Is going in to the office a thing of the past? If you work from home, can you really earn enough to sustain yourself?
Though traditionally associated with white-collar professionals or seasoned tech experts, remote jobs are actually more accessible than you might think, regardless of your field of expertise. In fact, this working model could even be considered more ideal for workers who are younger and less experienced.
Is this something that people really want?
The norm for centuries has always been to go out of your home for work but in this digital era, is that still necessary? Naturally, the answer to this would depend on the type of field you are in. However, a survey about remote work statistics by FlexJobs recently found that around 80% of Gen Z and 76% of Millennials say they are more productive working from home than in the office. The survey also noted that while Millennials prefer a fully remote setup for work/life balance and flexibility, Gen Z seemed to show preference for a hybrid remote work arrangement.
Flexibility of schedule aside, the benefits to this kind of work arrangement are plenty. Companies would not have to pay rental for office spaces and fuel costs would also be minimal. Less travelling would also mean less traffic on the roads which would lead to lower carbon emissions.
How to work from home – no experience needed
Finding a new job is quite the daunting task, be it remote or in-person, whether you have experience or not. However, there are a fair amount of options to work remotely even if you are just starting out in your career.
Entry-level remote jobs with established companies do tend to require in-office training, unfortunately. Hybrid work arrangements that skew more remote are also quite a rare commodity in the current job market. However, there is a work around if you are motivated enough.
Freelancing is an excellent alternative that allows you to work from home with even more flexibility than a remote job with a company. You decide your own terms, working hours, and of course, your own workspace. Presumably each client will come with its own challenges but this will only help you grow both your business and your skills. Since everything is riding on yourself, you will be compelled to engage critically, leverage your creativity, and above all, always update your skillset. This may sound like a lot of effort but it will be extremely worthwhile in the long run.
Entry-level remote jobs to keep an eye out for
Remote Virtual Assistant
Attention to detail and project management skills are key for a remote virtual assistant. This job will have you providing support for small businesses in the form of itinerary planning, booking calls with clients, responding to clients on the company’s behalf, and other admin related matters.
Remote SEO Optimization Specialist
SEO (search engine optimization) skills can be learnt easily and practically for free online using sources such as HubSpot Academy, Ahref’s SEO course for beginners, and Coursera. Practice your skills on family and friends with small business and get their business pages on the first page of Google. Take screenshots to build your portfolio for future clients.
Remote Copywriter
If you have a knack for writing, then this is right up your alley and requires no previous experience. All you have to do is pick a niche that you are comfortable with or knowledgeable in when starting out and let the words flow. A blog is a good starting point as it can also serve as a portfolio to show to potential clients. Other specialization include writing copy for websites and emails, editing and proofreading, or even producing copy for products.