From Home Jobs

Due to the Covid pandemic, there has been a shift in thinking about considering “traditional” office positions as remote jobs now. Simply talk with your employer about this new opportunity, and you may be surprised at how willing they might be to work with you.

However, if your employer does not offer this model and you still want to work from home there are many work from home opportunities.

If you’re an aspiring freelancer looking for a “side hustle” you can work from home while staying in your current position. There is high demand right now for ‘gig’ workers.

Probably the easiest work from home positions to get started with are customer service jobs. You don’t need an advanced degree or years of experience. You just need desire and a good work ethic.

Here is a list of great work from home possibilities even if you don’t have a bachelor’s degree. A high school diploma is often all that is required for these online jobs. All you need is an internet connection and some motivation.

• Freelance writer (blog posts, ad copy, website content)
• Graphic designer and illustration
• Accounting and finance
• Computer programming
• Software engineer
• Web developers
• Search engine optimization
• Technical support
• Engineering
• Gaming
• Legal services
• Merchandise sales and reselling
• Social services
• Counseling
• Consulting with small business owners
• Online teacher
• Call center staffing
• Medical coders
• Customer Service representative
• Online chat representative
• Sales representative
• Real Estate Agent
• Make phone calls for small businesses
• Administrative support
• Data entry jobs
• Own your own business
• Affiliate marketing
• Food delivery
• Teach a foreign language (if you are a native English speaker teach English online)
• Taxi service
• Insurance
• Travel agents
• Social Media manager
• Digital marketing
• Virtual assistant (VA)

Many of these fields may sound like you would need to work from an office, but there are numerous services that can connect you with viable, legitimate opportunities that pay well and allow you to work on your own terms. 

Amazon Work from Home Jobs

Many larger companies like Amazon and United Healthcare have an army of Work From Home employees. Just go to the Amazon jobs website and search for remote career opportunities.

You can also find remote Work From Home jobs being offered by most other large corporations. 

Best Work From Home Jobs Part Time

Even if you are only looking for part-time work the number of home job opportunities are virtually endless. Every one of the the Work From Home jobs we just listed above can also be part-time.

How Do I Find Work From a Home Jobs?

Start with the popular job boards. Use your favorite internet search engines and you will see many pop up. Just search for the term remote or work from home.

You can also call the human resources departments and ask if they hire remote workers. This is one of the best ways to start and can also help you find the best companies to work for.

Best Work From Home Jobs for Moms

The long list of work from home jobs we posted above all apply for moms too! But there are a few that standout so consider these as well.

• Mommy blogger. Many stay at home moms are finding great success blogging to earn extra money.
• Etsy. Many moms are great at arts and crafts and making things that other people want to buy.
• Transcription. This is where you listen to audio files and convert them to text.
• Many companies are looking for online tutors. All you need is internet connectivity.
• Graphics designer. Sell your services on Fiverr.

Conclusion

Once, a “stable career” meant you had to work at a business location, like an office or a shop.

Now anybody can make a good living working from home. Working from Home can be 9-to-5 or just moonlighting on your off-hours doing gig work, or becoming an entrepreneur out of your garage.

The sky is truly the limit, and avoiding rush hour traffic doesn’t hurt either!