A blog that offers a wealth of information about work from home employment, work at home jobs, legitimate work from home companies, reviews of work from home jobs, avoiding work at home scams, freelance opportunities, online data entry jobs, at home customer service jobs, tutoring jobs working from home, virtual assistant information and jobs, telecommuting and everything in between.
Having the best professional Virtual Assistant website and being a highly skilled virtual assistant does not guarantee exposure. Just like any great service provider you need maximum publicity in order to get your name out there and obtain working clients.
One way of marketing yourself is via Virtual Assistant Directories.
List of some Virtual Assistant Directories:
Search4vas: Free virtual assistant directory for virtual assistants to join and networks with other Vas and market your business.
Virtual Buzz Assistant: Offers a monthly membership of $29.00 for Virtual Assistants who specialize in internet marketing.
VA Networking: Is the “largest global meeting place for aspiring and successful virtual assistants.” It is free to join and there is also a helpful eBook for Virtual Assistants who may need help in starting their business.
Virtual Assistant Forums: A forum with a wealth of information regarding virtual assistants. Registration is free, but required in order to have access to the forum.
Find Virtual: This is a social networking site that focuses on virtual assistants and the growing industry.
Virtuallin: Many tools and membership resources available to help grow your virtual assistant business. There are 3 levels of monthly memberships, $0.99, $9.99 or $24.99 per month, with different benefits for each.
When building a Virtual Assistant business the first thing to do, after you build your professional virtual assistant website is to create profiles on freelance websites and build an online portfolio working as a freelance virtual assistant.
Here are some freelance websites that can help you get started to highlighting your skills and abilities as a great virtual assistant.
Odesk: If you are aspiring to be a virtual assistant or building your business you must be knowledgeable of Odesk. Odesk is a great way to dive into the virtual world and showcase your skills as a virtual assistant.
Guru.com: Great site that brings together employers who are seeking qualified professionals in many different areas of interest. Many virtual assistant opportunities listed.
Elance: Build a professional virtual assistant porfolio and start bidding on projects in many different areas of business in order to build your virtual assistant portfolio.
People per hour: Another good outsourcing website. Links up companies and professional entrepreneurs who are in need of outsourcing projects to specialized individuals in many different areas.
Get a Freelancer: Online marketplace for Freelancers. Match up on this site with many customers all over the world who are seeking out professional freelancers who specialize in the area of interest of their need.
Moonlighting your skills, growing your skills set and promoting yourself as a virtual assistant goes a long way in building a reputation and proving yourself as a freelance virtual assistant. Take advantage of the many freelance websites available. Create a smashing professional virtual assistant profile for each one and include portfolio items.
Many of the freelance websites offer free and paid profiles, each offering different opportunities with each subscription. There are also many skills tests that can be taken and this is another way to prove your ability in different fields of interest. Link your professional virtual assistant website to your portfolios on these freelance websites.
Everyone needs a Virtual Assistant, right? Yes, but as I have been working as a Virtual Assistant, I have found several helpful tips and pointers, whether you are working as a Virtual Assistant and trying to build your client base or if you are just starting out and building a new Virtual Assistant business.
1.) Create your own Virtual Assistant website: This the most important marketing tool. Who would believe a Virtual Assistant can do a good job if they are not savvy with working on the internet or putting together a website. Networking and building contacts in the regular business world is so important to growing a business or building a portfolio and the same thing applies to the “online” world or “virtual” world. Make sure your website clearly defines what types of services you provide and as much organized information you can about your particular virtual assistant business. Also, list your virtual assistant website on as many virtual assistant directories as possible.
2.) Find your niche: The reason I say this is that when a prospective client is seeking the services of a Virtual Assistant, they are not necessarily looking for a full-time secretary to work 40 hours per week for them remotely. Most business professionals and companies are seeking to fill a need that they may have. Maybe it is a small task of research and analysis of data for a new product they are thinking of launching depending on the product growth in the market. Or they could need a snazzy PowerPoint Presentation put together for a pitch to a big client. Whatever the case you need to step in and fill that need. Most often if you find a client and you work together and have great work chemistry and have provided quality services to them in a timely manner, they will work with keeping you on retainer as their Virtual Assistant.
