It’s scary venturing out into the online job world when there are so many opportunities, especially when you don’t have relevant experience. Luckily, there are existing online jobs that don’t require a whole lot of prior experience, or any at all.
Keep in mind that although these jobs may not require experience, the disadvantages are that they are not necessarily EASY to get started in and the pay is not always great. Despite these obstacles, plenty of people have successfully pursued these careers, and some have even turned it into a full-time job!
1) General Transcription
Transcription companies hire freelancers to transcribe audio and video files. If you’re a fast typer and good listener, this might be the perfect gig for you. Some companies to check out are Rev, Crowdsurf, and TranscribeMe. All these companies are open to beginners applying.
2) Search Engine/Social Media Evaluation
Your job as a search engine evaluator is to analyze search results and/or social media for relevancy and quality. Job descriptions tend to be vague because the work varies depending on the project and are also kept confidential. The requirements are that you have a computer or phone with internet access, and a social media presence for social media evaluation. You’re not guaranteed consistent work, but once you get a project, you will be paid for your hours. Projects are contract-based and can last up to a few months.
Apply at Appen and Lionbridge (now The Smart Crowd).
3) Surveys and User Tests
Taking surveys and participating in user tests is a way many people work online. It is not necessarily feasible to go full-time with this work, though there are probably people who do make it a full-time job.
Here’s a list of paid surveys sites. As for user tests, check out User Testing and What Users Do. Another place many people make some money from taking surveys is on Amazon mturk and here’s an entire subreddit dedicated to the topic with a wealth of information.
4) Content Writing
Another potential stream of income from online work is to write content. Content mills are platforms where you can either upload content for businesses to buy or be assigned topics to write. If you’re interested in a career in content writing, this is a great way to start gaining experience. Here are some content mills to check out: Textbroker, Writer Access, Constant Content, and CrowdContent.
5) Teach ESL
If you’re a fluent English speaker and have some experience with tutoring, there are many ESL tutoring options online. We wrote an article on the various Chinese ESL companies you can apply to. Most don’t require experience but do require a Bachelor’s degree or TEFL/TESOL/CELTA Certificate.
6) Data Entry
There are many data entry jobs you can find online, however, be careful of scams! Here’s a good list of resources on where to find data-entry jobs.
There you have it, six online jobs you don’t need much experience to get started in!
