Working from home

• Telephone based work
• Transcription services
• Translation services
• Virtual Assistants
• Crowdsourcing
• Careers in e-learning
• Consultants and Contractors
• Content Creation (i.e. blogging)
• Gaming
• On-Line Surveys
• Mystery Shoppers

• Research the opportunities
  • Is the job ad too short or too long? Does it have spelling mistakes?
• Investigate the facts
  • Read the company’s website
  • Google WHOIS database (web registering site) and type in company’s name. Is the contact information different?
• Validate from different sources
  • Google articles and reviews of the company
  • Request information from company itself
  • Contact Competition Bureau of Canada www.competitionbureau.gc.ca or Canadian Anti Fraud Centre www.antifraudcentre.ca.

• The research has been done for you to determine the legitimate opportunities.
• Each opportunity is explained in the following slides.
• You will see examples of job posting sites, associations and more.

Three different business models:

• Employee of a virtual call centre (i.e. HGS, Advantage)
• Independent Contractor (you are self employed, working with various companies; i.e. Advanis is known recruiter)
• You pay for training upfront and then get access to opportunities (ContractWorld.jobs whose clients include Pizza Hut and KFC)
  • Recruiters want to be sure you’re serious about applying for the job.
  • Fees and length of training depend on contracting company.
  • Work involves customer service or order-taking.

Skills required:

• Accuracy
• Typing speed (minimum 70 wpm)
• Listening skills
• Attention to details
• Training/ experience required

Sample websites:

• www.rev.com/careers
• https://waywithwords.net

Opportunities in:

• Video translation
• Document translation
• Web translation
• Audio files

Websites of interest:

• https://waywithwords.net
• http://www.cttic.org/certification.asp

Administrative assistants that provide a wide range of duties such as bookkeeping, word processing, developing spreadsheets, social media and marketing.

Skills required:

• Good computer skills
• Accuracy
• Attention to detail
• Work efficiently
• Like variety
• Excellent customer service
• DO NOT need to be certified

Sample resources:

• Canadian Association of Virtual Assistants | canadianava.org
• Canadian Virtual Gurus |  www.canadianvirtualgurus.com
• On facebook search Canadian Virtual Assistant Connection

Sample websites:

• www.staff.com
• www.accutranglobal.com
• www.secretstaff.com

Crowdsourcing is the idea that many hands make light work. Duties such as data collection, typing and research are split into smaller tasks.

Check out this video from www.clickworker.com.

Sample websites:

• www.lionbridge.com
• www.appen.com

Growing industry with a variety of career options:

• Facilitators
• Subject Matter Experts
• Instructional Design: work behind the scenes to develop instruction materials
• Instructional Technologists: trained in learning management systems or content management systems; know how to set up PDFs and create videos and audio files

Sample websites:

• Lynda.com
• Tutor.com
• OpenEnglish.com

Competitive – FIND YOUR EDGE!

• You bid to win contracts
• Hundreds of categories
• Will take time to learn the system
• Need to know your stuff
• Long term view of this
• Always find out as much as you can upfront

Resource: www.itworld.com.

Learn the difference between a consultant and contractor.

Sample websites:

• Freelancer.ca
• Upwork.com
• Fiverr.com
• Art and Logic.com

Read the websites’ term and conditions carefully to know what they charge in order for you to access services.

Blogging:

• Writing on a topic of interest/ your area of expertise
• Willing to do research and invest the time and energy with little return (i.e. few readers)
• Building a reputation as an expert

Medical Writing:

• Growing field of taking scientific text and translating the information for others to understand
• Resource: Science Writers and Communicators of Canada: sciencewriters.ca
• Sample website: http://jobs.parexel.com

Ideas to explore:

• Blog about a game
• Do a walkthrough
• Start a fan page
• Freelance and develop games

Schooling for video game design:

• Holland College Video Game Art and Animation

Sample website:

• www.gamesjobsdirect.com

Tips:

• Set up separate e-mail account; on-line surveys and mystery shopping sites known to send a lot of unwanted e-mails and spam.
• Expect some jobs earn you points, not cash.
• BEWARE: Researching on-line surveys is still new; not much proof there are good sites out there.
• BEWARE: Mystery shopping jobs that want you to send money in advance are scams!

Resource:

• Mystery Shopping Providers Association | www.mspa-global.org