Work at home jobs - how does one go about it?

9 years ago

I'm currently working, have been in the insurance industry for 20 years. My current boss has one foot out the door towards retirement and I know I need to prepare. He's already asked me if I would want to buy the agency, I don't want to do that. I'm 56 this year and I don't want to work 6-7 days a week nor do I have the necessary cash flow to do so. I'm trying to prepare for what is coming in a year or so. Having been unemployed for 08/2015 to 03/2016 and searching for a job I'm not looking forward to having to do it again but it's headed that way. I also have an 81 year old mother living with me, she's been able to care for herself for the most part but that could change. Whatever I do next I need some flexibility just in case. I've worked from home before, ran a customer service for a major water filtration company many years ago so discipline and organization are not a problem for me, those are actually strong suits of mine. I'd like to find something I can do from home just in case mom requires more from me. I figured now would be a good time to start learning something and preparing but I just can't figure out how to get into that kind of position. Any recommendations? The insurance I sell and service is auto, home, some life, umbrella's, motorcycle, etc. This is property and casualty but I'm also life licensed. No, I'm not interested in selling life insurance over the phone. I take life insurance very seriously and prefer to sell it on a face to face basis.

Thank you in advance for your thoughts.

Featured Answer

rob333 (zone 7b)

9 years ago

Medical transcription is a dying field (we use Dragon at work), I fear. Check it out thoroughly...

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (14)

satine_gw
9 years ago
Out of your realm but since you have time to prepare how about medical transcription? Doctors hire out transcription and it can produce a good income. You need to be certified but sounds like you have time to prepare for that. Good luck.
two25acres thanked satine_gw
Judy Good
9 years ago
I was thinking the same thing Satine_gw.........
two25acres thanked Judy Good
Related Discussions
9 to 5 job, no one at home, how do you take care of hardening off
Q
Comments (14)
Susan's schedule is probably best for you. Leave them in the shade for about nine days (but at least a week) if the weather is predicted to be mild and not windy. (I tend to err on the side of caution for hardening plants off.) Diffused natural light without a filter has a great many more lumens than any light we give them inside. That shade may seem tame to you, but to seedlings, it's heady stuff that won't burn them! Then on the weekend when you're home, move them into the early morning and late afternoon sunlight. Finally, expose them to full sunlight all day until you can transplant them. Then you should be able to plant them out without fear of their sun-scalding. And there's another way. Trudi of Winter-Sowing reputation recommends setting the seedlings outside all day under a laundry basket that has holes in the sides large enough to allow diffused light to come through as well as air circulation. You could also use one of those to shade your seedlings if you don't have a shady spot. You could leave them all there for a week to nine days, and then remove the basket and let them toast in the sun. Either way, just make sure you keep them watered and bring them inside if it's going to be windy or too cold for them.
...See More
Does anyone one know anything about Medical Transcription jobs?
Q
Comments (21)
Looks as though you have gotten some good advice so far but thought I would add my 2 cents. I am currently employed as a Medical Transcriptionist and thankful I only have about a year to go before I can retire. I have been a transcriptionist for approximately 33 years and have seen the profession slowly disintegrate. Our hospital started out with 10 full time employees, now we are 3 FT with 2 PT. Last week, we didn't have enough work for everyone so us 3 FT employees took a day off so the 2 part time could get their hours in (we get PTO, they don't). Our hospital installed the voice recognition system about 2 to 3 years ago and it has been downhill for us since then. As people quit, they were not replaced. There are a few doctors that will refuse to use the system and a few that the system can not pick up well enough to transcribe but that's not enough to keep everyone busy. We are now known as editors since we basically listen and follow along with the report, correct errors, etc, and not transcriptionist since we don't transcribe very much now. There are coder jobs that can be done at home as we have coders doing this and so far their positions are safe, I think we have about 10 of those still. This would be a safer position if you think this is something you would like. Hope I have helped in your decision. Lizzann
...See More
How does one find a good home inspector?
Q
Comments (4)
Hire an independent company/individual. Not a good idea to use someone recommended by a realtor---I speak from several instances of experience(fixing problems in houses inspected by those types). Good point chispa made. What do you want the inspector to do? Make sure codes are followed? Make sure the GC is not shorting the build? Or acting as your agent? Many have a fee for an inspection, based on time/size/depth of inspection. What you detail would mean either a set fee for a set number of inspections/hours on an hourly fee for time.
...See More
Work from home jobs
Q
Comments (21)
My SIL fell into a work from home job that she loves and has been doing for 15+ years. She transcribes inspection reports for a yacht insurance brokerage firm. They used to send tapes, now I think it's online audio files, that she writes up, edits and organizes into formal reports of their findings which she then submits in a certain format back to the company. She started out getting paid by the page, now it may be salary but it has become a real source of satisfaction for her. She is/was a SAH so this is supplemental income and at almost 66 YO she intends to keep doing it indefinitely. It's a great set up for both parties-they send the work to her, she does it within a set deadline for submission but on her own schedule and it gives her plenty of time to live a fairly stress free and comfortable lifestyle (errands, gym time, manage the household etc).
...See More
two25acres
Original Author
9 years ago
That might be interesting. Many years ago I attempted to get my degree in nursing. Medical terminology/medicine has always interested me.
two25acres
Original Author
9 years ago
I can understand that. I would imagine that also decreases the risk for liability. Thank you.
rob333 (zone 7b)
9 years ago
To be honest, I find it doesn't do the job quite that well, and my boss went right back to his "old" system. Me! So maybe others feel that way? But I'm not really hearing that. Good luck!

