I remember about 12 years ago, I was sitting in the apartment I shared with my then-husband. He was working. Bringing in the money, but I wanted and even needed something to do. But I wasn’t sure I was really good at anything. I segued into writing when I started writing for my hyperlocal newspaper, even getting to interview some people, which was fun. But not soon after, of course, my endometriosis decided to kick up, severely limiting my ability to get out there and photograph events and report on them. I had to quit.
But I had gotten a taste of writing, and I loved it. People were telling me I was good at it, so I took that as a sign to put myself out there and try to get another job, this time online.
Sure enough, I did find my first writing job on a parenting website, which has been my primary niche since all those years ago. Yes, I have written for other verticals as well, and I currently work for a home-improvement/home décor website. I’m not going to bore you with all the jobs I’ve had or all the pieces I’ve written over the years. If you are interested in seeing some of the things that I have written, feel free to check out my online portfolio.
The thing of course, about freelancing, is that you are your own contractor, and you have to pay taxes yourself, as none are taking out as an independent contractor, unless you are hired as a full-fledged employee of the company. Sometimes companies will do that, but for the most part, freelance can come and go. This has been the case for me for the past 12 years. I’ve held jobs for about a year or two and then I was let go, sometimes due to staff cuts, other times due to the actual website shutting down. Unfortunately my writing for those websites are eternally lost to the ether when it comes to that. But it all depends on the company you get hired with! But I haven’t been jobless for more than three to four months. I’ve always consistently found something.
I literally started from nothing as far as writing goes. As websites hired me, and I began to get other articles under my belt, I was able to build an online portfolio, where in addition to my resume, potential employers can see where I have written and hire me based on my experience.
I want to share the various ways and different boards that I have come across over the years, in hopes that it may help someone else seeking a work-at-home job, not even necessarily writing. I have personally used all of the job boards posted below to seek employment. Some I have had luck with, and others not so much. But it absolutely never hurts to look, because you never know what is out there! Right now, I have the best paying writing job I have ever held. Here are some of the job boards that I love! Go ahead and click on the screenshot, it will take you directly to the job board!
FreelanceWriting
FreelanceWriting.com was definitely one of the later job boards that I was introduced to, but I am very grateful for it. It helped me land a few gigs (which are quick jobs). I even found one freelance job on there! One thing I love about this particular job board is that they update so often throughout the day, that there are many high-quality listings looking for their dream candidate. Check this one often, everyday if you are on the hunt! They look for everything from content writers, blog writers, to copywriter jobs and more.
Visit FreelanceWriting
JournalismJobs
Journalism Jobs is more for, well, jobs in journalism. While I haven’t personally found a job on this board, I checked it every day before I landed my current job. It is more up the alley of someone who is interested in writing for newspapers, digital news companies, and magazines. It’s great for someone who likes to write more news-like content. Personally, I am into content writing/blog writing. But this is a very valuable resource for anyone seeking something in journalism or anything similar.
Visit JournalismJobs
FreelanceWritingGigs
When I tell you that I love and relied on this site everyday to post new jobs, I mean it. The first thing I would do some days is hop on and peruse this job board. The wonderful curator does a wonderful job of finding very high-quality job leads. This has led to a few hires for me. This is definitely one job board that is definitely worth your time. Take some time to look back at the previous week’s postings too, you never know, you can submit your resume, and you may get an e-mail or call back! I know I did.
Visit FreelanceWritingGigs
ProBlogger
Each day, ProBlogger posts new jobs from various websites looking for writers. As you can see, they have different places where you can freelance from. Plenty of them are “anywhere,” which makes it easy to work from wherever you are. Those are my favorite kind of jobs. Some are looking for experts in their field, while others are entry-level and they will train you. It just depends on the company. But jobs on this board are definitely worth a peek if you are looking to work from home.
Visit ProBlogger
Rat Race Rebellion
I love Rat Race Rebellion! There are some really good gigs on there, and they are solid job leads. They even have a whole section of “big work at home jobs.” They send e-mails daily with brand new jobs, and even some special ones that are hiring from home. This one isn’t just writing. It encompasses everything! You want to moderate chats? There are jobs for that! Insurance, billing, customer care? They really have every kind of job out there that they curate. I highly suggest signing up for their e-mail newsletter.
Visit Rat Race Rebellion
WAH Job Queen
With a list of vetted legitimate work-at-home jobs, WAHJobQueen has done a fabulous job at curating some of the best work-from-home jobs out there. From helping to book cruises, to roadside assistance, there are literally a ton of work at home jobs that you can do, depending on your skillset. But even then, in some jobs, they will train you to get you on your feet. It is well worth signing up for their newsletter for new jobs to your inbox every single day. Plus, Tywanna, the amazing creator of this website, even shares jobs on her Facebook group, too!
Wow, this is a great list of resources, and your story is inspiring as well. It’s true that freelancers will always have to run their own show, ranging from sourcing jobs to negotiating deals (sometimes even having to be loan sharks). Thanks for sharing this!
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