Types of jobs. Main focus: Call Center/Phone jobs

There are work at home jobs available in many fields.  Just a few I can think of off of the top of my head are:

• Call Center work (customer service, sales, tech support and surveys)
• Transcription
• Medical Billing
• Internet Quality Rater
• Data Entry
• Writing
• Teaching
• Mystery Shopping

In this post I will go over the basic requirements for a Call Center/Phone job.

If the job entails working with customer's financial or personal information, the employer usually requires the have all "wired" office equipment.

• LAN telephone line (not Magicjack, viop or cell phone)
• DSL or Cable internet (not a wireless connection)
• Corded headset
• Corded telephone (no cordless phone)

Employers have different computer requirements.  A computer that is 2 years old or newer should meet employer's requirements.  Most have specific minimum requirements for computer speed, hard drive, memory and monitor.   Having the newest version of windows is not always the best when working from home.  I find more employers that require Windows XP rather than Windows Vista.  You need to check technology requirements when applying for specific jobs and make sure you are qualified before going through hours filling out forms and taking pre-employment tests.

Another basic most employers require is a

• Quiet office with a closing door, free of noise, barking dogs, crying babies, television noise, or ANY background noise.

Most employers are VERY strict on this rule.  This will eliminate phone jobs for some individuals.  The only exception I know of are mystery shopping telephone jobs and apartment surveys with Pierce Eislen that I posted earlier today.

As far as experience is concerned, most employers require at least 6 months of call center experience.  The more the job pays, the more experience (and sometimes education) they will require.  Some require specific licenses, such as, insurance sales.  

Some employers require the employee to pay for the background check, credit check or drug screening.  This is becoming pretty standard for work at home companies. But not all require this.  You can always look on my favorite website www.workplacelikehome.com (click on forum) and see if others have experience in the hiring practices for the company you are looking at.

Here is a great tool to use when looking for a call center job.  This is from another work at home website called Rat Race Rebellion.  They have compiled a great list of companies that includes some important things you may wonder about like:  pay, employee or independent contractor, background check/drug test/credit check required, and which states they hire in.

http://www.ratracerebellion.com/CS_Comparison.html