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In today’s post, we are looking at some easy online jobs for those in need of a flexible schedule and little in the way of experience requirements.
Whether you’re a stay-at-home mom who hasn’t done any office work in a while or you’re 18 and just started college, you may worry the work-at-home life isn’t for you. Not because you don’t have the time or temperament. But because you’re worried you don’t have enough experience to land a work-from-home job or, if you do, that the work won’t be easy enough to slip in around a long day with the kids or all your classes.
I’ve got some great news for you. Not only is there a work-from-home job out there for you, but there’s an easy one or an entry-level one that will suit your lifestyle and your experience level. Let me break down 8 job types for you that could work.
1. Microtasks
Have you heard of microtasks? They’re brief, easy tasks that can’t be automated – they need a human to do them. It could be tagging elements in a photograph, doing some data entry, checking the price on something, finding some information, etc.
As an independent contractor, you decide which micro jobs you want to do and complete these tiny gigs for a small fee. They don’t pay much, but they’re easy to do – get a gig in while the kids are eating or you’re taking a break or even while running your errands.
There are some microtasks with a real-world component, where you might be asked to check a company’s product appearance in a specific retail store and take a picture. Check out my post on Micro Jobs or get started at one of these sites:
Amazon mTurk
Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) is a crowdsourcing platform that allows people to outsource their microtasks to virtual workers. With thousands of available tasks, it is easy to get started working on the job boards. Simply sign up and then make money by completing short tasks in your spare time.
Clickworker
Clickworker is a micro-tasking marketplace that allows people to do a variety of small jobs. Tasks might include creating or correcting texts, participating in surveys, or searching for data and organizing it. To work as a Clickworker, sign up for free. All you need is a computer with an internet connection. You must earn at least $10 before you can transfer the money to your bank account.
Figure Eight
Figure Eight is a subsidiary of Appen. It combines human and machine intelligence to complete microtasks. To become a Figure Eight contributor, all you have to do is sign up for free. You can complete tasks that you want to do when you want to.
2. Search Engine Evaluation
Even Google needs some help making sure their search results are relevant, which is why there are several companies out there that specialize in search engine evaluation. To do this gig, you generally just need to be familiar with how to use the Internet and know a lot about pop culture.
The company will provide you with guidelines to use when evaluating search results, and tell you what keywords to search for results review. The pay can actually be decent for these jobs, but you’re still an independent contractor and how much work there is available varies. If this sounds like something you’d like to do, check out my post with everything you need to know. Then see if these companies are hiring:
Appen
Appen is one of the well-known companies that have a wide variety of independent contractor positions. One position is as a search engine evaluator, which requires you to commit to working 20 hours a week. However, you are allowed to be flexible in the times that you choose to work as long as you work four hours a day, five days a week. To qualify, you should have a general knowledge of search engines, attention to detail, and the ability to follow directions.
Lionbridge
Lionbridge is another crowdsourcing company that utilizes workers from around the world for many different positions. One such role is a search engine evaluator, which allows you to work remotely. The hours will fluctuate between 10 to 20 hours a week, but you can work them when you choose. To qualify, you must have lived in the US for the past five years, be up-to-date on current and historical business, media, social media, sports, news, and cultural affairs in the US. You must also have a PC and a smartphone to test search results.
iSoftStone
ISoftStone is a Chinese company that specializes in application, cloud, and mobility services. When hired by this company, you might be working in a variety of industries, including technology, healthcare, or the public sector. As an online evaluator, you will analyze search results for relevancy and quality. Each task should be completed within ten seconds to one minute. While the schedule is flexible, you must commit to 10 hours per week, with a maximum of 25 hours. You must have a native level of English, reside permanently in the US, and have a computer that runs Windows OS. You should also have strong computer and communication details and be able to manage your time efficiently.
3. Data Entry
If you want an easy online job, data entry is one of the most popular. As long as you can follow instructions and type accurately and efficiently, you can do data entry. You should also have a high tolerance for repetition as well since you’re going to be doing the same things over and over again.
If you have access to common programs like Microsoft Office or G Suite and a computer keyboard with a number pad, you’re pretty much golden. While data entry may be easy, it also doesn’t tend to pay well: if you find a data entry job that does, you can expect fierce competition to land the job.
Check out my post for 10 legit data entry jobs, or head over to these companies to see if they’re hiring for data entry:
Axion Data Entry Services
Legitimate data entry jobs can be hard to come by, and the jobs at Axion Data Entry Services are no exception. The company rarely has positions open, but you can sign up and be alerted when a job does open up. However, to enter your name into the database, you must pay a small fee between $5 and $10 to keep your profile active. To qualify, you must have two to three years of data entry experience, and be able to type 50 words per minute with no errors. You also need a computer with a strong internet connection. All candidates must pay for and pass a background check.
Birch Creek Communications
Data entry jobs at Birch Creek Communications are also rarely available, but when they are available, they offer flexible work hours. All you need is a computer with a strong internet connection and availability during the weekdays.
DionData Solutions
DionData Solutions is a data management provider that hires independent contractors to complete data entry tasks. The company has work available 24-7, and you can work any hours that you choose. To qualify, you must have basic computer skills, be able to download and upload files and type 60 words per minute error-free.
DionData Solutions does not have any data entry jobs available at the moment. However, keep checking back on the website to see if any positions open up.
4. Transcription
Are you a great listener? Good! That and solid typing skills are the basic requirements to becoming a transcriptionist online. Generally, you should type at least 60 WPM, and you should be able to type efficiently and accurately. While listening and typing is pretty easy work out of the gate, you will likely have a set of guidelines you need to follow to the letter. But once you get those guidelines down, you can settle in and let your fingers do the talking.
