THESE ONLINE COMPANIES PAY YOU TO LEARN FROM HOME

Working from home sounds like the perfect situation when you have children.

You don't have to commute. You can be home when your child wakes up. You can save money on transportation. And, in theory, you can work while your child plays nearby.

But there is a side of working from home with children that doesn't get talked about nearly enough.

Working from home without childcare can be extremely difficult.

I know because I did it for more than a year.

I worked from home while taking care of my son, and although I eventually figured out ways to make it work, I wouldn't pretend that it was easy. There were stressful days, unexpected interruptions, tantrums, meetings, phone calls and plenty of moments when I wondered how I was going to get everything done.

So if you're a parent considering remote work because you don't currently have childcare, I want to share what I learned.

First, See If You Qualify for Childcare Assistance

Before trying to juggle a full-time remote job and a child at home, check whether you qualify for childcare assistance in your area.

Depending on where you live and your household circumstances, local workforce programs and other public assistance programs may be able to help eligible families with childcare and employment-related support.

In the United States, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) supports state and local workforce-development systems designed to help job seekers and employers. Eligibility and available services vary by location, so don't assume you won't qualify.

Your local American Job Center or workforce agency is a good place to start asking questions about available employment and childcare-related assistance.

This is especially important if you've been out of the workforce for several years.

A resume gap doesn't necessarily mean you have to spend thousands of dollars on a course before you can get back to work.

Sometimes the better strategy is to find an entry-level opportunity, rebuild your experience and skills, and then work your way toward better-paying positions.

Don't Expect Your First Remote Job to Be Your Dream Job

If you've been away from work for a while, you may need to think about your first remote position as a re-entry point.

That could mean customer service, call-center work, claims support, administrative work, data entry or another position where the employer provides training.

Phone-based jobs are particularly common in the remote-work world.

And there are two basic types of calls you'll encounter:

• Inbound: Customers call you.
• Outbound: You call customers, providers or other businesses.

Personally, I preferred outbound calls because I felt there was less chance of dealing with an upset customer calling to complain.

But that's going to depend entirely on your personality.

Some people would rather wait for the phone to ring. Others would rather be the person making the call.

Knowing which environment you're comfortable with can help you narrow down the jobs you're applying for.

Pay Attention to the Equipment Requirements

One of the biggest mistakes you can make when applying for remote jobs is assuming that every company has the same computer requirements.

They don't.

Some employers provide the equipment you need. Others may require you to supply your own computer, internet connection, headset or other equipment.

And this is where you need to read the job description carefully.

Don't spend hundreds of dollars on equipment before you know exactly what the employer requires.

For example, some remote positions may specify Windows-based equipment, particular processor or memory requirements, wired internet, or specific security software.

That means you shouldn't automatically buy a MacBook or Chromebook just because it's convenient for you.

Buy according to the employer's requirements, not according to what looks good on your desk.

If the company supplies the equipment, you may receive a computer, monitor, keyboard, mouse, headset and other accessories depending on the position.

And that's worth considering when you're on a tight budget.

You Don't Need a Fancy Home Office

When people post pictures of their work-from-home setups online, everything looks perfect.

Big desk.

Two monitors.

Ergonomic chair.

Beautiful lighting.

Plants everywhere.

That's not how I started.

I actually worked from a small mobile desk.

And honestly, it worked.

When you're working from home with a child, flexibility can sometimes be more important than having the perfect office.

You might have to move from one room to another.

You might work near the living room while your child plays.

You might need to sit outside while your child plays in the yard.

The goal in the beginning isn't to create a Pinterest-worthy office.

The goal is to create a functional workspace that allows you to work.

You can upgrade later.

Create a Routine for Your Child

This was probably one of the biggest things that helped me.

If you're working remotely while taking care of a child, your schedule matters.

And I'm not talking only about your work schedule.

Your child's schedule matters too.

If your workday begins at 8 a.m., waking up at 7:30 and immediately trying to get yourself and your child organized can create chaos.

Getting up earlier can give you time to shower, eat, prepare your workspace and get your child moving before your shift begins.

For younger children, having a predictable routine can also make the day easier.

That might include:

• Breakfast
• Playtime
• Outdoor activity
• Snacks
• Quiet time
• Nap time
• Screen time
• Independent activities

You don't have to follow the schedule perfectly.

Kids are kids.

