By Carol Tice
Time was, you had to be a graphic designer, a consultant or a freelance copywriter if you wanted to ditch your cubicle and make money in your pajamas. But advances in technology have brought work-from-home jobs to nearly every business sector. If you're ready to trade your morning car-commute for a quick stroll over to your home computer, consider these unusual work-from-home possibilities.
1. Concierge
Ask for restaurant recommendations or directions at the Santa Clara Hyatt in California (or a growing number of other fine hotels), and you'll be directed to a flat screen mounted on the wall. Virtual concierges use videoconferencing technology to ask hotel guests about their interests and provide them with sightseeing tips, says Kate Lister, co-author of Undress For Success: The Naked Truth About Making Money At Home.
2. Catering manager
You might think it'd be impossible to work in food service remotely, but FlexJobs recently had a job listing from a national bagel chain for a telecommuting junior catering manager, reports FlexJobs CEO Sara Sutton Fell. The work involves coordinating banquet orders via phone and computer software, then traveling to job sites to oversee the actual events, with no office or commercial-kitchen time needed.
3. Online instructor
The rise of online classes and universities has meant a boom in teaching jobs you can do from home, says Fell. Recent FlexJobs listings have included an adjunct professor of opticianry and an instructor for a world religions course. If you've been teaching but want to skip the classroom-management problems and faculty-lunchroom drama, stay home and email your students about their online lessons.
4. Nonprofit executive director
To attract the best talent, a growing number of nonprofits are hiring executive directors and letting them work wherever they are, says Fell. If you have a management background and a passion for a cause, you may be able to combine them into a job that lets you do good – while also doing the laundry.
"Some are virtual organizations anyway," she says. "Nonprofits like the lower overhead costs."
5. Patient champion/patient advocate
Home-Based Business For Dummies authors Paul and Sarah Edwards noticed the emergence of this home-based job. Patient champions help ill people navigate the complexities of the healthcare system – calling doctors, obtaining copies of medical records, and accompanying patients on doctor visits. Often relatives don't live close, Paul Edwards notes, so they'll pay someone to make sure grandma is receiving appropriate care and understanding doctors' instructions.
"It's a great service," he says, "and there's a great need."
6. Virtual juror
If you're a person with strong opinions, you might make some quick cash serving as an independent juror. Virtual jurors help lawyers evaluate the strengths of their case before they take it to court. Some companies promise up to $60 a case – not bad for an hour's work at your computer. Major players in this space include Virtual Juror (www.virtualjuror.com) and Online Verdict (www.onlineverdict.com).
7. Golf instructor
Are you an experienced golf instructor who's tired of slogging around the course? Virtual instructors review video from golfers and then email or phone in tips on improving their swing. Fell's seen this one pop up on FlexJobs.
8. Virtual nurse
Registered nurses tired of working 12-hour shifts standing on their feet are taking advantage of booming opportunities in virtual nursing, says Undress for Success's Lister. In teletriage, nurses staff phone lines and take calls from people with health emergencies, helping them evaluate whether they need an immediate trip to the ER. Lister knows one insurer that offered a nurse-staffed chat line for pregnant mothers, helping them resolve minor issues without resorting to more-costly doctor visits.
"It saves the medical system a lot of money," she notes, "to contract with organizations that offer nursing support by phone."
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Sep 11th 2009 @ 7:26PM Arek Stefaniak
There is "NO SYSTEMS" of any kind.
Usually is call that way to looks "BIG"
Shame on creators especially Google with fake papers,
and advertisements which are made to get people out of work
attention.
Reply
Sep 15th 2009 @ 3:10PM mila
You are so right.
Sep 15th 2009 @ 3:27PM perri29
Hmmm, perhaps you wouldn't be out of work if you knew how to write.
Proof reading is dying art.
Sep 16th 2009 @ 10:51AM bg
I agree with you, this is a big scam. Anytime an prospective employer wants money in advance its a rip off. Shame on AOL!
Sep 11th 2009 @ 1:17PM Glo
The article doesn't say how to go about applying for these jobs, such as patient advocate.
