Updated October 15, 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 600 new home-based call center representatives in the next three months, each with starting salaries ranging from $8-14 per hour. In addition to these positions, applicants with fluency in English/Spanish, English /Mandarin and English/Cantonese are in great demand. "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, and flexible work schedules..
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. oDesk
Website: www.oDesk.com
Job Title: Various professionals
"Our business has three components -- hire, manage and pay," says Gary Swart, CEO of oDesk. Featured on Good Morning America, oDesk lets job seekers apply for contract jobs in categories like customer service, sales/marketing, administrative support, writing, software development, web design, and language translation. Job seekers search listings which include the job requirements, pay and estimated time commitments. oDesk's online software tracks the hours worked to ensure freelancers receive their full earnings on payday. Plus, workers don't have to submit invoices for their contract work, which saves time.
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. VIPdesk
Website: www.vipdesk.com
Job Title: Inside Sales and Customer Service
Equipped with a phone and computer in your own home office, you might be right for seasonal contract work as an inside sales or customer service representative for VIPdesk retail clients. "VIPdesk has been working with a home-based workforce since 1997, and has over 40 clients including Eddie Bauer, Bluefly, Mastercard and Land Rover," says Linda Dickerhoof, Public Relations Director at VIPdesk.
6. Working Solutions
Website: www.workingsolutions.com
Job Titles: Transcriptionist, customer service representative
Are you a speedy and accurate typist? You could excel 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 transcription and various customer service assignments. You can earn up to $30 an hour if you have the right skill set and experience. Independent contractors usually receive about $8-14 per hour.
7. About.com
Website: http://beaguide.about.com/index.htm
Job Title: Guide (writer)
About.com hires people who are experts in a certain area to write about that subject. The requirements include producing four original articles per month and keeping a blog. About.com lists various openings for experts in a variety of topics and invites writers to suggest their own. Men's Fashion and Grooming Guide, Daniel Billett of Seattle, Washington, writes for About and also works from home as a mortgage banker. He's found that covering a topic he loves can have some surprising perks. "I get fan mail and that's really heart-warming," says Billett. The compensation is $675 per month base pay for the first two years. Additional, commission-style pay is given based on the popularity of the articles and blog with the average guide earning $2000 per month while putting in 25 to 30 hours per week. The upside is some guides earn over $100,000 per year.
Next: 10 Part-Time Jobs You Can Do From Home >>
Mar 25th 2009 @ 11:06PM R. J. Molina
Dear Mr. Robert M,
I retired after 25 years with the Texas State Comptroller. I have prior expierence as a mud engineer for Imco and G&H Drilling Fluids companies. I also held supervisor/management positions for uranimum companies in south Texas.
I am successful businessman which currently rent two homes and have other real estate properties which are paid for. I have good positive expierences with contractors and do it yourself repairs.
I also am a volunteer on four non profit exempt organizations with sucesful children and community endeavors. I am dependable and willing to make more profit for your company. Thank you sir!
Sincerely,
R. J. Molina
Austin, Texas
512-789-0554
Reply
Nov 4th 2009 @ 2:20PM kllrclkll
I lost my job last December. It was the first time in my life that I was unemployed. We have 3 young children and I can't even begin to describe the feeling I had knowing that I had no income and couldn't find a job. A friend of mine told me that he was doing well working full time on an internet based home business. He told me that there were hundreds of thousands of people making a full time living that way. That was all well and good but I didn't have any money to invest and I knew I didn't have the skills that would be needed. He sent me this link to this web site ( tr.im/homebizsuccess ) and told me to check out this system. It wasn't a pyramid scheme or a get rich quick scam. It was my Christmas miracle because with virtually no investment I got in the game. Now I'm making much more money than I ever have and, believe it or not, I'm now working less time everyday than I used to spend commuting back and forth to my old job.
Nov 4th 2009 @ 2:21PM notingf
Just about a year ago the company that I worked for since 1998 abruptly closed. I sent out over 250 resumes thinking it would be easy for me to find another job because my experience and references. I managed to get one interview and was offered a job that paid little more than minimum wage. I was making over $80K prior to that. We had two kids and a baby on the way. Out of desperation I started exploring home business opportunities because it is the only way you can open your own business for virtually no investment. I went past the stage of the multi level marketing scams and found that there are real internet based home businesses that follow real business models. I knew that more than a million people are making a full time income that way but I lacked the necessary skills. I found a program at this web site(tr.im/homebizprofits) that looked like it might be the way to learn those skills. It turned out to be a fairly simple way to learn what I needed to know to be successful. I remember how good it felt when I managed to start making $100 a day, then $200, and after $300 a day it was amazing. It took me a couple of months to get there but now I am financially independent and as a bonus I have much more time to enjoy my children.
