Work at Home Jobs – Virtual Call Agent Guide

When you call an airline to book a flight, or an insurance company to get a quote or even a law firm to join a class action lawsuit, you might be talking to a virtual call agent who works from home. These virtual workers answer incoming calls, emails or make outbound calls for companies. It’s a great gig for jobseekers that enjoy customer service work, or if you like to talk. Here’s what you need to know about this job option:

Quiet Environment

You will not get hired if you’re not able to maintain a quiet environment. Companies don’t want your customers to hear a barking dog (either yours or your neighbors), screaming kids, television programs or other noise in the background. In fact, the main criteria that a recruiter will be assessing when they call you for an interview is whether you are able to have a quiet home environment during your shift. Make sure that your home office is carpeted, and consider soundproofing it if you really want this type of work.

Equipment Deposit

Some companies may require you to make a deposit in order to receive their phone equipment. When you’re done working for the company and return it in the proper condition, then you’ll get your deposit back. The company may require you to purchase the phone and headset. You’ll have to decide whether it’s worth it to you to make the purchase. For example, if you’re guaranteed a salary of $30,000 a year for a legitimate company that will pay you an hourly wage, then the $200 to $350 equipment purchase might be worth it.

Self Scheduling

When you work for a company as a virtual call agent, you may have to commit to a set schedule. There are some companies that have a more flexible scheduling model, and you should seek employment with them first. Self scheduling allows you to book your own hours each week. The way it works is that the virtual team is split into groups, and one day a week you can sign up for your shift the following week depending on what group you’re in. For example, group A signs up on Mondays and group B signs up on Tuesdays. The group assignments are based on performance. If you do well at meeting quality assurance requirements, then you can join groups that sign up for their shifts early on in the week, before later groups stuck with possibly less favorable shifts.

Where to Find Work

Do a search for “virtual call center job” or “virtual call agent job” in a search engine and you’ll find job listings by companies hiring. You can check your favorite work at home job boards daily for listings. You can also research virtual call centers in case a company has not advertised an opening on other websites.

Remember that this job is not just for extroverts. If you’re an introvert, don’t shy away from work as a virtual call agent. You may enjoy this work at home job opportunity since you don’t have to see the customers you’re dealing with.