Popular Remote Entry-Level Jobs

Finding popular remote entry-level jobs that offer fair pay, good benefits, and the stability that an employee should expect is easier said than done. That doesn’t mean this job search is impossible, only that job seekers should have a plan in place. 

Searching online can pose unique obstacles such as personal security risks, and it can make people feel as though they don’t have enough skills to land a job.

Common Questions

questions

It’s impossible to pin down the most frequently asked questions about entry-level remote jobs. For many people, remote work is completely new, and there is a lot of uncharted territory. Here are answers to many common questions, with guidance on how these can impact your job search.

Can I work from home with no experience?

Yes! Many companies are opting to hire people without any experience. Some businesses recognize that when people lack experience, they can come into the position with a clean slate. 

What are the best jobs for working remotely?

The best job for you will not be the best job for another job searcher. This answer depends on your skill set. Those looking for entry-level positions may feel as though their skillset is lacking. It’s vital that job searchers focus on their soft skills which might be part of their core personality, such as a high-level organizer, above-average listening skills, or those with a knack for troubleshooting.

When trying to determine which is the best opportunity for you, consider asking yourself these questions:

  • What tasks make you lose track of time?
  • What skills come naturally to you?
  • What are three tasks you could do with little or no direction?
  • Do you enjoy interacting with people?
  • Do you communicate well, or do you often have to explain things multiple times?

How can I prove my skills for an entry-level position if I don’t have experience?

This is one of the great conundrums, especially for fresh grads – how can you get a job with no experience, and how can you get experience with no job?

There are many ways to showcase your skills, including:

  • Taking LinkedIn skills assessments
  • Take a typing speed test online
  • Create a portfolio of past work, side projects, or pieces made specifically for the portfolio – this can also include anything done during an internship or college

Skills and requirements for entry-level positions fall into a bit of a hot-button topic at the moment. Many human resources professionals argue that these positions should not have any skill requirements. Other professionals feel that only specific industries should use education requirements.

Check out some of these tips on how to succeed as a remote worker.

Starting Your Search

search

You’ll need a multi-faceted approach for your search, and the best way to start is to ensure that you’re prepared across a variety of different platforms. 

Rework your LinkedIn profile

LinkedIn

Even if you don’t have work experience, LinkedIn can provide useful information to potential employers. Start building your network and reach out to people working who work with companies you’re interested in. Humbly reach out to them explaining that you’re looking to get your feet wet with a junior-level position and see if they can point you in the right direction. Build a rapport with them, because word-of-mouth is always best when it comes to hiring.

Restructure your resume to fit your ideal position

resume

Discuss any education or experience you have which showcases your skill set. Consider the job you’re applying to. Does the objective within your resume match the position you’re seeking?

Avoid sites with misleading posts or posts that seem like scams

If you notice this on a job site, move on quickly. Red flags could be anything from the company not having a website, to charging for a ‘starter kit.’ The FTC has a great resource about popular job scams.

Common Entry-Level Opportunities

Customer Service 

Customer service

Customer service was one of the first areas to receive flexible schedules and remote work opportunities. Most of the duties that fall to a customer service agent are easily done from home and only require access to the Internet. 

A typical remote entry-level customer service position can require the following:

  • Positive attitude
  • Operating a 10-key or typing at a certain speed
  • Knowledge of the industry (e.g., healthcare customer service should have some healthcare-industry knowledge.)
  • Organizational and time management skills
  • Experience handling web-based applications
  • Professionalism

You can expect tasks such as:

  • Reviewing customer/caller requests or concerns
  • Documenting conversations and interactions appropriately
  • Updating a data system (often changes by company; don’t stress about not knowing the specific software).
  • Take in-bound calls or handle online chat.

The two companies that have received the most media coverage on the topic are Hulu and Amazon. Both regularly hired employees for remote customer service prior to 2020.

Other companies that regularly hire for customer service include:

Information Technology (IT)

router

These entry-level positions usually require some knowledge or education, and companies may test that knowledge before hiring. Although the position will determine the requirements, you can expect any of the following to appear as a basic requirement on an IT job posting:

  • Knowledge of Linux
  • Basic computer programming
  • Basic understand of operating systems
  • Basic security (cybersecurity) understanding
  • Communication skills

Tasks might include:

  • Documenting information
  • Connectivity troubleshooting
  • Monitoring performance of internal systems
  • Taking calls and helping the caller find a resolution
  • Remotely navigating a system. 