Mar 19th 2009 @ 8:45AM Jennifer
I have # 9....
I work for an amazing company that is also hiring- it has been such a blessing for my family I can't help but pass on the good new of Real Income for Real Work. If you are interested let me know @ jennifer_loves_tyson@hotmail.com
I know a cheesy email, but what can I say...I love my husband!
Reply
Mar 23rd 2009 @ 9:47AM Tom Howard
I need more information.
Mar 23rd 2009 @ 12:47PM Barbie
Hi jennifer,
I'm a stay-at home Mom looking for some extra income...can you tell me a little bit more about what you do etc... I would love to hear baout it.
Have a blessed day!
Barbie
Mar 23rd 2009 @ 1:32PM ray
hi i am a lil skeptical so many cons going on especially on the web but i did like your blog if this is real i would love some advise
thanks
ray
Mar 25th 2009 @ 2:21PM Santana
I am interested. Is this a job opportunity? If so, i am interested. I a single mother of two boys and i need a at home job to take care of them while they are in daycare. my email is sanrob1985@yahoo.com
Jul 10th 2009 @ 9:21AM christine
Hello, I have been looking to work from home for quite some time now.. I am a stay at home mom and have been lucky enough for us to be able to afford this.. well, now paying for my daughters college and the way the economy is.. I really need to help out with some of these bills! I hope this is a real opportunity.. everything else I have looked into were nothing but scams! I look forward to hearing from you... Thank you,
Christine
Jul 10th 2009 @ 3:30PM Rosa
Hi Jennifer,
I would like for you to please send me some info on this Work from home program. I just lost my job and my health is not 100% so that is why I would love to find a nice job that I can do from home. Any info you can give me will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you and have a wonderful day !!!
Rosa
Aug 19th 2009 @ 4:52PM Maria
Hello,
I am interested in making some extra money from home. Please send me some information.
Thank you,
Maria
Oct 26th 2009 @ 2:36PM Belinda
hey thank you for wanting to share your money making at home information. Tell me more!!!
Oct 26th 2009 @ 5:19PM regina
Hi Jennefer,
can you tell me more about your work at home job. I need to do something at home right now and I'm looking for something that I can enjoy and put time into. I'm not afraid to work hard. Thank you.
Regina
Oct 30th 2009 @ 8:50PM Tammy
I am most interested in working from home. I want to do honest work for honest pay, not this junk I keep running into. Please help if you can.
Many thanks,
Tammy
Nov 4th 2009 @ 4:41PM vernetta
Please contact me if you are serious about at home work.
Thank you.
Nov 4th 2009 @ 7:58PM carla
stay at home mom looking for a job Ican do at home
Mar 20th 2009 @ 7:10AM Pamela
All I see are companies wanting me to pay them to work for them. I don't have the money necessary to pay them to get started. I tried two of the work from home jobs. The first one cost me approximately one hundred dollars, I finally got paid about fifty for over a weeks work. Like that helped me? The other company paid me with a bad check and it cost me the bad check fee at my bank and to make it up to me the company then wanted to pay me through my credit card if I would send them my credit card information, as if I was that ignorant. Where in the world do you people find the companies that are serious and don't charge you to work for them?
Reply
Mar 20th 2009 @ 10:34AM Tami
I agree with Pamela!!!! I have been duped in the past also. I would love to know of an actual legitimate Company that hires HONEST working people.If we are looking for employment we obviously need money.....so why not take your one time charge from all the profits we will make so easily with your proven programs???? I dont understand how anyone can consider any of these opportunities for emplyment. I never in my lifetime paid to have an employer consider my application and I will not start now. Hey maybe Im missing out.....and maybe i just have my HARD EARNED money still in my pocket.
Mar 20th 2009 @ 11:12AM Pamela
I am glad someone replied. Unfortunately after spending ten minutes trying to find the response I am giving up. Seems to me this is another lesson in Futility for me.
Mar 23rd 2009 @ 7:17AM jaclyn
Pam,
Go with a company that has been around for many years, has a very open website...
shaklee.net/jaclyn/getclean