3.) Expand your Skills-set: Gone are the days when Virtual Assistants were just known for being someone who had secretarial skills and could type and answer phones. The world is ever-changing and I think that the Virtual Assistant, not only is changing with it, but actually is part of the revolution that we are in. A good Virtual Assistant will be up on all new internet programs and applications that are available. These are some examples of tasks that an entrepreneur may need from a good virtual assistant: internet marketing, writing blog articles, blog promotion, promotion of website with blog, social networking etc. and the list goes on.
4.) Gain experience: Starting a Virtual Assistant business is not easy. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication and you have to build trust in your work and ability to work as an independent contractor. Not everyone is able to work their own hours, prioritize work-loads, multi-task between clients and keep it all together looking highly professional and being “reachable’ within a short time frame from most of your business clients. You need to build trusting relationships with business clients in hope of keeping them on or being recalled for a specific needs or tasks they may need. Once a client knows that they can come to you for just about any administrative need that you specialize in and you will provide it to them, you have built a wonderful relationship and are well on your way to building a lucrative virtual assistant business. Start out by moonlighting on freelance websites in order to build a portfolio and “prove” yourself in the “virtual” business world.
GreenHandsUsa.com is seeking Bloggers and college interns for their “eco-friendly” network of blogs and sites that provide useful information about living “green” both individually and with a community approach. This is a greatwebsite with so much “fresh” content and information regarding greenevents. If you have a knack and interest in “green” and have the ability to write short impulsive articles about people engaging in “green”community events both on campuses and in communities then you should apply.In order to apply you need to send three things: (1) Your bio, (2) a short blog post-writing sample and (3)cover letter.
If you are a blog writer and are interested or passionatein the “green” revolution, why not share your talents?
Are you searching for a legitimate work at home career with a “well-known” and stable company? Do you enjoy travel and have a flair for speaking with people? Do you have proven successful sales experience? Independent Travel Consultant “work at home” positions are available at American Express. They have been in the travel business since 1915 and are listed as one of the top 100 companies to work for in Fortune 500 Magazine.
Independent Travel Consultant
This is a work from home position with the American Express Consumer Travel Network. Preferred qualifications for this position are two years experience as a leisure travel consultant business owner or experience as an Independent Travel Consultant Cruise specialist with a successful sales record. A proven successful record of revenue/sales from the travel industry would be preferred.
Independent Travel Consultants for American Express sell cruises, tours, FIT’s, Luxury and Group Adventure travel.
Some perks of working from home for American Express as an Independent Travel Consultant:
-Up to 70% commission opportunities
-One time technology set up fee
-Fee Free Monthly Maintenance
- Exclusive AMEX Travel specialist website option
-Employee discounts and promotions available with a variety of retail and service providers
-Training programs for sales, destination, product and ongoing certification programs
- Business Development funds available to market and grow your travel business-Ability to work from home
Tax day is here. The infamous April 15th and if you are not ready to file your federal tax return due to needing more time to prepare them or for another reason, please visit this IRS site in order to file a extension for federal taxes. An extension for filing federal taxes must be filed by the tax deadline of April 15th - meaning sending out the correct federal form postmarked by April 15th or filing the extension online by this date. A free federal tax extension form can be filed online on the IRS website in the IRS “efile” section.
Writers can find great opportunities to work at home with exciting guide positions at About.com.
The 5 qualities that About.com looks for in prospective guides on their site is:
writing ability, web formatting comprehension, expertise in topic, ambition to educate and passion about the topic they are writing about. If you have a passion about a particular topic and have done a tremendous amount of research on your own and have the mind-set and ability to educate others coupled with great writing skills then check out the application on About.com.