The key skills that define entry-level IT positions include problem-solving, attention to detail, and communication. Working within the IT industry offers access to a substantial volume of exciting companies, including:

Assistant

Working as an assistant can come in a variety of forms. You may be a professional specific assistant, such as the assistant to an attorney or a general assistant that serves one or more managers within an organization. From working as an escrow assistant to a teaching assistant, the possibilities for this job type are endless. 

Typically they could expect to handle calls, take charge of one or more calendars, occasionally arrange for travel, and facilitate the follow-up of regular activities. 

Often requirements or expectations for those applying for these positions include juggling many tasks and shifting your focus quickly. Those hiring assistants look for soft skills such as organizational skills and the ability to problem solve quickly. 

Sales

Remote sales jobs often don’t require any experience, and you may not need to show a skill set either. Applying for these jobs does come with some competition, and it’s important to note that sales positions aren’t for everyone. Companies that hire for remote sales staff can provide exceptional benefits, but may not offer top-tier pay. You will likely have to start from the bottom and work your way up. 

These positions may require previous experience, depending on the company. They may look at your ability to build a network via social media or your transferable skills such as communication, teamwork, and similar interpersonal abilities. 

With a sales position, you should expect to meet daily, weekly, or monthly to discuss quotas. You may be expected to make numerous cold calls in a single day and work with an auto-dialer. Other businesses may expect you to contact warm leads or take inbound calls and answer potential customers’ questions. 

Often times staffing centers or temp agencies will try to recruit for these roles. Although a staffing center or temp agency is not a guaranteed negative experience, it is usually best to gain employment through the company directly. 

Companies that hire for remote entry-level sales positions:

Writing, Editing, and Content Strategy

feather ink writing

A growing number of companies are hiring professional writers, editors, and content strategists. These companies could be looking for a technical writer or editor to have on staff for newsletters and internal documentation, or a strategist to fit within their marketing team. 

Standard expectations or requirements may include:

  • Experience writing 
  • Understanding or experience with SEO
  • Understanding affiliates 
  • HTML experience
  • Degree in Journalism, Marketing, Communication, Business

Typical duties will often revolve around research, analyzing competitors, planning, writing, editing, and working with another department to distribute the product. 

Companies that hire writers or editors include:

Support Analyst/Engineer

It can be a little intimidating to see “analyst” in a job title. Nonetheless, there are many of these opportunities available for support analysts or a support engineer. These titles typically refer to a helpdesk or Technical Support person. They provide advice to their users or professionals.

A support analyst largely works to assess and sort incoming requests. They will field help requests, and when possible, provide working solutions to users.

You should not expect a heavy list of requirements or qualifications to obtain a support analyst position. Typically employers are looking for time management skills, communication skills, collaboration abilities, problem-solving skills, and they heavily favor those with technical skills. 

Some companies may be looking for new graduates or people with experience handling specific software types, such as enterprise resource planning (ERP) software or customer resource management (CRM) software. 

Companies that have recently sought out remote support analysts or engineers include:

Administrative Positions

Like customer service and assisting, administrative positions often only require access to a secure internet connection. If you know how to use Microsoft Word and a little about Excel, you can likely secure an entry-level administrative position. These roles often includes quality assurance, compliance, bookkeeping, client representatives, auditing, and human resources. 

Standard requirements for these positions include:

  • Time management
  • Resourcefulness
  • Organizational minded
  • Capable in verbal and written communication
  • Tech-savvy or generally skilled with handling a computer 

One position for a remote Jr. Client Relations Administrator listed the following requirements:

  • 1-2 years of admin or customer service experience
  • Able to multitask
  • Strong customer service, organizational, and communication skills.
  • Associates degree preferred or related work experience. 

What do administrative positions usually entail? A regular day in administration usually involves a lot of communication, both within and outside the company and a fair amount of data entry. 

Companies that are known for hiring include:

  • Bankers Healthcare Group
  • Aerotek
  • CVS Health
  • K12
  • United Healthcare
  • Kaiser
  • Wells Fargo

A long list of companies employ work-from-home administrative staff, and the list is only growing. This section of “administrative positions” is often a catch-all for companies covering anything done at a desk that isn’t exclusively sales.