Filed under: Careers, Lynnette Khalfani-Cox
A recent study from Right Management showed that
84% of U.S. workers plan to quit their jobs and seek new employment in 2011. If you'd like a better job in the New Year, and have gotten tired of working the typical 9 to 5 gig, you may be on the lookout for work-from-home opportunities or other jobs that offer great flexibility.
While the freedom to work from the convenience of home and set your own schedule sounds nice, beware of any employment offers that request a fee upfront, ask you for any bank account information, or otherwise try to solicit unnecessary personal and financial data from you. Those are red flags for potential scams.
Instead, consider the following five legitimate jobs that let you work from any location on your own time. This list comes courtesy of LiveOps, which hires virtual workers from all around the U.S.
Answering Service Agent
If you've ever tried to get your doctor's advice or schedule an appointment after-hours, you know that most of the time it's a lesson in futility... until a friendly voice gleefully answers the phone. Little known fact, but these answering service agents typically work from a home office, taking calls for doctors and dentist offices, vets, and other businesses - later recording the caller's information and forwarding it along to the "customer."
Answer MTI is a company that hires work at home agents to take calls for everything from basic name and number gathering to complete order-taking. While the hours may be late, it's the perfect way to make some extra money after putting the kids to sleep.
Transcriber
If you've ever been on a conference call or listened to a speech at an event or on TV, you may often wonder how the transcript gets created so quickly. Sometimes an intern or executive assistant has to put their typing and listening skills to the test, but more frequently companies outsource the transcribing to a skilled transcriber through services offered by companies like
Tigerfish that allow people to do the work from the comfort of their own home.
Sales & Customer Service Agent
Remember the last time you ordered something from an infomercial or called a customer service line? Believe it or not, the person on the other end of the phone line was probably taking that call from their home. Thanks to companies like
LiveOps that contract with individuals from across the nation, most customer service representatives are now afforded the flexibility to work from the convenience of their homes, and you could too.
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Black Actors & Their 'Daytime' Jobs
Black Soap Stars: An Intimate Look
Believe it or not, soap operas can be a good breeding ground for some of the greatest actors in Hollywood. From Academy Award winner Morgan Freeman to three-time Emmy Award winning thespian Cicely Tyson, many great black actors have cut their teeth on daytime dramas. While Shemar Moore, Victoria Rowell, Tichina Arnold, Tonya Pinkins, Debbi Morgan and Vivica A. Fox were beloved characters on popular serials, they've done well beyond them. Check them out.
AP / The Star-Ledger
AP
BlackVoices.com
Black Actors & Their Daytime Jobs
Black Soap Stars: An Intimate Look
Believe it or not, soap operas can be a good breeding ground for some of the greatest actors in Hollywood. From Academy Award winner Morgan Freeman to three-time Emmy Award winning thespian Cicely Tyson, many great black actors have cut their teeth on daytime dramas. While Shemar Moore, Victoria Rowell, Tichina Arnold, Tonya Pinkins, Debbi Morgan and Vivica A. Fox were beloved characters on popular serials, they've done well beyond them. Check them out.
Black Actors & Their Daytime Jobs
Kevin Mambo
'Guiding Light' (CBS)
This Zimbabwean-Canadian actor is best known for his role on 'Guiding Light' in the role of Marcus Williams. Williams is a saxophone player who loves his music and a beautiful singer Dahlia Creed, played by Sharon Leal. The actor arrived on the series in August of 1995 and picked up his first Emmy eight months later. He received another Emmy the following year. Mambo left the series three years later and appeared on various TV shows before returning to the world of soaps in 2003, when he took on the role of Dr. Jordan Kingsley on 'One Life to Live.' Between 2003 and 2005, he was a regular on 'Law & Order' franchise. Mambo is currently on Broadway in Lynn Nottage's play 'Ruined' and picked up a 2009 Pulitzer prize for drama.
Black Actors & Their Daytime Jobs
Victoria Rowell
'The Young and the Restless' (CBS)
Speculation continues about whether the Portland, Maine, native will come back to the role that she's played on daytime's number-one rated soap opera, 'The Young and the Restless,' for over 15 years. As Drucilla Winters, Rowell has occupied the longest-running African American female soap character in daytime television. She won 11 NAACP Image Awards. Rowell's first run as Drucilla was from 1990 to 1998. She briefly returned in 2000, and then returned on a regular basis from 2002 until early 2007. Rowell also played Dr. Amanda Bentley on the CBS series 'Diagnosis: Murder,' opposite Dick Van Dyke, and starred opposite Samuel L. Jackson in 2007's 'Home of the Brave.'
Black Actors & Their Daytime Jobs
Shemar Moore
'The Young and the Restless' (CBS)
A former fashion model, the Oakland native began portraying Malcolm Winters on 'The Young and the Restless' in 1994. Once estranged from his brother, Neil (played by Kristoff St. John), Malcolm morphed into one of the most beloved characters on the long-running soap opera -- even garnering a prestigious Emmy Award for outstanding supporting actor in 2000. Since leaving the soap opera, the hunky University of Santa Clara alum has hosted 'Soul Train' and starred in movies such as 'Motives,' 'The Seat Filler' and Tyler Perry's hit 'Diary of a Mad Black Woman.' He currently plays detective Derek Morgan on the CBS prime-time drama 'Criminal Minds.'
