Now more than ever, people are searching for genuine work from home jobs in the UK. There are many jobs you can do from the comfort of your sofa, managing your schedule in a way that works best for you. If you’ve been dreaming of quitting the corporate life and setting out on your own, this guide is for you!
In 2020, working from home is a booming trend. With high-speed internet and smart Cloud technologies, it’s never been easier to work from home and earn decent money!
We’ll cover the best work from home jobs that are accessible to anyone. If you’re not sure how you could work from home, not to worry. We’ll explain which jobs you can do working from home across a wide range of sectors in the UK, full time or part-time.
Read on to find out what the most in-demand home jobs are and discover which one you’re most suited to. You’ll also find helpful tips on how you can get started!
The Benefits of Working From Home
If you’re not already convinced about the benefits of home based jobs, here are some of the biggest reasons to consider a work from home job!
When you’re working from home, you can manage your own schedule. Unless your job requires you to clock in and out at specific times, you can start work when you like. You have the freedom to decide when you work and can take regular breaks, which leads to an increase in productivity!
Some people like to break their workday up by using the Pomodoro technique. You can also tune into your natural body rhythms and work in 90-minute chunks with the Ultradian Rhythm. Whatever way suits you best, you’ll feel better and work smarter when you’re able to set your work routine.
Another huge benefit is that you get to spend more time with your family and loves ones. This is a huge factor for parents who don’t want to spend all day in the office and miss out on those special moments with their kids. You’ll be around to pick them up and drop them off to school, and you’ll never have to miss a school play or football match again.
Commuting is often the worst part of the day if you travel into work in the UK, especially in larger cities. Whether you have to contend with traffic jams or crowded public transport, it can feel like a massive waste of time. When you work from home, you’ll save precious time and money on your commute. You could use that extra time to uplevel, learn some new skills, or simply relax at the end of the day!
A work from home job could improve your life in so many different ways. Less stress, higher productivity, and a better work-life balance are just a few benefits that work at home jobs offer.
8 Top Work From Home Jobs
Let’s dig into the best genuine work from home jobs in the UK that you could do! We’ll go over what these jobs do, the requirements, and how much you can earn!
Online Surveys
Taking online surveys isn’t technically a work from home job. But if you’re looking to dip your toe in and earn money from home, it’s a great way to get started.
There are loads of sites where you can take surveys for rewards – it takes just seconds to sign up. Some websites offer a monetary reward for each survey you take, while others will give you freebies or points. You can use these towards gift cards and other goodies.
What are the requirements?
There are very few requirements to earn money by taking surveys. You’ll need a decent internet connection and a device you can use. It’s possible to complete some – but not all – surveys on a smartphone or tablet, so a laptop is the best option. For some surveys, you may only qualify if you are in a specific demographic.
How much can you earn?
The pay is low if you calculate it per hour. Some platforms require you to reach a minimum payout, such as £50, before you can request a payment.
However, if you’re looking for some extra cash, it can be a good solution. You don’t need to commit to certain hours and can do it while you watch Netflix!
Freelance Writer
Do you have a way with words? If earning money by putting pen to paper (or fingers to a keyboard) sounds right up your street, this might be the work from home job for you!
Freelance writers create all sorts of written content. That could be anything from writing email scripts, blog posts, press releases, or copy for a website. Most writers will choose a niche to specialise in, allowing them to get a deeper understanding of the topic.
What are the requirements?
You don’t necessarily need a degree in Journalism, Creative Writing, or English. However, it’s crucial to have a fantastic command of the English language and flawless grammar and spelling. You’ll need to be able to write engagingly. An understanding of Search English Optimization is also a key skill for freelance writers.
How much can you earn?
Freelance writers have the potential to earn a high salary, but getting there isn’t easy.
You’ll need to build a portfolio of samples in reputable publications. Getting into the habit of pitching will soon become second nature, and it’s one of the main ways that content and copywriters find work.
As a freelance writer, you’ll get paid by the word, for the overall project, or more rarely, per hour. For entry-level jobs, it’s worth checking out platforms like Textbroker.
Virtual Assistant
If you’re just getting started, being a Virtual Assistant (or VA) is one of the most accessible work from home jobs around. You may already have admin experience or other skills that could be useful in this role.
So, what exactly does a VA do? Virtual Assistants work with clients to support their online or offline businesses. Their responsibilities can vary hugely, but often include admin, data recording, social media management, calendar management, and more.
You can even specialise in a specific niche, such as email marketing, copywriting, or creating sales funnels. The more advanced the skills, the higher you can charge. And the great thing about being a VA is that you can set your own pay rates and decide who you work with!
What are the requirements?
You don’t need any specific qualifications to become a VA. However, you should have an excellent understanding of online tools like Google Drive and Dropbox for sharing files.
Depending on what services you offer, you will also need to master the relevant programs required. If you provide social media services, you’ll need to get your head around apps like Planoly, Buffer, and Hootsuite.
Email marketing and inbox management more your thing? Knowing your way around ConvertKit and Active Campaign are essential skills to have.
But more importantly, tenacity, organisation, willingness to learn, and attention to detail are essential factors any VA should have. You’ll need to think on your feet and find solutions to problems. As you’ll work with clients remotely, brushing up on your communication skills will stand you in good stead.
How much can you earn?
It’s really up to you, as you set your own rates. Highly skilled Virtual Assistants can charge £25-30+ per hour. But if you’re just starting out and don’t have prior experience, you may need to set your rate lower, at around £15-18 per hour. Simple tasks like data entry won’t bring in as much money as more advanced skills.
