So you want to work from home, but you have no idea what type of work from home job would be ideal for you.
There are so many different types of work from home jobs — call center work, writing, transcription, virtual assisting, moderation, etc., that it can be a little overwhelming thinking about what sort of work to pursue.
Below is a list of different types of personality traits and skills that many people possess.
I realize that you may have more than one of these traits and that could make it difficult to narrow things down to just one type of work, but hopefully the list below will get you thinking and give you a little direction if you're confused about what to pursue.
Are You a People Person?
If dealing directly with other people comes naturally to you, or you're one of those people who has never met a stranger, there are a few different work from home industries you may be a fit for.
Consider phone work, virtual assisting, or possibly direct sales. See more jobs for extroverts here.
Are You a People Person Who Needs a Non-Phone Job?
If you don't mind dealing with people, but you have a noisy background or some other reason why you can't talk directly to people day to day, there are some other options.
Consider chat/email jobs or moderation work.
Are You an Introvert?
If you're shy or just don't like to deal with people, there are some home-based jobs where your interaction with others is either minimal or non-existent.
Consider search engine evaluation, freelance writing, transcription, or work at home data entry jobs. See more jobs for introverts here.
Are You a Grammar & Spelling Pro?
Does it drive you crazy when you spot spelling and grammar errors that your friends make on Facebook, or when you're reading blog posts online? Were you the kid who always got A's in your reading and grammar classes or won spelling bees?
Consider freelance writing, proofreading/editing, or transcription work. You may also want to consider going into business for yourself as a court transcript proofreader.
Are you Great at Research and Navigating the Internet?
Do you research everything you hear about, or are you the person your friends turn to when they want to know more about a subject because they know you can research it better than they can?
Consider search engine evaluation, freelance writing, or transcription. You may also want to read this post I wrote for people who want to work at home and are excellent at doing online research.
Are You Thick-Skinned?
Are you one of those people that just lets everything roll off your shoulders? Can you handle getting yelled at by complete strangers multiple times in an eight hour period without it ruining your day?
Consider telemarketing or customer service phone jobs.
Are You a Natural-Born Sales Person?
If you're excellent at convincing people to buy things or sign up for various programs, you'll be happy to know there are quite a few things you can do from home using your sales skills to your advantage.
Consider telemarketing, copywriting, affiliate marketing, or direct sales.
Do You Enjoy Doing the Same Thing Over and Over Again?
There are some people who actually enjoy monotonous work where they do the exact same thing over and over.
If this sounds like you, you may like search evaluation, data entry, or short tasks. Transcription may be another option. If you work as a transcriber, you'll have to listen to the same audio files over and over again.
Do You Prefer Doing Work Where Every Day Is Different?
Some people can't stand monotony and slowly start to go insane when they are forced to do the same exact task for hours on end.
If you crave variety in a job, you may want to consider virtual assisting, or, if you happen to have a way with words, writing work where you're not always writing about and researching the exact same topics might be something to consider.
Do You Want to Work For Yourself?
Some people thrive doing their own thing and don't take orders from others too well. If that sounds like you, there are ways to work from home without really having a boss or anyone to answer to.
Consider starting your own home-based business, writing e-books, blogging, or going into direct sales. Keep in mind that doing your own thing is very rewarding and fun, but it does usually take time to build these things up into an income you can live off of.
I hope this gets you thinking if you're feeling confused about what sorts of home-based jobs to pursue.
Ready to Start Searching?
If you're ready to start actively searching for work at home jobs, I recommend checking my jobs board and also getting a membership at FlexJobs (use promo code AFFILPROMO for up to 30 percent off) where you can find hundreds of guaranteed legitimate home-based leads posted five days a week.
I'd also recommend signing up for our work at home newsletter. It's free and goes out three times a week. If you don't see anything above that feels right, you might find something we've listed that will!
Good luck!
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Thank you!
Anna Thurman is a work at home blogger and mom of two. She has been researching and reviewing remote jobs for over 13 years. Her findings are published weekly here at Real Ways to Earn.
I just want to thank you for this article because I have been trying to find work online and I have no clue on what I could be good at I have tried a couple of things but I would like to make a little bit more money and this actually gives me an insight to what I can really do just by looking up my personality thank you.
You’re welcome, good luck to you!
Does anyone know of any voiceover work that actually pays?
This company, Filmless, has been hiring a lot for voice over work recently:
https://www.smartrecruiters.com/Filmless/84755787-freelance-voice-over-artist
True enough! I’ve done work I wasn’t well suited for and even been fairly successful in some cases, but it is a whole lot more fun to do work you love!
Great post, Anna.
This is a great article. I think maybe one has to also be open to trying things they never tried before. In other words don’t read a job listing and say whoa I can’t do that. Read a job listing and think hmm…maybe I can do that. I found wah jobs that I never thought I would be any good at but was told I was a natural at it. I surprised myself. Also look for jobs where no one else is looking. I made up a flier about me and a list of things I can do to assist companies. About a mile or two away from my home there is a business park made up of different types of companies. Some are manufacturing companies, one processed rebates but there were over 100 companies to take my flier to. I took my flier there and left them with the HR office of each of the companies. Attached to the flier was my cover letter and resume. I was able to pick up work from 3 different companies. Sometimes it’s good to think out of the box when you are looking for a work from home job. Dare to be a little different and see if it works for you. It did for me! 🙂