Black Actors & Their Daytime Jobs
Tamara Tunie
'As the World Turns' (CBS)
This McKeesport, Pa., native is one of the few actors who's able to hold a daytime and nighttime job at the same time. She plays lawyer Jessica Griffin McKechnie Harris on 'As the World Turns' and medical examiner Melinda Warner on 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.' Tunie has also appeared in a number of theater productions and produced the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical 'Spring Awakening.'
Black Actors & Their Daytime Jobs
Charles Divins
'Passions' (NBC)
Prior to acting, Divins was a model who worked for Tommy Hilfiger and appeared in GQ, Glamour, Cosmopolitan and Gear. When his attention turned to acting, he took on the role of Chad Harris-Crane on the soap 'Passions,' from 2002 to 2007. The Dallas native left the show when it moved from NBC to DirecTV.
Black Actors & Their Daytime Jobs
Cicely Tyson
'Guiding Light' (CBS)
A veteran of film and TV, this New York native had a stint on daytime television nearly 40 years ago. During 1966, Tyson also had a recurring role in the daytime soap opera, 'Guiding Light,' which ended its run this month after 72 years. Her character's name was Martha Frazier. Tyson soon went on star in 1972's 'Sounder,' for which she was nominated for an Oscar for best actress. After working with Tyler Perry in 2005's 'Diary of a Mad Black Woman' and 'Madea's Family Reunion,' Perry mention her name as part of his dream cast for his film adaptation of 'For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf.'
Black Actors & Their Daytime Jobs
Darnell Williams
'All My Children' (ABC)
The London actor was one-half of the first African American supercouple on 'All My Children' (along with Debbie Morgan) for his portrayal of Jesse Hubbard, from 1981 to 1988. Before he left the show, Williams won two Emmys. He returned to the soaps as Jesse's look-alike, Jacob Foster, on 'Loving' and 'The City.' In May 2007, Williams joined the cast of 'Guiding Light' in the recurring role of the villainous Griggs. After a 20-year absence, he returned to the role of Jesse on 'Children' in 2008.
Black Actors & Their Daytime Jobs
Vivica A. Fox
'Generations' (NBC)
Although we've seen the South Bend, Ind., actress make it big in roles in 'Independence Day,' 'Set it Off,' and 'Kill Bill Vol. 1 and 2,' many may remember that she headline the first daytime black soap opera, 'Generations,' when it aired on NBC from 1989 to1991. She played Maya Reubens, opposite Debbie Morgan and Kristoff St. John. Fox later had roles on 'Days of Our Lives,' and 'The Young and the Restless.' In September 2007, she appeared in the sixth season of HBO's 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' as the mother of a family displaced by a hurricane and taken in by Larry and Cheryl. Fox last hosted her own VH1 reality series, titled 'Glam God,' in 2008.
Black Actors & Their Daytime Jobs
Debbie Morgan
'All My Children' (ABC)
In addition to appearing in films such as 'Eve's Bayou' and 'Love and Basketball,' the Dunn, N.C., actress is best known for her role as Dr. Angie Hubbard on the ABC soap opera 'All My Children.' Her role on the show during the '80s was as one-half of the first African American supercouple on the American soap opera (along with Darnell Williams). In 1989, Morgan, in a tie with Santa Barbara actress Nancy Lee Grahn, won the Daytime Emmy for outstanding supporting actress in a drama series. After leaving 'Children,' she had roles on NBC's 'Generations' and ABC's 'Loving' before returning in 2008 to play Angie again on 'Children.'
Black Actors & Their Daytime Jobs
With just a telephone line and an Internet connection, you could create your own business from your home, taking sales or customer service calls for reputable companies like 1-800-Flowers, Pizza Hut and Kodak.
Translator
Speak a second language? Through services like
Telelanguage.com and the
American Translators Association you can put those language skills to use as an online or phone translator. In addition to your knack for a second language, all you need is your computer, an Internet connection and a quiet work space. You'll be able to work from home and be present for important activities in your children's lives.
Tutor
Even though you're not in school anymore, that doesn't mean you can't exercise your brain power. If you're a teacher, professor, traditional tutor, or even an expert in some field, online coaching through
Tutor.com may be the best avenue for you to start your own work-from-home business. Unlimited by geography, you can coach individuals across the nation and set hours that are the most convenient for you -- allowing plenty of time for family needs.
These work options are great not just for those seeking better jobs, but for the millions of Americans who are currently unemployed too. If you are employed, but are seeking greater work flexibility or additional income that you can conveniently earn in your spare time, consider these legitimate work-from-home professions in 2011.
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Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, an award-winning financial news journalist and former Wall Street Journal reporter for CNBC, has been featured in the Washington Post, USA Today, and the New York Times, as well as magazines ranging from Essence and Redbook to Black Enterprise and Smart Money. Check out her New York Times best seller
'Zero Debt: The Ultimate Guide to Financial Freedom.'
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Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, an award-winning financial news journalist and former Wall Street Journal reporter for CNBC, has been featured in the Washington Post, USA Today, and the New York Times, as well as magazines ranging from Essence and Redbook to Black Enterprise and Smart Money. Check out her New York Times best seller 'Zero Debt: The Ultimate Guide to Financial Freedom.'