If you have ever considered telecommuting there are more opportunities than ever to work in the virtual environment. Established employers use virtual work teams with employees all over the world to complete projects. Resources like Skype and Web conferencing services have allowed people to collaborate effectively across distances. Even software is more useful for multiple collaborations and many free resources, like Google docs, let you share files virtually.
Global Competition
The opening of virtual doors does have its down side. Faster internet speeds and increased access to the internet have created competition for jobs from around the world. This often means you are competing for U.S. dollars with others who can afford to work for far less because of favorable exchange rates. There are plenty of foreign employers seeking U.S. workers with industry knowledge and skills so cost is not the only thing employers are considering.
Avoiding Scams and Employers That Don’t Pay
We are all familiar with work from home scams, and unfortunately there are no shortage of scams and fraudsters on the virtual job scene. Always make sure you check out your potential employer as much as possible before beginning a job including a Google search. Often times if an employer frequently avoids payment someone will have posted a warning. If the employer is a U.S. company you can check with the secretary of state where the company was incorporated to make sure they are in good standing.
If you are dealing with an unknown employer, make arrangements to do small projects at first so you know if the employer is trustworthy and will pay you. Use a site like the Odesk which guarantees hourly rates will be paid if your work is documented using their tools. Keep track of your hours and make sure you can document the work you have done and this should reduce any disagreements with employers over payment.
Avoid Web sites like craigslist and anything with “work from home” in the name of the website. There may be actual virtual jobs on these sites, but not very likely. Fraudsters troll these free resources, so be careful if you respond to any job postings and do not give personal information without knowing who you are dealing with first. If you work as an independent contractor consider getting a tax identification number which is separate from your social security number to give to employers.
Types of Virtual Jobs
So, what kind of jobs can be done in a virtual environment? Technical jobs such as website design, software programming and website optimization are obvious candidates for the virtual job market, but there are many opportunities even for non-technical workers. Paralegals, virtual assistants, customer service representatives, attorneys, bookkeepers, accountants, tax preparers, bankers, human resource professionals and project managers all have the ability to work for employers around the world.
If you are interested in seeing what telecommuting opportunities are available here are a few resources that offer virtual or telecommuting opportunities:
Some of these websites require a paid membership. You can also search for the keywords virtual or telecommute on any major job board for positions which may have the flexibility to be done from another location. If you are currently employed by a national or an international company look for internal job postings and speak to the human resource department about telecommuting opportunities. More employers are seeing the benefits of virtual workforces and if you show an interest they may be willing to try telecommuting, even if it’s only a few days a week.
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