Entry-Level Remote Jobs: Who’s Hiring and How to Qualify

Remote work isn’t just for techies anymore. Companies across industries are actively hiring for roles that don’t require specialized degrees, and many provide full training. If you’re looking for flexible hours, better work-life balance, or cost savings (think gas, work clothes, eating out), there’s a clear path forward. 

Here’s your roadmap: the jobs that are actually hiring, how to make yourself more competitive quickly, and where to find legitimate opportunities.

Remote Jobs You Can Land Without a Specialized Degree

The remote job market has expanded significantly, and several entry-level positions consistently hire candidates based on soft skills rather than formal credentials. But let’s be realistic about what “entry-level remote work” actually looks like. You’re more likely to land a position with a staffing company, a business process outsourcing firm, or a growing mid-size company than with a household name. Companies across the US hire thousands of remote workers each year and some explicitly offer paid training programs for people with no prior experience.

Here’s what you can expect:

Customer Service Representative ($15-20/hour) remains one of the most accessible entry points, but you have to consider what the job involves. You’ll spend your day helping frustrated customers, and some of them will be impatient, or downright rude. People will hang up on you. You’ll handle complaints about things that aren’t your fault. The job requires patience, a thick skin, and the desire to be helpful even when someone is venting at you. 

That said, if you can handle sometimes difficult conversations, these roles offer genuine opportunity. TTEC, Concentrix, and Teleperformance all run large-scale remote hiring programs with paid training lasting two to six weeks. Working Solutions and Liveops operate on independent contractor models with flexible scheduling.

Training that helps: 

• HubSpot Academy offers a free Customer Service certification that covers handling difficult interactions and using service software. 
• LinkedIn Learning’s communication and conflict resolution courses can also strengthen your application, and many libraries provide free access.

Data Entry Clerk ($14-18/hour) roles require accuracy and decent typing speed, but rarely ask for specialized experience. You’ll input information into databases, verify records, and maintain digital files. The work can be repetitive, and speed matters since many positions track your output.

Attention to detail is more important than credentials here. Companies like Axion Data Services, DionData Solutions, and SigTrack (during election seasons) hire remote data entry specialists, though positions can be competitive.

Training that helps: 

• LinkedIn Learning’s Excel courses are your best bet. Many data entry positions use spreadsheets extensively, and demonstrating Excel proficiency (even at a basic level) sets you apart. The platform also offers courses on typing speed and accuracy if you need to brush up.

Appointment Setter ($15-20/hour plus bonuses) jobs involve calling potential clients to schedule meetings or consultations. You’re not closing sales, but you are making cold or warm calls, which means you’ll hear “no” frequently and experience hang-ups regularly. The role suits people who don’t take rejection personally and can stay upbeat through repetitive outreach. Insurance agencies, solar companies, and home services businesses commonly hire for these positions.

Training that helps: 

• HubSpot Academy’s free Sales certifications cover prospecting, outreach, and handling objections, exactly the skills appointment setting requires. Their Inbound Sales certification is particularly relevant and takes just a few hours to complete.

Chat Support Agent ($14-18/hour) positions work well for fast typists who communicate clearly in writing. You’ll handle multiple customer conversations simultaneously, often following scripts or templates. ModSquad and Working Solutions frequently hire for these roles with training provided. The pace can be intense during busy periods, but you avoid phone confrontations.

Training that helps: 

• HubSpot’s Customer Service certification applies here too, with modules on written communication and managing customer expectations. Strong typing skills matter more than certifications for this role, so practice if your speed is below 50 words per minute.

Transcriptionist ($12-18/hour) positions involve converting audio recordings into written documents. General transcription is accessible to beginners, though the pay reflects that. You’ll need good listening skills, typing accuracy, and patience for unclear audio.

Rev, TranscribeMe, and GoTranscript offer entry points, but rates can be low until you build speed and accuracy. Medical and legal transcription pay significantly more but require specialized training through programs like Career Step or the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity.

