Laptop or PC for data entry from home?

[Discretionassured]

Just that really, I'm looking to return to work after 15 years out of the work force and need to WFH. No real qualifications, had jobs (office/retail type stuff) pre-kids but no career as such so I'm looking to do an Excel course and then look for data entry or customer service positions. I have a room I can use as an office so have space for a PC if that would be better than a laptop, just a bit clueless where to start.

I'd probably go laptop with separate mouse, monitor, keyboard etc.

Most workplaces will probably provide you with your own laptop unless you're going to be self employed.

Quite a few places will provide the accoutrements listed above.

The benefit of a laptop is you can take it out and about if you want/need but they aren't comfortable for long term use hence the accessories on top.

Laptop, separate monitor(s), wireless mouse and keyboard.

Are you sure you are going to find a fully WFH data entry role after 15 years out of the workforce? Have you actually seen any, that look real? I have had a very long career in finance and have never come across any roles that were purely data entry.

I have now semi retired from my finance career so last year I took a temporary job that was about as close to data entry as you might find, although I still wouldn’t say it was pure data entry. And it didn’t involve excel, I would think if you are doing data entry it would be just as likely to be entering information into a system as an excel spreadsheet.

Anyway in this role, there is no way I would have been allowed to WFH full time, in fact they said full time in the office for a month or two, moving onto 2 out of 5 days WFH.

I would honestly hold off buying anything until you need it, but as said, you are almost certainly not going to need to provide your own laptop or desktop and I would be more thinking about keyboard, monitor, mouse, comfortable furniture.

I did say I was clueless Figmentof! And no, I'm not sure of anything, just did some googling about jobs I could do from home and that's what came up. I'm literally groping around in the dark so any more viable ideas would be most welcome.

I have seen customer service positions, and have a relative who does that exclusively from home who might be able to give me an in, so hopefully that is still an option at least. I'm utterly terrified tbh but am trying to build on the improvements I've made to my MH and do something productive again so feel a bit deflated reading your post. Would be very grateful for any advice anyone can give about what will actually be achievable for me, I can't be completely useless surely?

Hi OP, did you find anything suitable in the end? I’m in a similar position to you, however have done some ‘casual’ work that fit around my family etc to bring some extra coin in. Have just applied for a job as a support worker, however WFH, part time would suit me down to the ground. Hope you’ve managed to find something and are feeling fulfilled x