Be aware that clients and projects will come and go, so you won’t always have a steady income from month to month.
Graphic Designer
So, you’re a creative soul who has a real eye for design? Then, being a graphic designer might be one of the best work from home jobs for you. It allows you to express yourself creatively and earn money at the same time!
Graphic designers work on all sorts of projects, from logos, social media graphics, and flyers, to the overall branding of a company. One day you might be working on redesigning a website, and the next, you could be coming up with banners or a logo for a company.
What are the requirements?
While it is possible to study Graphic Design at university and earn a degree in this subject, this isn’t essential. Many graphic designers are self-taught or started out taking an online course. You can find affordable courses on platforms like Udemy.
Some Graphic Designer jobs will require official qualifications. But if you plan on freelancing as a designer, you can score jobs with an outstanding design portfolio. You will need spectacular design skills and a mastery of programs like the Adobe Suite.
It’s not all just about the art, though. In this work from home job, you’ll need to build up a good rapport with your clients. Effective communication and time management are important qualities to have.
How much can you earn?
For this highly skilled job, you can expect to earn £25+ per hour. Many Graphic Designers charge by the project rather than hourly, so your overall pay may depend on how quickly you work.
How much you can expect to earn will depend on your skill levels and how you market your business. If you’re in demand, you can charge more. But when you’re just starting out in this job, you’ll need to work your way up gradually as you hone your talents.
Online English Teacher
Teaching English online is one of the most popular work from home jobs based in the UK. In this job, you could work with anyone from preschool children up to adults, helping them improve their English skills. If you love working with people and coming up with fun activities, this could be an excellent home based job for you.
What are the requirements?
The requirements vary from company to company, but most are looking for native English speakers with a university degree.
However, you can find companies that require a TEFL or TESOL qualification, with no degree necessary. Some (rarer) jobs won’t require a certificate or a degree if you have previous teaching experience.
You’ll need a reliable laptop and a fast internet connection. Having a quiet room to work from is also essential! Most importantly for a teaching job, you’ll need to be friendly and able to motivate your students.
How much can you earn?
You’ll get paid by the hour in ESL work from home jobs. The pay tends to start at around £10 per hour and can be as high as £18/hour. It’s not the highest paying option out there, but it is one of the more secure working at home jobs around.
Customer Service Jobs
Many companies are outsourcing customer service to remote workers. Customer service advisors work from home, communicating with customers by phone, online chat, or email. You’ll have to be ready to cope with all sorts of queries, requests, and complaints!
What are the requirements?
Patience, patience, patience. You’ll need to have a friendly and professional manner on the phone or by email. As for the equipment, you’ll need a computer, a microphone/headset, and a good Internet connection.
How much can you earn?
Customer service jobs based in the home tend to pay around £10-15 per hour. Make sure you’re aware of how many hours you’ll need to work to reach your income goals! You can do this role part-time or full time, depending on the company.
Transcription Jobs
Transcriptionists listen to audio or video files and create a written record. You could transcribe minutes from a meeting, show notes for a podcast, or captions for videos. Some audio files might have a lot of background noise, mumbling, or different accents – so it’s not as easy as it sounds!
What are the requirements?
You’ll need a laptop, headset, and a decent internet connection. Some serious transcriptionists also use a foot pedal to control the audio and pause it as needed.
It’s also essential to be a fast typer and have excellent spelling and grammar skills.
How much can you earn?
As a transcriptionist, you’ll get paid per audio hour. However, each audio hour may take up to 4-5 hours to process. The quicker you are, the more you’ll earn. Pay tends to start at around £10-12 per hour and increases as your skills and speed improve.
Pet Sitting/Dog Walking
If you’re not so techy, there are other options out there. Pet sitting or dog walking are common work from home jobs in the UK. For anyone who loves furry friends, this is a fantastic way to spend the day. And with most people out at work all day, there’s a huge need for someone to take care of and exercise their pets.
Pet sitters take animals into their own homes during the working day and sometimes for longer periods while the owners are on holiday. Dog walkers ensure that pets get plenty of exercise and attention, breaking up the long day. These are both essential services and could be for you if you love animals and the great outdoors.
What are the requirements?
You’ll need to be confident enough to work with all sorts of animals and handle any behavioural issues. Make sure you have business insurance – it’s vital when you’re responsible for someone else’s animals.
How much can you earn?
The pay isn’t that high – dog walkers generally earn around £10 per hour. But that can soon add up if you walk several dogs at once! It’s up to you how many hours you work, but bear in mind the time it takes to pick up and collect animals. You’ll also need to think about how much activity you can handle each day!
We also have a post here on How to Make Money Working From Home UK for you to have more information.
Summing Up
There are so many genuine work from home jobs out there, and it’s not as difficult to get started as you might think! With these jobs, your attitude and determination are the most important factors. It’s not always essential to have specific qualifications. If you’re willing to put in the effort and learn some new skills, you too could earn money from home!
If you’ve been dreaming of getting one of these work from home jobs, now’s the time to act! With powerful technology, remote work is on the rise and this trend will only continue to grow! You can sign up for various job boards with your email address. When a relevant position comes in, you’ll receive a job alert!
So, which of these work from home jobs calls to you? You probably already have skills and experience that can help you get started with a home based job. From data recording to graphic design, dog walking to teaching English online, there are lots of working from home jobs to choose from in the UK.