Reply
Sep 15th 2009 @ 3:22PM Robin
go to the websites, or type in the information to begin the search.
Sep 15th 2009 @ 3:41PM rebecca
That's because this article is some sort of marketing gimic between AOL and Career Builder. None of it's real. The jury site wants you to give them $97.00 and patients already have advocates- they're called registered nurses... I expected this list to be another one paid for by University of Pheonix or some even lesser-credible online "school". This is just a bunch of crap.
Sep 21st 2009 @ 1:12PM Roberta E. Lewis
I am looking for a home based business concerning nurses. I have been a nurse 30 years, but because of an accident I am not able to continue normal duties as an RN. Please respond at your earliest convenience.
Bobbie Lewis
Sep 15th 2009 @ 7:15PM Jesulyn
I am interested on an Online Nurse position. I am an RN but is on disability. I want a job that I could at home.
Please respond.
Thanks,
Jesulyn,
Sep 17th 2009 @ 6:57PM Help4U Sue
Glo...I have worked from home for more than 10 years because I wanted to be home with my children. It was the best decision that I ever made. ( workathome4u.cjb.net ) has a FREE list of hundreds of legitimate work at home jobs. There are juror, concierge, and teaching jobs among many others that are listed on the website. These jobs do NOT cost you any money. They are employment positions. Good luck!
Sep 19th 2009 @ 8:22AM Nameless
Glo...I have worked from home for more than 10 years because I wanted to be home with my children. It was the best decision that I ever made. Workathome4u.cjb.net has a FREE list of hundreds of legitimate work at home jobs. There are juror, concierge, and teaching jobs among many others that are listed on the website. These jobs do NOT cost you any money. They are employment positions. Good luck!
Sep 12th 2009 @ 3:41AM Tarah
I am a single mom of one looking for a job like you were saying such as customer service or data entry for home. Do you think you could tell me what site you are working at? and does it pay good?
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Sep 15th 2009 @ 2:20PM josephine
I'm also a singel mom. Please if you find any information. Please e-mail me. Thank you so much
Sep 15th 2009 @ 3:29PM Brinda
Hi Tarah. I am not one of those people advertising how they made millions with such and such a job, I'm a real person, single, and just moved to a new town.
I hooked up with SnagaJob.com. filled out the profile, and specified what jobs I was looking for. The site will send emails to your email address (or one you create), with listings of jobs in the geographical area and the type of job you list that you are looking for. I found it to be very easy.
The day after I registered, I received a list of jobs in the Customer Service field, here in Kokomo, Indiana, (my new town) I filled out the application online, and have a job interiew Thursday of this week at Kmart, which is in walking distance of my apartment.
Just a suggestion, one single person to another, give it a try, and best of luck to you.
Blessings!!
Brinda
ldysnowhaw1@aol.com
Sep 15th 2009 @ 3:29PM Malia
I am yet another single mom looking for work that I could do out of my home due to the costs of daycare. I have not been very trusting of most of the jobs that you see come across the computer about working from home. I would love to have some reliable resources for clerical work or something comperable that I could do from home and actually trust.
Sep 15th 2009 @ 7:25PM Lynn
Tarah,
Hi. I actually came across a great company and income working from home. If you are interested, please send me a way to contact you personally. This is a 30 year old company with a great reputation and great people to work with. Lynn
Sep 17th 2009 @ 5:26PM BJ
It requires schooling, but learning closed-captioning is a booming and extremely well-paid profession. Talk about job security!
Oct 4th 2009 @ 7:16PM Me
Tarah
I just wanted to know if you were able to get a work at home position.
Oct 26th 2009 @ 7:08PM Jeanette
Hi Tarah,
I am a retired secretary and a Grandmother and I would love to find a work at home job, maybe data entry, to supplement my social security and be free to babysit my grandson.
I would greatly appreciate your assistance if you have any luck finding something. Two heads are better than one!
Thank you Tarah
Jeanette
Sep 12th 2009 @ 11:47AM chandan saud
You have mentioned about some nice work at home program. It is hard to find out legitimate work at home jobs. Freelancing writing job are some best legitimate work at home jobs.
Legitimate work at home jobs
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