.png){kind=small}
One thing bothers me constantly is seeing women compromise on themselves – whether in terms of their wellbeing or career. It is women like you and me who find it difficult to re-enter the workforce due to family responsibilities or a long sabbatical on the resume. Whatever be the reason, I understand that it affects your financial freedom and self confidence. So while you are still unable to take up a full time opportunity, here are some options that you can explore from home and see if it befits you.
Each of these opportunities have a huge potential and if you take the right steps in establishing yourself as a pro – there is no going back to a full time job. They offer freedom and flexibility to spend time with your family + unbelievable abundance.
VIRTUAL ASSISTANCE (VA)
What is VA and their responsibilities?
Executive Assistance is needed by almost all sorts of professionals. But they don’t always have an office space or need a physical Assistant. Therefore, more and more people now prefer to contract their work to freelancers. Enter- Virtual Assistance. A Virtual Assistant is a freelance worker who provides assistance to the employer as per the requirement. If you are considering this position, bear in mind, the work is usually administrative or secretarial in nature.
How to prepare for the position
If you are serious about working as a VA, the international pay rate is quite liberal. It can pay you anywhere between $10- $30 per hour i.e. INR 650- INR 2000 per hour. Note that to get these rates you will have to be patient and build your portfolio a bit. In order to prepare for the position, create your CV as per International standards. Do not fall into the trap of oversharing in your CV and write down a cover letter for the express purpose of VA opportunities.
Where to find suitable opportunities?
If you are an absolute beginner, I would suggest you create your freelancing profile on Freelancer or Upwork and start bidding. It will not pay off right away but will build your profile gradually. For immediate work opportunities you can search Facebook groups which are dedicated to Hiring Virtual Assistants. These groups have a regular inflow of requirements and is a good starting point. I also have to make a special mention of an Indian startup – WorkSera which is exclusively for women freelancers. They not only offer job opportunities but also impart training – that awesome no?
DIGITAL MARKETING
What is Digital Marketing and the responsibilities?
Do you notice how everything is online currently? That is because it is! Every business is online today and just like a traditional business requires marketing, the online ones do too. You will have heard the term Digital Marketing but what does it entail? Digital marketing is not just social media, it comes in various forms like email marketing etc and can be a very rewarding option if taken seriously.
How to prepare for the position
DIgital marketing jobs pay quite well. The range is anywhere between INR 1000- INR 3000 per hour. But it is not something you can do without proper knowledge. The good news is, that all of the knowledge required is freely available on the internet. You can sign up for Google’s Digital Marketing course and a few others on Coursera. In less than a month, you should be able to work as a Digital Marketer!
Where to find suitable opportunities?
With Digital Marketing, it is best to start local. Approach your local businesses and propose to them the idea of you marketing them online. Some businesses require only a certain aspect of Digital Marketing like social media marketing, you can find them in Facebook groups or Job boards such as the Freelancer and WorkSera. Approaching a brand / company that you really admire is also a great way to get started. I myself have worked with customers of Burst of Happyness who have written to me looking for opportunities.
CONTENT/ COPYWRITING
What is Content/Copywriting and the responsibilities?
The internet is made up of content! Every single platform requires content and it requires a bamboozling amount of it. Content writing or Copywriting is one of the most popular freelancing options available. If you have a flair for writing and a good hold over grammar, this is very much for you.
How to prepare for the position
Content writing is fairly simple. However, Copy Writing is a creative process and pays much better. Xavier Institute of Communication, Mumbai offers a certificate course in creative writing. In order to prepare yourself for either of these positions, you should practice writing on your own. Pick up a brand that you like and create some interesting content for them – that way you not only get some practice you can also approach the brand with your ideas. You can download a free tool named Grammarly which will smooth over any grammatical errors that you may have missed in your writing.
Where to find suitable opportunities?
Just like VA, Writing is also a service that can be availed on Freelancer, Upwork, WorkSera or Facebook groups (here’s a genuine facebook group that you can join https://www.facebook.com/groups/593646384053757/). You can also look up LinkedIn Jobs for Freelance writing positions. Given how commonly required service it is, you can just spread the work in your circle to check if anyone needs to hire a writer. There is no fixed payment for writing as it completely depends on your quality of writing and the client’s requirements. Most professional writers charge on a per article or per word basis.
MYSTERY SHOPPING
What is Mystery Shopping and the responsibilities?
Mystery Shopping is a completely new concept in India but it is growing fast. Mystery Shopping is where a company hires you to pose as a normal shopper and review the shopping experience in exchange for money or the shopped items. So what are you supposed to do? Just take up an assignment, visit the store, shop as per the guidelines, fill a form, and get paid!
How to prepare for the position
Mystery shopping is not something that can be done full time in India yet. As each assignment only pays about INR 300- INR 500 each and the assignments are infrequent in themselves. You can still make the most out of it by looking at it as smart shopping rather than an income source.
Where to find suitable opportunities?
Look up Mystery shopping firms in India and sign up as their shopper, you can apply to assignments and get paid as we speak!
PROFESSIONAL VIRTUAL CONSULTANCY
What is PVC and the responsibilities?
Okay, this option is not for everyone. This is only for the professionals with experience who are unable to take up full time opportunities. Professional Virtual Consultancy means consulting people professionally over the phone or skype. This option works best for Counsellors, advisors, or coaches.
How to prepare for the position
If you are a professional, the only preparation you require is to set up your virtual consultancy. Create a strong social media presence, spread the word, and let the world know you are up for it. You can additionally, advertise in the initial phases but word of mouth is the best publicity for PVC.
Where to find suitable opportunities?
Opportunities for PVC are completely variable as per your profession. If you are an education counsellor, you can tie up with colleges or educational institutes. If you are a financial advisor, you can advertise on certain blogs. Basically, identify your target audience and market accordingly.
There are way more opportunities out there that you can avail with a little research.
Join our Facebook group to get in touch with other ladies like yourself, learn from their experiences and share your work:
You can always get in touch with me for further doubts and details.
Love,
Shreya
If you want to be a Work-From-Home Entrepreneur and are struggling to find an idea, join me on Dream Biz Discovery
Comentarios