How to Work from Home as Virtual Customer-Service Agent

Many companies give you the opportunity to work in customer service from home.

A growing number of companies are turning to virtual customer agents to provide customer service support. The costs for these virtual agents are often much lower than the costs for maintaining a traditional call center. This boom in virtual agents is creating opportunities for people to work as agents from the comfort of their own home or office.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

1. Search for companies that are hiring virtual customer service agents. Many businesses outsource telephone-based customer service to companies like West at Home or Alpine Access that hire virtual customer service agents.

2. Read over the company's rules, FAQs and application process thoroughly. Some companies have tight restrictions about the type of employees hired. For example, some virtual customer service companies will only hire people who agree to a background check.

3. Complete any required interviews or online questionnaires to secure your work-at-home customer service position. Virtual customer service companies -- like all companies -- are looking for a certain skill set for their agents and there is a possibility your skills do not match their needs.

4. Transform your home office into an effective workspace by eliminating clutter and installing a second phone line for your customer calls. Many virtual customer service companies require you to have a phone that is free of extra features like call waiting, voicemail and caller ID. Your workspace must also remain free of any background noise -- crying children or barking dogs in the background can cost you your virtual position.

5. Complete any required training before you start work. The company-specific training will help you learn how to do your job and help answer any questions. Many companies offer the opportunity for one-on-one help if there is a process or rule you do not understand.

Tips & Warnings

• The pay for virtual customer service positions will vary from company to company. Be sure to ask about pay before starting work.

• Many companies require their agents to work a minimum of 20 hours a week to stay on with the company.

• Many virtual customer service companies, including West at Home, will require you to pay for your background check.

• Beware of scams. Legitimate companies will not ask for a fee to apply or interview for a virtual agent position.

• Most companies employ virtual customer service agents as independent contractors, meaning you will be responsible for paying any applicable taxes on your earnings. Also, you will not receive medical or vacation benefits as an independent contractor.

References

• Women for Hire: Virtual Customer Service

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Alpine Access
• Live Ops
• West at Home