Guides at About.com make a base pay of $675.00 every month for the first two years and must submit four articles every month with gaps that are less than 14 days in length between articles. Guides have a potential to make more money based on the number of page views their articles get.
On the horizons, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennesseehas decided to work on expanding theamount of employeestelecommuting. Currently, BCBS ofTennessee has 100 employees who work from home, but in the next 1 – 2years they plan to expand that number in order to cut down on operational costs and draw a wider range of qualified applicants.
This is a link to their current job openings. Use keyword “telecommute” and all jobs that have the possibility of being “telecommute” positions, once trained will pop up.
Besides starting your own CPA firm or Bookkeeping business, there are several other options to work from home as an accounting professional. If you have a degree in Accounting or any other financial area, or have worked in the financial industry as a bookkeeper, accounting clerk, payroll assistant, AP/AR clerk, then consider the option of working at home online. Preparing your online professional portfolio is just as important as the resume sent out when seeking an “in-office” position.Listing achievements and attaching samples of completed relevant work are great additions to a portfolio, in order to supply proof of your experience and qualifications. Another way to prove to potential companies that you have the experience they need in order to be a top candidate for an accounting telecommuting position, is to take an online certification course in your area of expertise. Brainbench is a great website for testing credentials and proving competence.It will cost you a small sum, but in the long run it is worth its weight in gold.
Another way to prove your experience and skills is to work through a freelance website such as; Guru.com, Odesk.com or eLance.com. These sites are a great way to showcase your portfolio and gain positive work feedback and experience all while proving you have the professionalism and focus to work without supervision from your home office.
There are several companies that hire financial professionals who are seeking work at home positions. Below is a list of some of them:
Bookkeepers: AA degree or equivalent, 2 or more years bookkeeping experience, experience in data entry, payroll and A/P function, QuickBooks, MYOB, Peachtree and other accounting software knowledge.
CPA’s: CPA + 5 years prior public accounting experience, proven experience in managing a staff and QuickBooks, MYOB, Peachtree and other accounting software knowledge.
Telecommuting Staff Accountants: CPA required, 3 years prior public accounting experience, must own computer and have fast internet connection. Primary duties will be to prepare individual, partnership and corporate tax returns, review accounting records, make adjustments necessary to prepare tax returns.
CPA Manager- CPA license, Bachelor’s degree and related experience to job description qualifications
Bookkeeper Specialist- 2 or more years experience in Bookkeeping, prepares tax returns required, related education a plus, G/L A/P and payroll experience required.
Accountant-4 year college degree preferably in business or accounting, 5 years experience, g/l software experience, home office with high speed internet connection, car to travel and meet with local clients and must be available to work normal business hours.
Recruiting qualified candidates who are interested in working as Virtual Accountants
If you are interested in securing a work from home job and have credentials and experience in the specialized field of accounting and bookkeeping, pursue these tips and websites for helpful leads and information.Telecommuting is a growing trend in the financial industry and is expected to continue growing because of the benefits and pool of qualified candidates that employers are exposed to.
If you previously have experience in working at a help desk or you are very versed in technical support and have customer service skills, this could be the work at home position that you have been looking for.
Accolade Support is a 100% US based privately owned company and they are seeking to fill remote agent positions with their company.
The position currently listed is:
Technical Support Agent-this is a 100% telecommuting position working as a PC Desktop Support Agent. Customer service skills and enjoyment of speaking with people via the phone are both two important keys to your personality.
The position is an independent contractor position that has both full-time and part-time available. Compensation for this position is $10.00-$12.00 per hour.
Requirements:
Skills:
(1)Technical-ability to desktop trouble shoot, resolve internet connectivity issues and support software applications by providing training.
(2)Sales skills-ability to sell a wide range of products and services to inbound callers.
(3)Customer Service Skills: Authentic desire to assist customers and being able to handle a broad range of client issues with a successful outcome.
(4)Must pay attention to detail.
