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Looking for an online job where you can work from home, or from anywhere in the world for that matter?
There are more opportunities for online jobs today than ever before. Even jobs that were traditionally only available in-person have made the shift to virtual.
So, if you want an online job, chances are that you’ll find one. Enjoy this ultimate guide to where to get an online job.
Why Work Online?
When the coronavirus pandemic forced companies around the world to close their offices, workers had to give working a home job a try. Yet many job seekers discovered that working from home works really well for their lifestyle. For some folks, it makes childcare easier, and for others it saves on travel costs.
In fact, now that some offices are reopening, many workers are opting out of the office. Out of all the American workers currently working from home, 61% of them are working from home by choice.
Pros of working online:
- Less distractions than in the office (can lead to higher levels of productivity)
- Better work/life balance
- Less stress from commuting
- More job opportunities (no longer limited by geographic location)
- Opportunity to save money on gas, professional wardrobe, lunch, and more
- Better for the environment (less cars on the road)
- Customizable home office space (ergonomic work chair or desk, etc.)
- More time for physical activity
Cons of working online:
- Less distinction between work spaces and relaxing spaces
- Potential for workaholics to never stop working
- Potential for isolation and loneliness
- Some people can be distracted by the TV and/or kitchen
- Need for self discipline
- Home job office costs
- Less office perks
- Workplace disconnect
While there are pros and cons to working an online job, if you have considered both sides and still want one, you’re in luck — they’re everywhere. Keep reading to learn about the different kinds of online jobs and where you can find them.
Types of Online Jobs
You might be on the hunt for an online job or a way to make money online, but do you know what kind you want? Here are the differences between side hustles, freelancing, and part-time and full-time jobs.
Online Side Hustles
Side hustles and gigs are online jobs that you do on the side of full-time employment. These can range from hobby side hustles (like selling your crafts on Etsy) to transcribing audio files.
Benefits of online side hustles:
- Flexible schedule
- Little to no skills required
- Improve your finances
- Monetize your hobby
- Earn passive income
Side hustles can be an excellent way to save some extra money for investing, sustaining the lifestyle you want, or saving up for a big purchase. They typically have flexible hours, so you can make some extra cash whenever you feel like it.
10 Online Side Hustle Ideas
- Transcribe audio files with TranscribeMe! or Rev.
- Teach English online with VIPKid, Cambly, or Preply.
- Take online surveys with Swagbucks, Survey Junkie, or InboxDollars.
- Become an Amazon seller.
- Create and sell an online course.
- Resell concert tickets on StubHub.
- Resell domains.
- Sell crafts or vintage finds on Etsy.
- Sell used goods on eBay, Craigslist, or Facebook Marketplace.
- Join online focus groups with User Interviews.
Learn More:
Freelancing
Freelancing can also be a side gig, or your full time job, but what distinguishes it from general side hustles is that you typically run your own business.
Benefits of freelancing:
- Set your own rates
- Work whenever you want
- Create your own job description
- Decide who you want to work with
- Control your workload
- Independence
- Variety of work
Whether you offer editing services or graphic design, your freelance business can bring in some serious dough. In fact, the number of freelancers earning six figures or more grew 70% from 2011 to 2018. If you are strategic and organized, there’s no reason why you also couldn’t build a six-figure freelancing business.
Businesses hire freelancers when they:
- Want to save money
- Need a specialized skill their staff members don’t have
- Are looking for high quality work
- Need a quick turnaround
- Need a fresh perspective
10 Freelance Business Ideas
If you can develop a specialized skillset and begin offering your services, you can attract a lot of business. Here are some online business ideas to get you started.
- Social media manager
- SEO consulting
- Digital marketing and advertising
- Online freelance writing jobs
- Translation
- Graphic design
- Web design and development
- Accounting
- Video editing
- Photography
Some other ideas include starting a blog, and once you have a big enough following, getting set up with affiliate marketing. You’ll be able to earn commission for every sale made through links on your blog. By the way, this is a great passive income opportunity.
To get started as a freelancer, pick an online freelancer platform. Or sign up for all of them:
- Fiverr
- Upwork
- Jooble
- Freelancer.com
Part-Time Online Job
This type of online job is part-time, but you have an employer. Think: part-time work at the local bagel shop, but online. So, you could work for any kind of employer, the only requirement is that all of the work you do can be done at home.
Benefits of part-time online work:
- More regular income (than freelancing)
- More free time (than a full-time job)
- Better work/life balance (than a full-time job)
- Make more money (if you have multiple part-time jobs)
10 Part-Time Online Jobs that Require Little to No Skills
- Chat support representative
- Customer service representative
- Bookkeeper
- Data entry job
- Comment moderator
- Medical coder
- Search engine evaluator
- Online tutor
- Virtual assistant
- Transcriber
A great place to find part-time online work is through FlexJobs, which offers vetted online job opportunities for people with any kind of experience.
