3 Work-From-Home Jobs for New Grads

Why endure a long, frustrating commute, only to spend your days dozing off under buzzing fluorescent lights and trying to appear enthused about yet another seemingly unnecessary meeting? If you work from home, you can skip the business casual and some of the more boring aspects of being employed, while still earning a paycheck and building a career. Well, if you’re a recent grad, one consideration is that many work-from-home gigs aren’t open to you – at least, not right off the bat. A lot of telecommuting jobs are geared specifically toward those with experience, and work-from-home arrangements that evolve over a working relationship obviously mean getting your foot in the door first. But not every remote working situation is closed to new grads.

(Photo Credit: Thomas Litangen/Unsplash)

“While some still believe working remotely is a perk that only comes after years spent in the office, there are a huge variety of jobs that hire people to work from home from the get-go,” says Sara Sutton Fell, Founder and CEO of FlexJobs. “So as the new graduating class enters a competitive job market, one way recent graduates can access a greater number of job openings is to take advantage of the telecommuting job market.”

Recently, FlexJobs highlighted a few entry-level work-from-home jobs that require minimal experience – say, internships, or part-time work experience. These are just a few:

1. Graphic Artist: Graphic Artists who responded to PayScale’s survey mostly reported high levels of job satisfaction – and that’s including the ones who trudge into the office. People in this job generally work as part of a marketing department, creating web content, brochures, logos, video, etc. to support the company’s or clients’ brand.

Median Annual Salary for Occupation: $40,692

2. Customer Service Specialist: Customer Service Specialists do not have an easy or low-stress job, but still, the majority of respondents described themselves as “highly satisfied” with the work. This job is best for someone who thinks quickly on their feet and is willing to learn the employer and its products inside and out.

Median Annual Salary for Occupation: $39,088

3. Virtual Elementary School Teacher: Think you need years of experience to use your teaching degree in a work-from-home job? Think again. FlexJobs has listings that require only six months of student teaching experience and the appropriate certification, as required by the state.

Median Annual Salary for Occupation: $41,706

If none of these strike your fancy or seem like a good fit, don’t despair. The full list is here; a quick glance will show you potential gigs ranging from User Experience Analyst to Weight Loss Coach. Not all the jobs are 100 percent work-from-home positions, but all offer more flexibility and variety than the standard 9-to-5 grind. So, if you’re interested in beginning your career from the comfort of your own home, don’t give up before you give it a try.

Tell Us What You Think

Have you worked at home for most or all of your career? We want to hear from you! Leave a comment or join the discussion on Twitter.