Updated October 2009
By Molly Hallman, Payscale.com
Can you imagine how simple your life would be if you never had to drive to work? If you have the self-discipline to work from home, the right opportunity could help you get back those commute hours and gain some extra time each day to do whatever you want. If you're wondering where you can find such a job in a waning economy, here are seven companies hiring for work from home right now.
1. Alpine Access
Website: www.alpineaccess.com
Job Title: Customer care professional
This forward thinking company plans to hire 1200 new employees in the first three months of 2009, with starting salaries ranging from $8-14 per hour. "We look for people who are self-motivated, self-reliant problem solvers who have a strong work ethic," says Remi Killeen, Recruitment Manager at Alpine Access. Besides offering the flexibility to work from home, Alpine Access, a virtual call center, provides healthcare benefits, 401K, flexible work schedules and opportunities to grow. Each worker is an actual company employee with regular work hours and assignments.
2. HireMyMom.com
Website: www.hiremymom.com
Job Titles: Virtual assistant, professional blogger
HireMyMom.com is a web-based job service designed especially for professional working mothers. Founder and President, Lesley Spencer Pyle, says the two most popular positions HireMyMom.com fills are professional blogger and virtual assistant. Bloggers write about their employer's company, products, or services, often in response to user inquiries or industry discussion. They use specific "keywords" in their responses to get favorable web search engine rankings. A virtual assistant is a professional office administrative assistant who works from home.
3. Sylvan Online
Website: www.sylvan.com
Job Title: On-line certified teacher
Do you have experience teaching but aren't interested in managing an entire classroom? Sylvan Online may work for you. It's a web-based tutoring service that seeks certified teachers to tutor various subjects and levels. Job requirements include a current teaching certificate, a Windows-based PC and high speed internet access. Sylvan offers paid training on-line and opportunities range from 8 to 29 hours per week.
4. National Shopping Service
Website: www.nationalshoppingservice.com
Job Title: Mystery shopper/researcher
Do you love to shop? Do you like to share your opinion? You can make money doing both. A mystery shopper earns perks or a paycheck for helping companies learn about their products and customer service. Paycheck amounts range from "$5.00 to $25.00 for a fifteen to sixty minute engagement," says Matt Wozniak, President & CEO of National Shopping Service. "The vast majority of mystery shoppers do not mystery shop for a living, although we have had a few earning over $40,000 a year. It's a great way to pick up a free pizza on your way to get the kids from soccer or get some free gasoline."
5. oDesk
Website: www.oDesk.com
Job Title: Various professionals
If you have experience in software development, web design, language translation and other computer-based careers, your skills may be in demand for work at home. Recently featured on Good Morning America, oDesk lets job seekers apply for contract jobs, large and small. Job seekers search jobs listings which include the job requirements, pay and estimated time commitments. "Our business has three components -- hire, manage and pay," says Gary Swart, CEO of oDesk. Plus, you don't have to submit invoices for your contract work, which saves time.
6. Working Solutions
Website: www.workingsolutions.com
Job Titles: Transcriptionist, customer service representative
Are you a speedy and accurate typist? You might be interested in a contract position as a transcriptionist, someone who types down information from a recording, live reading or conversation. Established in 1996, Working Solutions hires independent contract agents for various transcription and customer service assignments. You can earn up to $30 an hour if you have the right skill-set and experience.
7. Language Lab
Website: www.languagelab.com
Job Titles: Teacher, actor, customer service representative
The best way to learn a language is to go someplace where you can practice with native speakers. "English Town" is such a place, minus the expensive travel and time away from work. Using a computer and internet connection, at-home students visit a virtual city where teachers help them learn English as a second language. Language Lab is looking for English teachers to participate in this fun teaching environment. Shiv Rajendran, Director of Operations at Languagelab.com says, "Teachers need to be native English speakers, Celta or Delta certified with five years of teaching experience." Celta and Delta certifications are not college degrees, but post-high school certifications. The company also plans to hire actors and part-time customer service reps.
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Feb 16th 2009 @ 7:28AM Mary Jane
I make a great part time income selling all natural candles
Reply
Mar 10th 2009 @ 1:13AM Kim Selph
Please send me some information about your candles that you sell i would really be interested in working with a job like this I have a full time job already but i work nights and i have all day to do other things like make money
May 16th 2009 @ 6:05PM Betsey
Awesome oppoortunities for anyone wanting to supplement their income with a fun business with wonderful products!!!
Feb 15th 2009 @ 11:53AM OUT OF WORK
We see them saying work is out there but they leave out t alot of information. Recently in Shelbyville tennessee Ttysons had over 100 job openings. You needed to apply at the unemployement office. There were people bussed in from Nashville - all immagrants from agencys there, One such group broght a bus load of them the night before to camp out on the street in fromt of the office to be first in line. Police were called to keep peace the next day. YOU can read about this in tht achives of the Shelbyville Gazzette paper if you want. How are we to get jobs when they are being offered first to immigrants who are being given help to get them>? A man was actually in town the week before looking for houseing for 50 families that were expected to get some ogf the positions, now if he didn't have inside information that thye would be hired he would not have been looking for the houseing. There are plenty of unemployed there losing their homes becasue they can notr find work, yet Tyson's and the unemployment office are shipping in more people and giving the jobs to them...........Is this what we are going to ahave to keep fighting in this country ? Immagrants should not be able to take jobs from citizens.
