|
|
Work at Home Agents
Of course, the Internet has changed many types of businesses, usually for the better. Smart companies have realized that the utilizing the Internet in the customer service portion of their business model is a way to boost productivity, reduce overhead, and increase employee retention dramatically. That is why we are at the dawn of the customer service work at home agent revolution.
Anyone interested in becoming a work at home agent should first realize that there are two categories that these jobs fall under. In the first category, work at home agents are regular employees of the company, but rather than traveling to work everyday and being confined to a cubicle, they simply work out of their own homes. As with office-based employees, they have payroll taxes, 401K payments, and health insurance plans.
The second type of work at home agent is an independent contractor. Companies for which independent contractors work will have contracts with multiple clients so the contractors may answer different types of calls on different shifts or may even answer calls for various clients randomly during a given shift.
.
In either case, high speed Internet access is required as customer service agents must either log on to their company's systems through a web based portal or they may need to download software which ties them into the company's system directly. Obviously, a phone line is required as well. Most companies insist on a land line and will not give you a job if you only have a cell phone available.
Benefits of becoming a work from home agent include no commuting costs and time wasted driving to and from work, no dress code which translates into better comfort as well as monetary savings because agents don't have to maintain separate work wardrobes, and shift flexibility since most call center operations run twenty-four hours a day.
Work At Home Agent Opportunities
To get you started on your research, here is a list of companies that employ customer service agents to work out of their own homes. There is a brief description of what agents do for their companies (when available) as well as information on whether the company hires work at home agents as traditional employees or contractors.
JetBlue Airways
JetBlue is well known in this work at home industry because all of its 700 airline reservation agents work out of their own homes. They are regular JetBlue employees.
Alpine Access
Agents at Alpine Access are employees of the company. Employees are paid during the training period.
West at Home
West at Home hires independent contractors to take calls for a variety of their clients handling requests for both products and services.
LiveOps
LiveOps utilizes independent contractors for its positions. The website includes several client case studies which potential agents can read to get a feel for what types of clients the company has.
VIP Desk
The company actually writes its name as "VIPdesk." Agents are independent contractors. The company emphasizes concierge services and mentions on its website that over ninety-five percent of its agents (called Brand Ambassadors) are college educated and about half speak two languages.
Willow CSN
Willow's agents are independent contractors. The company will only work with potential agents who have incorporated their own businesses.
|
|