It doesn’t take much equipment to get started. Your home computer must be able to play audio files and most companies use transcription software that is available for free. Having a good set of computer headphones will help you better hear your audio files. Some positions additionally recommend a foot pedal which can help increase your production, but this can usually come later.
There tend to be quite a few entry-level positions available and, as you gain experience, you can move up to better-paying transcription gigs. You can make even more if you eventually specialize in medical or legal transcription. Check out my resources for landing transcription jobs from home, or head immediately over to these companies:
Rev.com
Rev.com is a company that allows people to work from home as transcribers. To apply, you must sign up and pass a grammar quiz and submit a transcript sample to prove your skills. Within 48 hours, you will know if you got hired or not. If hired, you can choose between the hundreds of jobs as available and can work as much or as little as you want. Every Monday, you get paid via PayPal, with the average monthly earnings at $245.
3Play Media
3Play Media provides transcription jobs. To be hired, you must first pass a series of skill and proficiency tests. All candidates must be able to types at least 75 WPM accurately and be proficient with internet research. Depending on how fast and accurate you are, you can earn between $10 and $30 an hour. Bonus if you are experienced in Excel.
AccuTran Global
AccuTran Global is a company that offers transcription and other related services to clients around the world. The company uses North American remote contractors to complete the work. To be hired, you must pass a transcription test and have access to a computer and reliable internet connection. Once you claim a job, you must finish the work as quickly as possible. Therefore, this job is not ideal for caretakers who might get called away from their work with no warning.
5. Teaching English
I know what you’re thinking, but it’s true – teaching English online absolutely belongs on a list of easy online jobs. If you’re a native speaker of English, you are most likely able to teach conversational English as a Second Language with any number of online companies. This is because your students are using your native speaking performance as a basic lesson itself and any more formal lesson is layered on top of that.
Many ESL tutoring sites provide everything you need in the way of lesson plans, and you just follow along. In order to teach, you’ll generally need a home computer that can do video chat along with noise-canceling headphones with a microphone. Some companies require you have a college degree. Find out more in my Teach English Online post, or click through to see if these sites are hiring right away:
Education First
Education First (EF) hires English teachers from the US and UK to teach Chinese children online. You must have a bachelor’s degree as well as some related experience. A TEFL certificate is preferred. As an online English teacher, you can make between $12 – $19 an hour. Learn more here.
Magic Ears
Magic Ears pairs up native English speakers from Canada or the US with Chinese students. As an English teacher, you might have four children in each 25-minute long class. The students will range in age from 4 to 12. The company provides all teaching materials, but you need to review them all first. No teaching experience is required, but you will have to hold a Bachelor’s degree. Teachers receive between $18-26 per hour, and you must pass a background check and sign a 6-month contract. Learn more here.
Cambly
Started by two ex-Google employees, Cambly pays English speakers to hold short conversations with ESL students around the world. Most tutors come from the US, Canada, UK, Australia, and other English-speaking countries. Each lesson is “free talk,” with no required lesson plans. All Cambly tutors earn $.17 for each minute they spend talking, which works out to $10.20 an hour. The platform pays its tutors every Monday via PayPal. Learn more here.
6. Research
Curiosity is great for learning about the world – and when you make your curiosity into work, you get to call it research and charge a fee! If you enjoy just researching and learning new things, you can find remote jobs that will pay you to either do research and compile data or answer specific questions their clients have. You can do general research or get hyper-specific – for example, in the right location, you could become a court researcher.
While you don’t necessarily need much experience to become a researcher, earning the best pay comes from specializing in an area you have some expertise in. And while you may find the research easy, know that you will likely have a set of guidelines to follow. Get the details on my Get Paid to Be A Know-It-All post, and see if the following are hiring:
Clarity
Clarity is a platform that allows you to get paid for your professional advice. Through the platform, you are be talking in one-on-one phone calls with a variety of people, including entrepreneurs, freelancers, business owners, and executives. You can set your own rate, but the average per minute is $1.60.
StudyPool
StudyPool hires independent remote tutors to help students with their homework. As a tutor, you can choose to answer questions and offer to help students. You get to set your own rates and schedule, and you will get your payment when you have finished helping the student.
Wonder
Wonder has become one of the most popular companies to answer questions for. Clients are invited to submit questions, and then Wonder researchers look up at least five quality sources that answer that question. The researchers then condense those sources into an answer for the clients. To become a researcher, you must first pass a quiz and complete a sample assignment. Researchers set their own schedule and can work when they want.
7. Writing
If you enjoy writing and have great grammar skills, this one’s an easy online job for sure – all it takes is time. One of the best parts of building your online career on writing is setting your own rates and choosing what you want to write about. Or even what type of writing you want to do – you can write grant proposals, nonfiction articles, and manuals or you can ghostwrite books or blog posts. You can even get creative and write fiction or start your own blog.
Each type of writing has its perks and drawbacks and there is also great variation in how much money you can make in each field. If you’d like to learn more about freelance writing, just check out my posts on the topic. Here are a few to get you started:
- The Ultimate List of Where to Find Jobs Writing from Home
- Freelance Writing Jobs for Beginners: Everything You Need to Know
- How to Start A Blog and Make Money in 7 Steps
These sound easy enough, right? I hope I’ve given you the inspiration and the confidence to get out there and find yourself one of these online jobs today! Come back and tell me when you do.
First published July 2018. Updated July 2019.