Training that helps: 

• Transcription has its own certification paths. The companies listed above provide their own style guides and training when you start.

Search Engine Evaluator ($14-18/hour) roles involve rating search results for relevance and quality. Appen and Lionbridge hire for these positions regularly, provide their own training, and offer flexible hours. The work is project-based, so hours aren’t always guaranteed, but it’s legitimate and doesn’t require phone work.

Training that helps: 

• Google’s Digital Marketing & E-commerce certificate gives you background on how search engines work, which can help you understand evaluation criteria. 
• Both Appen and Lionbridge provide comprehensive training specific to their projects, so prior credentials aren’t required.

A note about Virtual Assistant positions: You’ll see these listed everywhere, but most businesses hiring VAs want demonstrated experience, specific software skills, or industry knowledge. Entry-level VA positions exist but are competitive, and many “VA opportunities” are actually requests to build your own freelance client base from scratch (which is a business, not a job). Consider this a longer-term goal after you’ve built remote work experience. Google’s Project Management certificate and LinkedIn Learning’s courses on Google Workspace and Microsoft Office would strengthen a VA application.

What You Need to Work From Home

Before applying, make sure you have the basics covered. Most remote positions require:

• Reliable high-speed internet (minimum 25-50 Mbps download speed for video calls and cloud-based work)
• A quiet workspace where you can take calls or focus without interruption (non-negotiable for phone-based roles)
• A computer (some companies provide equipment, but others expect you to have your own, often with specific requirements like Windows OS or minimum RAM)
• A headset for customer service or phone-based positions
• Basic tech comfort with email, video conferencing tools like Zoom, and standard software

You don’t need a dedicated home office, but you do need a consistent space where you can work professionally. 

Level Up For Free (or Close to It)

You can land entry-level remote work with skills you already have, but credentials help you stand out and qualify for higher-paying roles. 

Google Career Certificates offer professional training in:

• IT Support
• Data Analytics
• Project Management
• Digital Marketing 

Their courses are about $49 per month through Coursera and most people complete them in three to six months. 

Bonus: Completion gives you access to Google’s employer consortium, where over 150 companies actively recruit certificate holders. Scholarships are available for those who qualify.

HubSpot Academy is completely free and offers certifications:

• Digital Marketing
• Sales
• Customer Service

These take hours rather than months to complete, and you can add certification badges directly to your LinkedIn profile.

LinkedIn Learning covers: 

• Excel
• Administrative Skills
• Communication

Many public libraries offer free access with your library card, so check yours before paying the $30/month subscription. With over 15,000 courses, you can build exactly the skill set your target roles require.

Remember: Even one certification demonstrates something employers value: initiative.

Where to Search (And Red Flags to Avoid)

Once you’ve identified target roles, knowing where to look matters just as much as knowing what to look for. Apply within the first 24 hours of a posting when possible, as early applications get more attention.

Indeed has the largest job database and lets you filter by “remote” and “entry level” simultaneously. Set your profile to “searchable” so employers can find you directly, and upload a current resume. 

FlexJobs charges a subscription ($10-25/month), but every listing is vetted for legitimacy. Their team manually screens each posting to eliminate scams. 

Remote.co curates remote-only positions and organizes listings by category and experience level. The site includes company profiles so you can research employers before applying.

LinkedIn works well when you complete your profile fully and use the “remote” filter. Recruiters actively search for candidates here, so a polished profile with relevant skills listed can generate inbound interest.

Company career pages are often your best bet for entry-level positions. Go straight to the websites of TTEC, Concentrix, Working Solutions, and similar companies rather than waiting for their jobs to appear on aggregator sites.

🚩 Watch for these red flags: 

• Any job requesting upfront payment is a scam
• Vague descriptions
• “Unlimited income” promises
• Pressure to decide immediately
• Communication only through personal email addresses

Your Next Step

Remote work is accessible, and you likely have more qualifying skills than you realize. Years of handling difficult conversations, staying organized, and showing up reliably all translate directly to these roles.

The opportunities are real. The next move is yours.