When I first read you got a clean slate, I thought, what an opportunity! but it can be daunting. I left insurance 13+ years ago (health fields, not P&C), and medical fits well since it's the flip side of health insurance. Flip side of P&C? I dunno! Sell boats? ;) Good luck with your clean slate.
two25acres thanked rob333 (zone 7b)
Jasdip
9 years ago
Medical transcription is a dying field. And from what I see locally, the ones with experience get the jobs, it's hard for new graduates to find any work. Our kijiji has ads with experienced transcriptionists looking for more work. They also decreased the pay, it's not as lucrative. You have to type more, for less money. Also with many languages of doctors, it's not easy to transcribe.

Our own doctors who used to use transcriptionists (talk into recorders) use voice recognition software.
two25acres thanked Jasdip
User
9 years ago
Some of the large insurance co's like USAA and Prudential hire telecommuting positions from time to time. With your experience, I bet you would be a shoe-in. They do require you to have a reliable PC and fast internet connection. Might be well worth looking into. Many fill these jobs through staffing agencies, but since you are very experienced and currently employed in the insurance field, you might be able to apply directly.
two25acres thanked User
dees_1
9 years ago
If you like working with the parent company, check with them to see if they have any positions you can apply for. You may have a leg up on the competition since you have experience with that company.
two25acres thanked dees_1
two25acres
Original Author
9 years ago
Thank you all. Petra_gw I just so happen to have a very successful niece that works at manpower. She is on maternity leave right now but perhaps I should be tapping her shoulder for suggestions. I do thank you for that.
two25acres
Original Author
9 years ago
I work for an agent and I don't like the direction the company we represent is going in. Major Illinois company but I don't think I could work for it directly. I know I would have a "leg up" with a lot of recommendations for agents and managers but it's not what I would want. It's another reason I don't want to buy the agency that I currently work in.
maddielee
9 years ago

Amazon is advertising that they are hiring work from home customer service reps. Check the link to see if they are hiring in your area.
two25acres thanked maddielee
Hareball
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I was going to suggest Amazon too. They also have Amazon Flex. It's where you work delivering packages using your own car. You download the app and sign up for shifts. So this may work with making things more flexible for you. But I don't know if it's available in your area. Maybe something to keep in mind.
two25acres thanked Hareball
cacocobird
9 years ago
I've found a few work at home jobs on craigslist. Some were pretty good, others weren't worth the time. You need to be very picky.
two25acres thanked cacocobird

Work at home jobs - how does one go about it?

rob333 (zone 7b)

Comments (14)

satine_gw

Judy Good

Related Discussions

two25acres
Original Author

two25acres
Original Author

rob333 (zone 7b)

Jasdip

User

dees_1

two25acres
Original Author

two25acres
Original Author

maddielee

Hareball

cacocobird

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Work at home jobs - how does one go about it?

Comments (14)

Related Discussions

two25acresOriginal Author

two25acresOriginal Author

two25acresOriginal Author

two25acresOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

two25acres
Original Author

two25acres
Original Author

two25acres
Original Author

two25acres
Original Author