15 Work-From-Home Jobs (No Experience Required!)

Sales, customer service, travel and other fields are hiring remote workers now

a woman writes something down while looking at a computer monitor in her home

GETTY IMAGES

Kenneth Terrell,

AARP

En español

Published May 04, 2022

/ Updated June 19, 2024

Whether you’re making a career switch or looking for a new side hustle, there’s a good chance you’re also thinking about how remote working could fit into your career plans.

The good news is that even if you’ve spent most of your career in jobs that didn’t really offer the opportunity to work from home, there are now many remote jobs that don’t require you to have direct work experience in that field. From tutoring to travel, chances are you already have some knowledge in your personal or professional background that could help you land a work-from-home job that’s hiring now.

How to avoid work-from-home job scams

While legitimate remote work opportunities have increased in recent years, so have the number of remote work scams. The Federal Trade Commission says people lost up to $367 million in job scams in 2022, a 76 percent increase over 2021.

There is a wide variety in the types of remote work scams out there, with new ones popping up frequently. As a general rule, however, most reputable employers will not ask you to pay money up front to apply for a remote job or ask you to purchase or lease equipment to start working. You also should avoid giving out valuable personal information such as credit card and Social Security numbers to be considered for a work-from-home position. See this AARP article on remote work scams for more tips on what to watch out for.

How to stand out when applying for no-experience jobs

Many employers focus on skills first when they make their hiring decisions. That means that a college degree or previous years of experience in a similar role are less important than whether you can demonstrate skills that fit what the job posting asks for. Find specific examples from your previous jobs that show you have the necessary skills and highlight those abilities in your application, cover letter and interview.

Your application and interview also should demonstrate you have the skills to be an effective remote worker. See this AARP article on how to write a résumé for remote jobs for more tips.

15 work-from-home jobs that don’t require experience

The following 15 jobs offer remote work opportunities that don’t require previous experience. Clicking on the "Search for" link will take you to a list of the current postings for that position on the AARP Job Board. Median pay is based on the most recent data available through the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics unless otherwise indicated.

1. Customer service representative

Median pay: $18.16 per hour

Search for customer service representative jobs

If you’re comfortable talking with people and finding solutions, you already have the experience required to succeed in this job. In most cases, the employer will provide you with the computer equipment you will use while working from home to respond to calls or messages from customers needing assistance. Employers also typically offer training, along with a script you use to reply to common questions.

Because so many industries want their customers to be satisfied, you may be able to find a job in a field of interest to you, such as technology, clothing or health care. Keep in mind, however, that some customers may be upset before they connect with you. An even temper is a valuable tool in this trade.

2. Data entry clerk

Median pay: $17.40 per hour

Looking For a Job?

SEARCH THE AARP JOB BOARD

Search for data entry jobs

This job usually requires you to type information from forms and documents into the company’s computer. Your typing ability and attention to accuracy are the most important skills for this job. Health care, banking and insurance are some of the industries that most frequently employ data entry clerks.

3. Administrative assistant

Median pay: $21.19 per hour

Search for administrative assistant jobs

One advantage of being a work-from-home administrative assistant — or “virtual assistant,” as they are also called — is that the hours are flexible or part time, in many cases. The responsibilities are largely the same as for an in-office administrative assistant. You’ll be expected to coordinate meetings, assist staff with various projects and help write letters and other documents.

While you can choose to work for just one employer, many virtual assistants approach the job as gig work and work with multiple businesses. If you’re successful at this model, it can grow into a healthy business of your own.

4. Mock juror

Median pay: $20 to $60 per trial

If you’re a fan of courtroom TV dramas such as Law & Order, these short-term positions give you a closer look at how lawyers work. When attorneys want to learn how a jury might react to arguments or pieces of evidence they might present in a trial, these legal teams hire mock juries to test things out.

You are more likely to find these jobs on specialized websites rather than on your usual job boards. Some of the most prominent of these juror websites are eJury, Online Verdict and Jury Test. Once you have registered on the website and filled out a basic profile, the legal teams will contact you when they have a trial for which you might be a good fit.

