Working from home is the ultimate dream come true for many people, and there is a lot of talk online about remote data entry clerk work-from-home opportunities that practically anyone can do. But are they legitimate? The answer is: It depends. From how to recognize a scam to where you can go to find legitimate data entry jobs, we'll look at these jobs and let you know whether looking for one and applying is worth your time.
How To Spot a Data Entry Scam
Scammers know how badly people want to work from home, so they use this information to prey on them. Don't get caught up in a scam. Chances are, if it sounds too good to be true, it is. What makes it harder to spot these scams is that they're often posted on legitimate job boards next to real positions. In reality, they have no job offer and only want to steal your identity or try to get you to send them money. Avoid postings for a data entry clerk that:
- Offer money upfront before you do any work, as these are used to steal your identity
- Ask you to pay money before you do any work as these are used just to take your money; they may call it an "administrative fee" or "training fee"
- Claim to be for big companies, such as Amazon, Microsoft, or Apple; they might be titled something like "Microsoft work from home data entry position"
- Claim to be from a company you've never heard of; if you can't find any information about the company online, it likely doesn't exist
- Have glaring spelling and grammar errors
- Offer an insane amount of money; the average data entry clerk makes $17.51 an hour in the United States, and many jobs pay much lower
- Seek you out; employers rarely seek out employees via social media
- Just don't feel right, such as they only communicate via text, ask you to make an investment in software before you can start, or offer six- or seven-figure salaries; if something feels off, it probably is
How To Find Legit Data Entry From Home (Part-time)
Just because there are many scams out there, it doesn't mean that there aren't legitimate work-from-home data entry jobs available as well. You just have to know what to look for. In most cases, the salary is the best place to start. If it's around the average or below, there's a good chance you're onto something.
Next, research the company. A legitimate job posting will give you full details about who they are and how you can contact them. They'll be open to phone calls and video meetings, and they'll provide you with detailed information about who they're looking for and the type of work you'll do. They won't ask you for copies of personal information or your bank data.
To help you get started, here are some companies that often have work-from-home data entry positions available:
- Axion Data Services
- Capital Typing
- Kendall Creek Communications
- Clickworker
- Microworkers
- Fancy Hands
- SigTrack
- Xerox
Keep in mind that many of these companies offer seasonal work, and some may offer other work-from-home opportunities beyond data entry. You'll also usually be working as an independent contractor rather than an actual employee. Another tip for ensuring a job is legit is to ask for a contract. A good company will usually offer you one upfront, but they won't shy away if you ask for one either.
What Skills Do You Need to Get Work From Home Data Entry Jobs?
If you see a job posting that says, "Work From Home Data Entry Jobs, No Experience," it may feel like a red flag, but it's not always. Many of these smaller jobs are suitable for someone with no experience. But that doesn't mean you don't need to have certain soft skills.
Naturally, you'll need to know your way around a computer if you're going to work remotely. That usually means understanding hardware, such as scanners and printers, as well as software like Microsoft Word, Excel, and Google Sheets. A knowledge of spreadsheets is usually a plus.
You'll also need to be good at typing. The faster you type, the more work you complete, and the more work you complete, the more you earn. Some companies even have a minimum typing speed requirement, usually around 40 to 60 words per minute (wpm). Not only do you need to be fast, but your typing needs to be accurate. A company may even give you a typing test so you can prove your accuracy rate as well as your speed.
Finally, you'll need to be a good communicator. While you'll be working remotely, you'll be in contact with your manager or supervisor regularly, via email, phone, or video meetings. You'll need to know how to reach out and explain a problem when something goes wrong.