Some days will go completely according to plan. Other days will fall apart before 10 a.m.

That's normal.

The point is to create some structure so that everyone knows what generally happens next.

Keep Snacks and Activities Ready

This sounds simple, but it makes a huge difference.

Keep snacks accessible and have activities available before you start working.

Children don't necessarily need expensive toys.

Sometimes the simplest things keep them occupied.

In my case, my son loved playing with his toy cars. He also enjoyed playing with ordinary household items like plastic plates and spoons.

The lesson?

You don't always need more stuff.

You need activities your child actually enjoys.

Have a small rotation of toys, books, puzzles, drawing activities or safe independent-play options ready to go.

And don't rely entirely on television.

A little screen time may be useful when you absolutely need uninterrupted time, but young children often lose interest quickly anyway.

Noise Is a Serious Problem

If you're working a remote job that requires phone calls, background noise becomes much more important.

A crying child can turn a normal workday into a stressful situation very quickly.

A noise-canceling headset can help, but don't assume it will magically make a child disappear from your microphone.

It won't.

If your child is crying directly beside you, there's still a good chance the microphone will pick it up.

That's why your best strategy is a combination of:

• A good headset
• A quiet workspace
• A predictable child routine
• Activities for your child
• Breaks when possible
• And, when permitted, background white noise

The podcast also mentioned Crisp as a possible noise-reduction tool. However, it's worth checking the current product and pricing before paying for anything because software plans can change.

Check Crisp's current plans

Most importantly, check your employer's rules before installing or using any software that processes microphone audio.

Some Remote Employers Have Strict Work-From-Home Rules

Here's something that can surprise new remote workers.

Working from home doesn't necessarily mean you can take care of your children while working.

Many remote employers expect you to be fully available during your scheduled hours.

A job may require a quiet and private workspace, reliable internet, professional communication and uninterrupted participation in meetings or calls.

That's why you need to read the actual job description rather than assuming that "remote" means "work whenever you want."

For example, Conduent currently advertises a variety of work-from-home opportunities depending on location and position. Its careers site also explains that some jobs can have different work arrangements and requirements.

Conduent Careers

And Conduent specifically warns applicants about recruitment scams, noting that legitimate communications should come through its official channels and that it won't ask applicants to purchase equipment to start working.

That's a useful reminder: never pay someone just because they claim they can get you a remote job.

American Specialty Health Is Another Company Worth Watching

American Specialty Health is another company mentioned in the podcast.

The company has an official careers section and is currently recruiting for various positions, although specific openings, locations, qualifications and compensation can change.

American Specialty Health Careers

One useful thing about checking the company's official career information is that you can see what its hiring process actually looks like.

American Specialty Health says applicants may go through resume review, a one-way video interview, a phone interview and potentially additional interviews or assessments depending on the role. It also says assessments can test skills such as typing, data entry, spelling and grammar, proofreading and software proficiency.

That means preparing for remote work isn't just about having a computer.

You also need to prepare your skills.

Improve Your Typing Speed

A lot of customer-service and administrative positions care about typing speed and accuracy.

You don't necessarily need to spend money on a course to practice.

You can use free online typing tests to see where you currently stand.

TypingTest.com – Free Typing Tests

TypingTest.com offers timed tests and measures both typing speed and accuracy.

Spend a few minutes practicing each day.

It might seem insignificant, but being comfortable typing while listening to a customer can be useful in many remote support positions.

ResultsCX Has Work-From-Home Opportunities

ResultsCX is another company mentioned in the podcast.

Its official careers website currently lists opportunities in several countries, including the United States, Philippines, India, Mexico and Honduras.

ResultsCX Careers

The company also has a dedicated work-from-home model and explains that remote positions are subject to client authorization and the company's security and regulatory requirements.

Current openings change frequently, so don't rely on an old video or blog post showing a particular job title.

Instead, go directly to the company's careers page and search the current listings.

ResultsCX Current Job Search

As with any remote job, pay attention to the location requirements.

A position advertised as "remote" may still be remote within a particular state or country.

Remote doesn't automatically mean worldwide.

Don't Ignore Non-Phone Jobs

If you're a parent trying to work remotely, you might immediately search for customer service jobs because they're easy to understand.

But there are also remote positions that don't require you to spend your entire day on the phone.