Reply
Feb 17th 2009 @ 9:52AM Elizabeth
Amen! No, they shouldn't get the first pick on jobs. It's bad enought that they, illegals, can get Social Security, and their women can get welfare and f/s.
Making them feel at home here in the USA for free has ruined the true Americans life. It's a shame that the true Americans that worked to make things happen and grow have to fight to keep their jobs or fight to get help when jobs are lost.
It's pathetic that the government helps the ILLEGALs more than the citizens who voted them.
Feb 20th 2009 @ 11:06AM Kat
I agree with your beef...Imigrants are taking over our jobs, but what can we do about it? The government has made it okay for them to be here and now no one can even ask them if they are legal or not. Companies will probably hire them first because they will work for chicken feed and in the worst of conditions. Sorry, this is a blog about jobs and not immigrants. I'm just frustrated about the whole situation.
Feb 20th 2009 @ 8:38AM Marri
How could you possibly hope to hire an English-speaking-Native when you don't speak or write the language correctly? This is a big scam people; don't be fooled!!!
Feb 20th 2009 @ 9:38AM Sandy Jennings
Your ad for jobs is really terrible. There are so many mis-sellings and typo's that it makes your posting seem unreliable. Also, makes one wonder if you are legit!
Feb 20th 2009 @ 10:19AM Employed, with 2 jobs!
I think i can refer to you as "Out of Work" like you just showed your user name to be, I hope i am not offending you...
However, the reason you might be out of work dear, might be, because you call yourself american but you cannot spell correctly nor write clearly ! I am an immigrant and I hve been in this country for few years and i made the point to at least write and speak the language well. In the other hand you... I can only imagine what you sound like! So before you came in with opinions, perhaps you should learn how to write them in your own language! Do not blame others for your own situation! You were born here! You have had the right to stay, to get a drive license, to learn how to speak and how to write, perhaps if you take an assessment on how well you do those basic things you will have a more accurate picture of reality. With all do respect! "
Feb 20th 2009 @ 10:10AM Vera Weiland
I have not heard this situation before, but it probably happens all over the U.S. nowadays. I wholeheartedly agree with you that the immigrants, especially the illegal ones SHOULD NOT be given jobs. Have you contacted your local legislators and your state senators and representatives in Washington? I would also suggest that you contact an organization called Americans for Immigration Contol (www.immigrationcontrol.com). They get the word out with a newsletter. You might try contacting major TV stations in New York and Washington, but I think they are too "politically correct" and worried about hurting the immigrants instead of standing up for American citizens. You might contact Lou Dobbs (I think he's at CNN) as I believe he is sympathetic to the immigrant problem and NOT afraid to speak out. GOOD LUCK. Vera W.
Feb 20th 2009 @ 11:34AM laura
Before you start getting your feathers ruffled. Think about it. If americans prefer to be lazy and pull in from welfare why should they go work at a minumum low paying job. So if these deadbeats, trailer trash prefer to do this, then what is a large company to do to get their product out there. Hire low paying immigrants who do not question minimum wage, benefits, etc. They are thankful to get a job----ANYJOB------. So think abut it before before wagging the tongue due to ignorance.
Feb 20th 2009 @ 12:29PM Faye
I certainly agree with you.
They must think that people
are stupid. Looking for 50
places to live the week before
applying for jobs, come on give
us a break.
We have to just keep on fighting
for our selves and stand up for what
we are entitled to, first.
Feb 20th 2009 @ 12:32PM james
damn right dude!!!!!!!! i live on the space coast and the mex. people or the ones that have a red dot on ther heads are taking it all.
Feb 20th 2009 @ 1:55PM will
I've read your comment, and it will get around, one way or another. Thank you. We need to know these things.
Will (in California)
Feb 20th 2009 @ 12:55PM Kimberly
What else is new, born in American and white, immigrants get payed less, it's the corporation's that are involved in this and there should be more raids in Colorado, where I live, I am up against 200 resumes every time I put in one. This Country is getting on my nerves, voted for Obama and hope to god he saves us, we really need the lord to help us. I don't know if there is such a person out there that can fix this fiscal crises-too many crooks in America. How sad!!! And foolish spending!!
Feb 20th 2009 @ 8:35PM Jan
I am very sorry for this but as long as there is cheap labor for these people, this will go on and on. As Americans, we need to get our heads out of beer cans and sports event and fight for our rights. It makes me crazy when they interview someone who says" yes, we knew it was too much house for us but we loved it", do people really think they will get something for nothing?
Mar 7th 2009 @ 9:22PM juno
Stop blaming others for your problems. You are responsible for decisions in your life. And if some consequences aren't fair....rise above them. Help yourself to be more employable, such as working on your spelling and grammar.
Mar 7th 2009 @ 9:26PM dorothy
I very definite agree!!!!!
Mar 7th 2009 @ 9:47PM barb
start a blog or whenever u have the opportunity to blast tyson then do so. Dont buy the foods and tell everyone u know not to buy their foods and have them tell everyone they know and so on and so on. americans have a lot of power put we are letting centain people steal it from us--we need to stop. and you employment office should have a class action suit filed agains them for discrimination
Mar 8th 2009 @ 7:07AM mark
if they can spell better than you can...they ought to go for it!