(5)US based telephone number-landline –no cells or VOIP phones
(6)Corded phone set with headset
(7)PC with Windows XP or Vista and fast internet connection
(8)US resident
(9)Quiet location to be able to take calls with no interruptions
(10)Proof of legal right to work in US and be able to pass background check
If this position sounds like it fits your skills set and qualifications, apply today in order to begin working at home.
Do you have experience and/or certification in medical transcription? Now is the time to explore a possibility of working from home as a medical transcriptionist. According to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, the growth rate for medical transcription jobs will be increasing by 14% between the years of 2006 and 2016, due to the rising numbers of our aging population in the US. There is also an advantage of working in the medical transcription field, because there are fewer jobs outsourced overseas due to the need of meeting US standards in English grammar and spelling and ability to transcribe medical documents.
If you are interested in working at home and do not have experience in medical transcription, consider taking online certification courses for medical transcription.
List of 36 Companies that Hire Work at Home Medical Transcriptionists
Here is a list of websites that I have found that either hire you or find companies that are recruiting medical transcriptionists who work from home.
Eightcrossings.com: Recruits for Northern California positions as well as work from home medical transcription jobs.
Requirements: Minimum of 2 years medical transcription experience, but graduate from approved transcription schools may be considered. Must be able to transcribe 1,000 lines per scheduled day.
Benefits: Flexible scheduling, positive work environment, consistent primary accounts and peer network of transcriptionists.
Requirements: Two years clinic or acute care experience, must pass qualifying test in order to be hired, independent contractor positions, $50.00 fee for software to purchase in order to access system and will be refunded after 6 months of work, must live in the US, please check website for other hardware requirements.
Accurate Typing Services, Inc.: Company located in the New York area that has been operating since 1978. Accurate Typing Services hires medical transcriptionists for both on-site and off-site positions.
Requirements: Two years experience in acute care terminology, excellent grammar and spelling, broad medical terminology background and a good transcription speed.
Amphion Medical Solutions: Requirements: At least 2 years experience –hospital inpatient transcribing “Basic Four” or two years of clinic experience transcribing all specialties, US resident, these are employee positions-not independent contractors and must pass transcription skills assessment test.
Ascott Transcription Services: Great benefit package for regular employees, always accept applications online and you may have to pass a transcription skills test in order to qualify.
DTS- Digital Transcription Services: In-house and home based medical transcription jobs available. DTS offers great benefits package for regular employees, paid training, flexible scheduling, referral bonuses and more.
Execuscribe, Inc. : Hiring home-based medical transcriptionists. There is an online skills assessment test upon registering with this site. Requirements: 3-5 years experience and the positions they are seeking to fill require you are interested in committing to transcribing 6,000 lines per week.
Applied Medical Services, Inc.: Seeking independent contractors working from home as medical transcriptionists. Requirements: 2 years or more of full-time medical transcribing in clinic or hospital setting. There are 2 competency tests that must be taken in order to qualify for employment: (1) medical language/terminology exam and (2) typing skills test.
First Choice Medical Transcription Services: Hiring independent contractors for at home medical transcription positions. Requirements: At least 5 years acute care hospital experience and must be US resident. Check website for more information.
Focus Infomatics, Inc.: Seeking work at home medical transcriptionists who have 2 or more years experience in the field.
Gilbert Medical Transcription Service: Hiring Full and part-time medical transcriptionists who work from home. Requirements: 3 years acute care experience on and on-going basis. Must pass a series of diction tests with GMTS QA guidelines. Please see website for benefits available to full time employees after 90-days of employment.
IMedx, Inc.: Hiring work at home, US medical transcriptionists. Requirements: at least 4 years experience working in a hospital medical records department.
JLG Medical Transcription Services: Seeking full or part-time, employee or independent contractor medical transcriptionists that work from home. Requirements: 2 consecutive years experience in acute care transcription and US resident. Please see website for additional information regarding shifts and benefits for full-time employees.