Healthcare administration, credentialing, claims processing, data entry and other administrative positions can sometimes provide alternative career paths.

The important thing is to look at the qualifications.

Don't immediately reject a job because you don't have every qualification listed.

Separate the requirements into three categories:

Must have:

Things you genuinely need before applying.

Preferred:

Things the company would like you to have but may not require.

Can learn:

Software, terminology or processes that you can realistically learn before or after being hired.

For example, if a job mentions Microsoft Word, Excel or Outlook, you can learn the basics through free tutorials and practice.

You don't necessarily need another expensive certification just because a job description mentions software you've never used.

Your Resume Needs to Match the Job

One of the most important lessons from the podcast is that your resume shouldn't be a generic document you send everywhere.

Read the job description.

Look for the skills and responsibilities the employer repeatedly mentions.

Then make sure your legitimate experience reflects those skills where appropriate.

If a job emphasizes:

• Customer service
• Following procedures
• Data entry
• Documentation
• Computer skills
• Communication
• Confidential information
• Typing
• Microsoft Office

then your resume should clearly demonstrate relevant experience with those areas if you actually have it.

This is where an ATS-friendly resume can help.

An Applicant Tracking System, or ATS, may scan resumes for relevant information before a recruiter reviews them.

The goal isn't to stuff your resume with random keywords.

The goal is to make it easy for both the software and the human recruiter to understand why your experience relates to the position.

Don't Spend Thousands of Dollars Just to Get Started

If you've been out of work for several years, it can be tempting to buy an expensive course because someone tells you that you need a new career.

Sometimes training is absolutely worthwhile.

But you don't always need to spend thousands of dollars before applying for your first job.

Start by identifying the positions you're actually qualified for.

Look at the requirements.

Find the gaps.

Then decide whether you need training to close those gaps.

That's very different from buying a course first and hoping a job appears afterward.

Think of Your First Job as a Launchpad

Your first remote job doesn't have to be your forever job.

Maybe you start in customer service.

You gain experience.

You learn the company's systems.

You improve your typing speed.

You become comfortable working remotely.

Then you pursue a certification or license that qualifies you for higher-paying positions.

That's a much more gradual approach.

For example, the podcast discussed insurance-related licensing as one possible way to build toward other opportunities.

The important part isn't necessarily the specific license.

The bigger lesson is this:

Use the job you have to help create the career you want.

Be Careful With Old Job Posts

This is particularly important if you're reading this article months after it was published.

Remote jobs disappear.

Companies change pay rates.

Hiring locations change.

Qualifications change.

A company that was hiring in California last year may not be hiring there today.

A job that paid $17 an hour in an old video might have a different compensation structure now.

So if you find a job mentioned in a YouTube video, podcast or blog post, don't immediately assume the information is still accurate.

Go to the company's official career page.

For example:

Conduent Careers

American Specialty Health Careers

ResultsCX Careers

Then check the current job description.

The Hard Truth About Working From Home With Kids

This might be the most important part of everything I've learned.

Working from home with your child isn't automatically easier than working outside the home.

It can actually be harder.

You may spend the entire day worrying about whether your child is going to have a meltdown while you're on a call.

You may feel guilty because you're working instead of playing with them.

You may feel guilty because you're working but still aren't getting enough done.

And when the workday ends, you still have parenting responsibilities.

There were days when the house felt completely upside down.

That's why I don't want to romanticize the idea.

If you have access to affordable childcare, take advantage of it if it makes sense for your family.

If you don't have childcare and working remotely is your only realistic option, then preparation becomes extremely important.

Create a routine.

Prepare snacks.

Keep activities nearby.

Set up your workspace.

Use the equipment your employer requires.

Practice your typing.

Learn the software you'll need.

And, most importantly, understand what your employer expects from you.

Start Where You Are

You don't need a perfect home office.

You don't need a six-figure salary on day one.

You don't need every certification available.

And you don't need to have your entire career figured out before you apply.

Start with the opportunities that realistically match your current situation.

Get your resume ready.

Search legitimate company career pages.

Apply consistently.

Practice the skills employers are asking for.

And use your first opportunity as a stepping stone toward something better.

Working from home with a child isn't always easy. I know that firsthand.

But if you're in a situation where remote work is necessary, going into it with realistic expectations can make a huge difference.

The goal isn't to make the situation look perfect.

The goal is to make it workable.