Another place to look is any regular job board like Indeed. Just make sure to adjust the search to include your parameters: “part-time” and “remote.” Even a college student can find online part-time jobs this way.
Full-Time Online Job
This type of online job is the most traditional of the four. This is just a regular old job, with a 40-hour work week and a regular paycheck and/or salary.
Benefits of a full-time online job:
- Regular income and salary
- Benefits (401K, health insurance)
- Paid time off
- Fixed work schedule and routine
- Professional training opportunities
To find a full-time online job, all you need to do is apply to jobs you find on Indeed or other job search sites, and just check to see if the employer requires you to go into the office or not.
Because you will be a remote worker, you can work for a company in a different state, or even country, vastly increasing the number of jobs you can apply to.
There is no end to the kinds of remote work you can find, considering most full-time jobs can be done on a computer with wifi access.
10 Full-Time Online Job Boards
- FlexJobs
- Indeed
- Google for Jobs
- ZipRecruiter
- CareerBuilder
- Monster
- Snagajob
- Nexxt
- We Work Remotely
Some of these job boards will allow you to set up a job alert when job postings that fit your skills and preferences are posted. This way, you can apply quickly and before other qualified applicants.
Learn More:
What to Look for in an Online Job
As you can see, there are a lot of options available if you want an online job. But what should you look for in an online job? What does the best online job for you look like?
After you have decided what kind of online job you’re interested in (be it side hustles, freelancing, part-time, or full-time work), what else should you figure out?
Here are some things to look for:
- Is this a legit online job opportunity? Keep an eye out for scams and multi-level marketing schemes.
- Is the job fully remote? Clarify this with your employer before you sign anything!
- Do you need to work during certain times of the day?
- Will you be paid hourly or per project?
- How much money will you make? If you make more than $400 per year, you’ll need to pay income taxes.
- Is there room for growth or even increases in salary?
- Will you be required to spend time on the phone, or is the job computer-based?
The answers to these questions are helpful things to find out before you decide to start a new online job. But really, the best answers depend on what you prefer.
Maybe you prefer spending time talking on the phone, having a regular 9 to 5 work day, and getting paid hourly. If you find an online job that checks off those boxes, congratulations! It sounds like it would be a great fit.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How Do You Design Your Resume If You Have Little to No Experience?
Side hustles and freelance gigs don’t typically require a resume, but most online part-time and full-time jobs do. If you don’t have a resume filled with lots of relevant experience, what can you do to land the online job of your dreams?
Here are some no-experience resume tips:
- Use the reverse chronological format.
- Use bullet points for descriptions.
- Be precise, clear, and simple.
- Focus on your education and any relevant classes you took.
- Include internships, skills, and projects you have worked on.
- Include any hobbies, languages, achievements, and certifications you have.
- Focus on writing a killer cover letter that explains your resume and why you’re a great fit.
How Do You Approach a Company about Online Work?
If you are applying for an online job, all you need to do is get the job and you’ll be able to work from home. But if you currently have a part- or full-time job that is conducted entirely (or partially) in person, and you want to switch to work fully online, what do you do?
The first thing you should do is prepare solid reasons for why it will benefit the company if you work from home.
How much more work will you get done without the distractions of office politics? How much money will they save on gas reimbursement?
Next, set up a conversation with your supervisor or boss.
Tell them about your research. It’s very possible that they will be receptive to your ideas about working remotely.
And if not… well, you could always find a different online job that respects you work/life balance better!
What Are the Best Ways to Find a Remote Job with Little Experience?
If you’re looking for a remote job, but don’t have any experience, you’re in luck. A ton of online jobs don’t require a lot of experience.
A good place to start looking for job opportunities is to see if any online side hustles interest you. Jobs like taking online surveys and selling items on Amazon or eBay don’t require many skills and can definitely pay off.
But if you’re looking for something that pays higher with more regular work, you could consider becoming a freelancer and gaining experience through low-paying jobs.
For example, if you want to become a freelance graphic designer, you could start off by offering really cheap — or even free — designs to local businesses.
If the business is happy with your final product, you could ask them for a short testimonial. And just like that, you have some experience! As you build up more of a client base, you will have more and more experience, and be able to raise your rates.
Another option is to advance your education to learn all the skills you’ll need for a job you want. This way, if an employer asks you about any relevant experience (and you have none), you can speak at length about the new skills you have acquired in the field.
You can also look for entry-level positions, which typically don’t require any experience. These positions tend to pay less, but will train you in what you need to do the job well. After a year or two in this entry-level job, you can begin to climb the employment ladder.
The Bottom Line
Whether your motivation for wanting online work is so that you can spend more time with your fluffy dog, or so that you can focus more fully on your work, remote work is everywhere.
All you need to do is decide what kind of work you want to do and begin your job search!
And remember: if you can’t find the right job for you, you can always create it by starting a freelancing business.
Whatever you decide to do, we know you will be able to get an online job. So go get it!