To think there are no real, enjoyable ‘work from home’ jobs?

[AnneTwackie]

I’d like to reduce my hours and do something different working from home. Everything I see looks like a scam.
Tell me your happy/horror stories.

Another translator here. It's not always plain sailing but I wouldn't change it.

You have to have a real marketable skill that people are happy to pay for if you want to set up your own business and work from home.

Either that or be employed by a forward-thinking company that offers WFH days to members of staff. But obviously then you'd have to work for a company where you just needed e.g. internet access and a laptop, etc., at home, not specialised equipment.

I run my own business from home as an editor/proofreader. Other careers where you can wfh include graphic designer, copywriter, artist, author, marketing person, IT, virtual assistant, admin roles, researcher (picture, video, etc.), etc.

I used to have an incredible freelance work-from-home job, for a service called 'Any Question Answered'. People would text in random questions, often drunkenly, and I'd sit there replying to them. Payment was per question and at busy times it was such incredibly easy money. Sadly the arrival of smartphones pretty much killed that business model. I miss those days.

Many companies opt for working at home depending on the role. It depends upon whats best for you. It can be isolating even with the use of Skype

I'm a software developer. Everyone in my company works from home, we have a meeting together every week or so and skype each other in between meetings.
I have worked from home for the past 20 years with 2 different companies.
It has made combining children with a career much easier but I have taken a massive financial hit when I stayed with the previous company for years because I couldn't find another wfh job, and so they decided they didn't need to give me payrises.

I'd love to do some copywriting or editing or writing. I dont live in UK so perhaps that could be an advantage given the time difference? Can anyone suggest a way to offer my services?

@shinny - have a look at www.sfep.org.uk/. It's the UK's professional organisation for editors and proofreaders, and offers training and info on how to work in this field.

It's not a quick or easy fix, though - it usually takes 2 years to set up a freelance editing business. It's a very competitive market.

My job isnt really a WFH job. I work as a paralegal for a law firm and I WFH once or twice a week. However my understanding is that our firm is v rare in providing opportunities to WFH for such junior staff members. My pay is low and I would be paid more at some other firms but whenever I enquire about opportunities to WFH or work PT I immediately get told they won't accommodate that. So I am pretty stuck where I am. On the plus side the set up really works for me, I love WFH and I wish I could do it more often but firm won't let us (which I can sorta understand tbf). It takes me an hour each way to work and back so just from the get go I have saved two hours of my working day which I spend doing household chores.

@toomanyleggings

I’m not based in the UK and the publishers I work for are all based in the country I live in. The work needs fluency in the local language and knowledge of the school curriculum. Do you do something similar?

I’m so envious at these replies!

I do get to do the occasional work from home if I’m unwell or if the boiler needs fixing etc but I have to ask permission.

I like being in the office as well though. My house isn’t set up for me working from home as I don’t really do it enough.

I’m in a retraining position so once I’m qualified I might be able to WFH more but need to get the exams out the way first.

Working from home can be great, but as ever, salary is an important factor. I used to get paid about 12 quid an hour for part of my job at home. Nowadays the same task pays nearly 30 quid an hour. I prefer it now and if it paid £100 quid I’d like it even more.

I work for the NHS and work from home half the time. I attend lots of meetings so am out a lot aswell, but if nothing's planned in i stay home. I've had lots of roles in the NHS and this is the only Trust that gives you a laptop and a phone on your first day, but it can be done!

Someone rightfully pointed out the isolating factor of working at home. It affects people differently due to specific circumstances but it’s worth baring in mind, especially if you are lucky enough to currently have fun and supportive colleagues.

I work from home - instructional designer (I design primarily online training courses). The company I work for uses loads of contractors who work remotely, so they’re very chill about working from home as long as you meet your deadlines and keep clients happy. I used to freelance for them but was made permanent a couple of years ago. A friend who contracts there actually went travelling round Europe in a van and continued working for them a couple of days a week!

@Mencho I'm in the UK. I teach English Literature in a college but it's a struggle with childcare.

@FruityWidow oh wow a narrow boat how amazing! That would be my dream to live on a boat and see the whole country! Maybe once DC are grown and gone ......

I work from home 3 days a week, flexibility to do more if I wanted to but I like the visibility of being in the office a couple of days a week.

Prof services. It used to be that it was mostly women coming back after mat leave that would go p/t or WFH, this isn't the case and all are activley encouraged to work from home at least a day a week.

A friend of mine works as a bookkeeper for a large accounting firm, entirely from home.
A few other friends do freelance work from home (eg proofreading, graphic design, dog sitting/walking) - but it can be too unpredictable (and in some cases, poorly paid) to count on as a steady income. A few friends teach English via Skype, that seems to be going well for them. Another teaches piano from home.

Check out www.themoneyshed.co.uk for ideas.

speakout that's amazing about your friends! What sorts of start-ups are they? Sorry I don't mean to be nosy, I just love the idea of a start-up but I don't really know what it means in practice!

I work from home in a Technical Management position full time. Team is spread over several countries some home workers, some office based. I moved from full time office to 3 days to full time wfh.

My company is moving those who reasonably can to wfh, it's effective for them cost wise and most people are happy to do so and have the flexibility it brings. Win-Win.

I work half my time from home, definitely a “proper” job, I’m highly qualified & well paid. But I have 15 years experience in my industry and worked in the office 5 days a week for a few years at my current company before getting the flexibility, which I negotiated when I returned from maternity leave.

Many jobs in IT nowadays are home based. You need few years of experience but quite few companies are saving a lot of money by not providing office desks for all employees FT. I know mine does that and my team members are all over world so it is really irrelevant where I am providing I do my hours.

I work from home as a self employed photographer

Another proofreader and copy-editor here, specialising in financial content. My early career was in book publishing, then I worked as an in-house editor at an economics consultancy before moving into freelancing.
It can be lonely, but the flexibility is marvellous! And I’m another who can’t stand a commute of any great length.

I work from home 100%. I work in customer service, for a company that raises money for charities and non-profits. So we can keep our admin fees low, we don't have offices.

One of my friends works in tech support and works from home 100% too.

There are real jobs out there that involve working from home, but they're not incredibly easy to find and I think it really depends on your sector and area of work. I know some people who work in finance who can't get that level of flexibility as they're still dealing with a lot of paper!

I'm a translator too! There seems to be a lot of us on mumsnet!

Working from home is the best thing I've ever done. No commute, no boss, no office politics, complete flexibility, TONS more time with my kids... It's perfect for me.

@notanoccultexpert excuse my ignorance, but can I ask how you make money from this?

I'd also love to hear about the startups.

WFH is something I've been looking into recently but I have no real skills or talents that I think could translate into something lucrative