5. Proofreader

Median pay: $21.83 per hour

Search for proofreader jobs

For many of these jobs, strong grammar skills and a good eye for detail are the primary qualifications. But much of the demand for proofreaders right now is in industries such as pharmaceuticals and law. While employers prefer that applicants have some familiarity with those fields, previous experience is not a requirement.

6. Travel/Reservation agent

Median pay: $22.31 per hour

Search for travel-reservation agent jobs

While many people prefer to make their travel arrangements themselves through websites and apps, there still are opportunities for work in the travel industry. Now that many people are eager to start exploring the world again after two years of being homebound, businesses such as hotels are hiring additional help to manage reservations. If you have lots of travel experience in your background, these jobs are an opportunity to share your knowledge while earning money at home.

7. Tutor

Median pay: $20.09 per hour

Search for tutor jobs

While teachers typically need a license to work in their state, tutors do not. The primary requirement to work as a tutor is some expertise in a particular subject, which can come from your previous work experience or just general personal interests. For example, if you have experience tracking the office finances for a previous employer, a side gig as a math tutor might be good fit for you.

8. Sales representative

Median pay: $16.96 per hour

Search for sales representative jobs

While it’s certainly helpful to have some previous experience working in sales, many companies are willing to consider applicants who have different career backgrounds. The key skill is being able to show that you have the ability to connect with new clients while maintaining relationships with current ones. In addition to being able to work from home, these jobs also tend to offer flexible or part-time hours, since you build your schedule around sales made more than hours worked.

9. Social media specialist

Median pay: $19.54 per hour, according to Indeed

Search for social media jobs

If you are active on Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and other social media platforms, you likely already have the experience needed to handle this job. Managing the photos, videos and other content posted on a company’s social media profile can be a challenging career, especially at a large corporation. But many small businesses in your neighborhood and region also use social media to attract customers. These positions with local or regional companies are great opportunities to earn while working flexible hours.

10. Content writer

Median pay: $38.44 per hour

Search for writer jobs

While a wide range of opportunities are available for this sort of work, the areas with the most demand are technical writing and science. You don’t need to have personal expertise on the subjects you might be covering, but you will need to be comfortable talking with researchers, designers and others to make sure you are explaining things properly as you write manuals, brochures and other key documents.

11. Fitness instructor

Median pay: $22.35 per hour

Search for fitness instructor jobs

You might need a certification to be hired for a full-time position in this field, there are opportunities for part-time remote work if you have a personal background in fitness or sports. These jobs typically involve performing a workout routine via webcam while the viewers follow along.

12. Translator

Median pay: $27.45 per hour

If you’re fluent in a language other than English, translation services can be a practical way to earn money. These positions typically involve translating articles, blog posts and notes originally written in English into a second language. It should be noted, however, that artificial intelligence translation services might affect the long-term job prospects in this field. For example, in the spring of 2024, Duolingo began replacing some of its translators with AI services. Some places you might look for jobs include Unbabel, Translate.com and Upwork.

13. Transcriptionist

Median pay: $20 per hour (per ZipRecruiter)

While artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are taking over some transcription jobs, there still is demand for people can convert conversations — usually recorded but sometimes live — into accurate text documents. Good typing and proofreading skills are essential, as is the ability to make sense of sometimes overlapping voices. Places to look for transcription jobs include SpeakWrite, Tigerfish Transcribing and 3Play Media.

14. Event planner

Median pay: $27.36 per hour

Many people already have some experience with event planning, whether it’s planning a party for friends or a large meeting for work. Those skills can be put to use in a second career as an event planner. One way you might get started is by contacting your personal and professional networks for any gatherings they might need assistance pulling together.

15. Project manager

Median pay: $47.39 per hour

Search for project manager jobs

To get hired for one of these roles, you’ll certainly need to demonstrate that you can guide large projects to completion. But you generally won’t need previous experience specifically as a project manager. If you’ve handled big assignments as a business professional, volunteer worker or even in your personal life, you might have the skills to land one of these positions.

Editor’s Note: This article originally was published on May 4, 2022. It has been updated with more recent information about job postings and wages. Previously available job openings also have been removed.