I was curious if anyone here has an online job. The reason why is because for literally the last 4 years or so, I've been trying to do this, but it's so hard. The reason why is because I hate the idea of going on disability because I would feel so worthless, but I don't want to stay at the job I'm at now because things have been getting worse, and I'm not sure how much longer I can work there. Anyway, just thought I'd see if anyone else took this approach.
Good question! And if anyone out there IS doing an online job, what kind? All I can think of to do (other than work here) would be to do EBay or Etsy....
I have a blog right now (there is profanity). It's really new. I've made website for people in the past. It's just not very easy to say the least. I've also tried affiliate marketing.
I think it was Sooki who posted about either working online and/or at home. Something about indexing.
what have you been trying to do for 4 years? staying at your job, or do you have an online business on the side?
Yes, I work full-time as a freelance book indexer. I get page proofs (PDFs) from the editor, I read through them, and create a back-of-the-book index which I email back. The upsides are that I can work at home, set my work hours, not deal with office dramas. The downsides are that deadlines and schedules are shifting but have to be met; it's sometimes hard to control the workload. It can also be quite isolating. Also, paychecks are not evenly spaced or predictable. (My husband and I are both self-employed so planning our finances is always a challenge.) And self-employed health insurance is horrible.
There are other publishing-related fields that can be done freelance including editing, technical writing, fact-checking, and proofreading.
It takes some effort to learn the skill and some ego-deflating marketing to get clients at the beginning. But after that, it seems to carry itself with only little bits of marketing from time to time. I have found that there are quite a few indexers with health issues from fragrance sensitivity to back problems to speech problems.
I worked as an environmental chemist at a consulting company. The environmental cleanup field has gone through some uncomfortable political shifts over the years. And at one particularly uncomfortable time, which coincided with my daughter being young, I decided to take the plunge into self-employment. I took a big pay cut in doing so, but there are other rewards. At the 10 year mark, I was looking around for some other occupation. But then, family members (nuclear and extended) sequentially got sick and I was happy to have a flexible schedule. Now, with my own health issues, I'm again grateful. Although I fight brain fog with every weapon I can find.
Let me know if I can help.
Sooki, you are on my mind more and more as the days go by. I just don't know how much longer I can handle my current situation.
What publishing companies take on proofreaders? Does it pay well?
I can't emphasize this enough - on of the best ways to transition to working from home is to arrange something with your current employer. They know you, they know your dedication, your skills. etc. Maybe you currently have a job that is not suitable for working at home - I'll pick being a nurse as an example. But maybe there's something related you could do - encoding records, writing reports or summaries, creating training materials for new staff, etc. etc. Be creative, think it through, and go to your employer and propose it. Be aware that it may require a change in salary or hours, but it's sure worth a try. Also chase opportunities with previous employers, friends, family and business associates - anyone who knows you may be more willing to give you a break in a way that some random employer might not.
OK... so other kinds of working from home. I worked from home for about 5 years, and there's a lot of opportunities, but you'll do better if you have some marketable skills. I'm now disabled, so it's academic.
Writing/editing/ proofreading/ indexing
There a number of sites where you sign up and can bid on jobs that are posted by people who want work done. I watched this tank as more people around the world started participating, causing the prices to plummet. When I worked on site at a company as a technical writer, I usually billed $50-$75 an hour, but on these sites, I was lucky if I could make minimum wage. Still, worth exploring. It takes time to build a following on these sites, so at first you'll bid a lot, and get few jobs, but with time you may start getting more.
Write a blog, have advertising
You can write a blog and include advertising from sites like google or amazon. You get paid if people click on the ads. This is a good way to get a little supplemental income if you like to write, are willing to put energy into frequent material and advertising your site.
Be an online personal assistant
Never done this one, but it sounds interesting - You sign up to be an "online personal assistant" with one of the many companies that offer this service, and you are given a chance to do small tasks like find the best flights between two locations, or plan a holiday party, or anything that can easily be delegated.
Transcription
Convert oral documents into text. Need to be pretty fast at making money at this
Buy/sell on Ebay or similar sites
jazzlover, I don't have any personal experience with proofreading. All of the publishing companies and probably packaging companies hire proofreaders. In addition, businesses and writers may have use of proofreaders and editors. In this economy, there are probably very few publishers that have in-house proofreaders. You might google for proofreading services and see what kinds of sites you find. Clients are usually charged by the page. If you're fast and good, you can make a living at it.
There used to be a good USDA proofreading course (and lots of other publishing skills as well). I think it's now at graduateschool.edu. There are lots of online courses as well now. You might check out the Editorial freelancers association website (the-efa.org) eHow has articles on how to start a proofreading business. UC Berkeley extension has editing, proofreading, and indexing courses online. There are probably discussion groups online that discuss the job situation, etc.
There is a significant upfront effort required for any new business like this. It helps to be motivated (i.e. desperate).
I'm not sure any more detail is appropriate here in this forum. You can send me a PM if you have specific questions.
Good luck!
When I had my first child I spent some time as a freelance proofreader. That was 10 years ago so the climate may have changed. I lived in a university town...a few publishing companies were located there including the university press. The company I worked for mostly published scientific textbooks. My neighbor, who was also a stay-at-home mom, told me they were looking for more proofreaders. I had to supply a resume--I was working on my Ph.D at the time. They provided me with training. It was *not* an on-line gig; I had to go to the office to pick up/drop off work. I could choose when I wanted jobs although I never passed up too many because I didn't want them to stop calling. They money I made was per page...the more technical, hard-to-read journal articles would pay more per page than textbooks. It was not a great money maker. I think the most I made in one year was $5000.
My advice would be to google some publishing houses and see if any are advertising for proofreaders. If not, email them directly and ask if they have a list they keep for hiring. The proofreading marks are similar but different companies can want things done in slightly different ways. They would likely provide some minimal sort of training.
Good luck!
MB
I know there are unpaid volunteer opportunities on-line but unfortunately, nothing that is paid.
Yes, definitely check with your employer. Where I work if we have an emergency situation, we are set up so we can process online from home. We have a special "thingy" so we can connect online from our home computer and then we work just like we do at work.
I write a blog (URL below if you want to check it out), but it's not to make money because it's very, very new. We'll see what happens in the future, I guess.
My husband is a writer and a lot of his work gets published online, but it takes more "hustle" than I would have the energy for.
No matter what happens, though, you are not worthless and never will be!
Dragonfly: I love the FlareWear fashion concept!!
Thanks so much, Sooki! I really appreciate that you visited my blog, and your kind words of support mean so much.
I just posted a "flare ware" outfit related to those days when we need to go into work even though we don't feel well, and I have another coming up on what we can wear to holiday get-togethers during flares.
I don't know about everyone else, but in addition to the days that knock me on my tush and keep me in bed, I have a fair number when I am capable of dragging myself out the door, but not doing much more than that. I've got some go-to outfits for those days, so I wanted to recreate them in the hopes that it would be helpful for others.
--C.
Dragonfly, I sent you a PM.
I don't work online, but I do work for Amazon.com. We have an excellent Work-From-Home program. Work on site for several weeks, then move home once you're comfortable with the work. It's been so popular they they're even piloting a program where the whole process is virtual, from hiring, to training, to leadership development! We've about wrapped up hiring for this season, but it's with it to get an app in and keep an eye out in the website for future virtual postings. It's fairly easy work, and a great company to work for.
Cheers,
Mrs. Crary
Today's Kim Komando (techie advisor) blog has a column on working from home, FWIW:
komando.com/tips/index.aspx?id=10754