Key Strokes Transcription Services: Looking to hire work at home highly qualified medical transcriptionists. Requirements: 3 or more years’ full time experience that is verifiable in medical transcription. Additional requirements are 98% accuracy, great grammar and listening skills and US resident.
MedGrade: Seeking at home medical transcription employees. Pay is production based and per line. Requirements: proof of graduation from medical transcription training program prior to hire also transcriptionists with 3 years work experience with medical transcription, as primary role will be considered.
Medigrafix: Looking to hire work at home medical transcriptionists with a paid per line payment system with bonuses when exceeding production goals. There are also referral bonuses for finding new clients. Requirements: completion of medical terminology courses, experience of at least 3-5 years of clinical or hospital transcription services and AAMT certification a plus.
Medquist: Requirements: Must have 1-year experience as a medical transcriptionist or be a recent graduate of an AAMT certified transcription program. See website for other available positions.
Medware, Inc.: Must posses 3 years of medical transcription experience in a hospital or service environment. Medware, Inc. has been named in the Top 100 companies for working families in Central Florida for four consecutive years. There are benefits available for full-time employees after a 90-day orientation period.
Medical Transcription Corporation: Home based medical transcriptionists must have at least 3 years experience of medical transcription experience for a medical transcription service or in a hospital or clinic setting. At least one week of paid training to all transcriptionists. There are other opportunities available, please see website.
MxSecure: Requirements: Must have at least 2 years experience as a medical transcriptionist within the last 5 years, have knowledge of medical language, anatomy, physiology, disease processes, pharmacology, laboratory medicine, and the internal organization of medical reports and excellent English grammar and punctuation.
Oracle Transcription, Inc.: This is a great company to work for in the medical transcription field. They offer a “set your own hours” schedule, benefits for full-time employees and at home training over the phone. Requirements: US Residents with 3-5 years experience in medical records, knowledge of medical terminology and current drugs, excellent grammar and punctuation skills with 98% accuracy.
Phoenix Medcom, Inc.: Requirements: of 3 years experience in Ops and Discharges, withacute care facility/teaching institution/production environment experience essential. Also require a minimum of 600 lines per day. You will have to take an online test in order to access transcription skills.
Preferred Physician's Transcription: Requirements: Must have completed an on-line course in medical transcription and has passed the final exam with at least 92%. Work experience should be 2 years in a full time acute care setting and must be available for work 6-8 hours per day for 5 days each week.
RI Transcription Solutions: Looking to hire medical transcriptionists who work from home as independent contractors. Must have experience and pass two online tests to demonstrate skills and abilities. Also, must be a US resident.
Spectra Medi: Seeking to fill work at home full or part-time positions for medical transcriptionists. Experience required and certification is a plus in obtaining a position.
Spheris: Requirements: Must have experience in one of the following fields: acute care, multi-specialty clinic, emergency room reports or radiology. Employment experience in medical transcription must have been in the last 5 years and you must be a US resident.
Superscript Medical Transcription: Requirements: must have at least 2 years experience in medical transcription, excellent computer skills, a transcription pedal and other hardware and software requirements.
Thomas Transcription Services, Inc.: Hiring independent work at home medical transcriptionists with at least 3 years experience in the field.
Transcend Services: Please see website for medical transcription positions available with this company.
Transhealth Medical Transcription: Seeking home based medical transcriptionists for a flexible schedule and productivity-based compensation. Requirements: A minimum of 2 years in acute care transcription experience or 3 years of radiology transcription experience. There are 2 exams that need to be passed with a high level of accuracy, (1) high level of medical knowledge exam and (2) transcription test typing sample reports.
TRS: Company is hiring medical transcriptionists at different levels. The level 1 Medical Transcriptionists must have at least 2 years experience in an acute setting. Please see website for additional information regarding other level position opportunities. There is a 2-part test that needs to be taken as a pre-screening for employment.
Trx Transcription, Inc.: Work from home positions as a medical transcriptionist with a minimum of 2 years in an acute medical setting.
Webmedx: Seeking at home medical transcriptionists with at least 2 years experience in an acute care setting.
