I think it’s fair to say not everyone sets out to work from home. And yet with the UK still under lockdown, remote working is the ‘new normal’ for many office workers. Maybe you’ve considered a work-from-home job yourself, only to be disappointed by a slew of vague (and occasionally dodgy) online opportunities.
Rest assured, there are legitimate work-from-home jobs out there. Whether you’re looking for a side hustle or hoping to kickstart your home-working career, here are some ideas of what’s out there.
Note: When looking for remote work, be wary of anything that boasts ‘up to’ a certain salary… these earnings are usually prospective and subject to what work is available.
Audio transcription
If you can touch-type and don’t mind proofreading your own work, you could be great at producing transcripts or video captions. Transcription tends to pay according to the length of the recording and sometimes how many speakers are involved. This means you’ll be remunerated a set rate no matter how much time you spend working on it, so it really does pay to be both speedy and accurate.
Remote transcription work is typically done on a freelance basis. You might be expected to pick up work from a ‘pool’ of assignments, while some companies ask you to commit to a certain number of shifts a week. I really like Rev for their flexibility – you can work full-time if there’s enough work available, but there are no penalties for taking a week off. Win-win!
Online tutoring via Skype
Private online tutoring is a popular job amongst students, owing to its geographical flexibility and the ability to choose your own hours. And like transcriptionists, online tutors can pick up valuable skills for their CV – communication and empathy, to name a few.
Tutoring, as opposed to teaching, doesn’t require a standard qualification. A degree is often preferred, as the role requires specialist knowledge in your subject area, and you’ll typically be tutoring school-age children. Tutorful and MyTutor have good reviews from tutors and parents alike.
Proofreading
Some publishing houses hire proofreaders to work remotely rather than inhouse. Proofreaders check the spelling and grammar of all kinds of different work, from technical documents to marketing copy. Typically, you’ll need to pass an assessment to be considered. If successful, you’ll be expected to consistently follow an inhouse style guide and work to deadlines. You’ll need a keen eye for detail and the ability to give feedback constructively and tactfully.
The Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading is a professional body that offers training and support for those interested in a proofreading career. If you can’t find work with a publishing house, consider using Fiverr or PeoplePerHour to pick up freelance work.
Flexjobs is a jobs board specifically for remote and flexible work opportunities.
Graduate jobs
The impact on the graduate labour market is irrefutable, but companies are adapting, with many employers choosing to fill vacancies remotely. I’ve noticed an increase in full-time, permanent, remote positions listed on Indeed, particularly in Information and Communication. Keep an eye out for news stories about which employers are embracing home working.
There are some great benefits to working from home and we may well see the tide turning. Not so long ago, Twitter announced that employees could choose to work from home indefinitely, while Google extended its work-from-home policy for the rest of the year. Remote work was on the rise before the pandemic – it wouldn’t be surprising to see it increase further, becoming a new norm. Who knows how many of us will have home offices this time next year?
If you want to talk about your career options, drop us an email: careers@bath.ac.uk 😊
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