My Data Entry and Computer
Skills are Weak - Can I Work From Home?
by Barb Niehaus
Every week I receive dozens of
emails from my readers posing these very questions.
Generally they're from moms that have dropped out of the
workforce for varying lengths of time to raise their family.
Their data entry skills are rusty and they use their
computer mainly for email transmission. They are eager for a
weekly paycheck again but fear there is nothing available to
them without these skills.
I assure them that work-at-home
opportunities abound! For those seeking non-clerical
employment, here's a sampling of jobs that I run across
daily in my search for telecommuting listings to post in my
WAH newsletter.
1) Web Guides - the need for these
are dramatically rising. Specialized sites require
knowledgeable personnel to constantly update and maintain
information for site visitors. Example: About.com will pay
you to to write articles, respond to email inquiries and
post links to your specialized topic. Be it small business to
cooking to crafting, if you have a passion or consider
yourself an expert on a subject, this may be right up your
alley. Parenting and child sites are good avenues to explore
for Guide positions.
2) Proofing and Editing positions -
with the influx of online newsletters, the demand for this
service will increase. If grammar, punctuation and writing
are your strengths, this is certainly an area to
investigate.
3) Translation - the
ever-increasing mobile society has created a huge need for
those of you who are bi-lingual. Put your language skills to
work for you. Any search engine will provide you with a list
of potential employers when you type in the keywords
'translation services'.
4) Crafty? Locate an online craft
boutique. Some offer the craft consignor 80% of the selling
price.
5) Tutoring -like to help others?
Have a degree? Online tutoring is a win-win situation for
both parties - those in need of assistance and those willing
to share their knowledge and time.
6) Writing- feel strongly about a
subject? Get paid for putting your words on paper. Generally
the pay is low for amateur writers but with some exposure
and experience, who knows?
7) Newsletters- offer your
expertise in an area with online readers who share your
interests.
8) Sales- yes, sales. No cold
calling on the Web. Start an online boutique or mall. There
are plenty of no-cost online malls that you can create. Free
website and assistance is provided in many instances.
Granted, the majority of WAH jobs
listed on the Internet are for those with polished data
entry and computer skills but for those of us who skipped
Typing 101 in high school, our options are many, also. With
time and patience, your work at home job search will prove
to be successful!