5 Jobs for People Who Want to Work From Home — But Hate Customer Service
Hate talking on the phone?
Or maybe you can’t talk on the phone because of crying babies, barking dogs or, in my case, a 25-year-old bird squawking in the background.
Many work-from-home jobs are in the realm of customer service and require headsets — meaning you’ll be required to chat on the phone.
However, this might not be possible for some job seekers (see above reasons) — including some of our readers who’ve reached out about alternative options.
5 Work-From-Home Jobs that Don’t Require Talking on the Phone
In the spirit of ditching the headset, we found six work-from-home jobs — and one bonus — that won’t require you to talk on the phone.
1. Data Entry Clerk
I included this gig in our Type A round-up.
As a data entry clerk, you’ll compile and sort information, ensuring consistency and accuracy. And while it might sound like it, you don’t usually need any technical skills.
Pay ranges on a per-hour or per-project basis. Typically, you can pick up a job as frequently as you’d like.
There are a number of specialized sites advertising work-from-home projects. These include Clickworker, Dion Data Solutions and The Smart Crowd.
2. Image Reviewer
We first wrote about this job with Shutterstock back in September, but it still has open positions to fill for editorial image and illustration reviewers.
You’ll comb through photos to make sure they meet the site’s editorial and technical guidelines. If it doesn’t hit the threshold, you’ll type a brief note to the owner.
You’ll work on a freelance basis — from home — for about 25 to 30 hours per week, including five to eight hours on weekends.
You do need some experience on your side, so this sounds like the perfect gig for photographers.
3. Internet Assessor
Basically, your job would be to help keep the internet clean and functioning. You down?
At the end of last month, we wrote about Lionbridge hiring personalized/social media internet assessors. You’ll be required to work 10 to 20 hours per week, depending on the number of projects available.
Penny Hoarder contributor Steve Gillman made money as a search engine evaluator, earning as much as $15 an hour. He also noted three sites as good leaping-off points, so check it out.
4. Transcriber
One of our freelancers, Anna Thurman, interviewed transcriber and blogger Lisa Mills earlier this year. Mills began transcribing because she wanted to stay at home with her kids, and it allowed her to set her own schedule.
Mills reports the least she’s made per hour is $15; however, she often makes $25 an hour or more.
Typically, you only need a computer and a high-speed internet connection to get started.
For all the information you need and five sites to get you started, read up.
5. Video Captioner
Similar to a transcriber, a video captioner writes captions for TV shows, movies, educational videos — you name it.
If you work for a company like Rev, which we wrote about in September, you’ll work on a freelance basis, picking and choosing which projects you’d like to tackle at times that work best for you.
Depending on the project, you’ll make 40 to 75 cents per video minute. Rev notes an average monthly earnings of $240, although top captioners can make as much as $1,570.
Do note a headset is required, but talking on it isn’t; it’s simply for captioning purposes.
Bonus: Crafter
If you’re artsy, consider setting up an Etsy shop. This isn’t your typical structured job, but if you’re a go-getter and a self-starter, it could be perfect.
Last year, we wrote about Alicia Shaffer, a mother of three who made up to $70,000 a month on Etsy with her Three Bird Nest store.
She put a ton of time into getting the store off the ground and shared her secret ways with us. So, if you’re crafty, consider honing your skills and making some money — from home, sans phone calls or headsets.
You could also consider working for a stamp company, like Stamp Press, drawing up stamps on a freelance basis for 5% of the profits.
Your Turn: Know of any other work-from-home jobs that don’t involve talking on the phone?
Disclosure: Here’s a toast to the affiliate links in this post. May we all be just a little richer today.
Carson Kohler (@CarsonKohler) is a junior writer at The Penny Hoarder. After recently completing graduate school, she focuses on saving money — and surviving the move back in with her parents.