Xpress Transcription, Inc.:Work at home medical transcription positions. Applicants should have at least two years' experience working in an acute-care, diagnostic radiology environment.
If you are currently seeking a work at home job and have the following qualities, you may be a great candidate for at home jobs in transcription.
Keep in mind that that each company is different in the minimum requirements you need in order to work for their company. Most transcription companies allow you to audition with a test without a digital pedal, but if you do start working for them they require you purchase a digital pedal within a certain time of accepting jobs. Some also require you have a good quality headset, a dsl fast internet connection, phone where you can be reached, compatible MS Word programs etc.
Please check each individual company in order to see if you have the necessary equipment, software requirements and also qualifications to be employed.
I have listed several companies that offer Transcription Position working from home. Please check them out.
Are you currently working as an administrative or executive assistant? Do you have experience in office and administrative assistant services? Are you currently seeking a work at home job or telecommuting position? Do you have a motivated entrepreneurial personality and want to start your own business working at home? Now is the time to become a virtual assistant. In this wonderful age of technology and with a great amount of technical tools and resources, consider the option of working at home as a virtual assistant. A virtual assistant is an independent contractor or freelance professional who owns their own business and provides administrative assistant support to business professionals working mainly out of their own home.
Start off with creating your winning resume that highlights all of your educational and work experience and skills. Spend time on it as your resume will set you apart from the rest of applicants. There are many resources online in order to help you create a great resume and start your business. When starting a virtual assistant business there are a couple of pointers to keep in mind before launching your business.
·Settle on what services you are going to provide?
·Take skills and assessment tests in order to clearly define what services you are qualified to offer. Also consider getting professionally certified as a virtual assistant.
·Join virtual assistant networks and affiliations.
·Seek out freelancing websites and create profiles in order to gain positive feedback and references working for business clients. This can also help you prove how versatile and motivated you are to working at home for yourself from a virtual office.
·Create a business plan. Outline all the goals that you hope to achieve and your virtual assistant company vision and types of services. Also include your financial plan and marketing strategies that you will be using.
·Start a professional virtual assistant website including credentials, availability, feedback, references and also propose the services you will be providing. Any good virtual assistant knows that in order to market yourself as a virtual assistant you must be technology savvy and up to date with the use of remote office tools. The website should be launched before you begin your practice, because this is clearly like an online resume and will be your biggest marketing tool.
The cost savings and benefits for businesses in hiring virtual assistants include:
·Not having to deal with lost commute time and less absenteeism
·Being able to select candidates from a larger pool of qualified professionals. Businesses do not have to look to hire from local applicants only because they can choose to work with virtual assistants who have just the right credentials that will fulfill the needs for their company.
·There is a smaller learning curve. If a business seeks to hire virtual assistants they are usually versed in the right areas of expertise when chosen.
·Savings include not having to provide office space, benefits to be provided and health insurance costs.
·Less time is lost when businesses choose to work with a virtual assistant because the time they pay for is time that is solely dedicated to their project.
If you are interested in working from home and not seeking to start your own business consider applying at legitimate work from home companies that hire virtual assistants to work for them.
List of companies that hire virtual assistants:
Longerdays.comVOT Virtual Office TempsTeamDoubleClick
Once you have decided that you are going to give a 100% effort into transferring your work-place from the office to working from home out of a home office, one thing you should commit to and make a daily task of is job searching. There are many great job boards that you can weed through work at home or telecommuting jobs in order to determine what jobs are legitimate work at home jobs, but if you are serious in doing this, you must put forth a committed effort. My first priority, when I sign on for the day, is checking my email and the second task is doing a frequent job search on several different jobs boards and listings that I have found.
I have added a Work at Home Job Listing to this blog and I will update it regularly and share with you the work at home, telecommuting, remote or virtual jobs that I have found that appear to be from a legitimate source. I hope that this list aids you in finding that perfect job so that you too can join the ranks of the virtual workforce that works at home.
