WHERE WOULD YOU PREFER TO BE WORKING?

Which Are The Top 10 Work-At-Home Jobs?

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The dream of working from home came true for an immense number of people during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, many have returned to the workplace but a great deal of individuals remain spinning the proverbial wheels of capitalism with their slippers on.

Some of these occupations have been around from way before the days of COVID-19, while others came into being during that very year. Whether you belong to the former, the latter, or neither of them, this list surely has a few entries that will surprise you.

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Everybody has interacted with a call center representative. The job entails answering customer calls and resolving any issues or concerns, providing support, listening to complaints, and answering customer questions.

But while most of us picture a call center representative as someone in an office cubicle, the truth is that many of these jobs can be and are carried out at home. The company hiring the representative will provide some basic elements like headphones and the appropriate software. However, as long as he or she has a home computer and a decent internet connection, they are set.

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Aside from inputting new information, data entry clerks also update old information and look for data deficiencies. Before inputting data, they compile information as needed and prepare source data. As you have guessed by now, this is a job well suited for the home office.

While much of the information feed that goes into databases is provided by other computers, a very large fraction of this data is manually entered by humans. The job is called data entry clerk and it also has been around for quite some time now.

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According to recent numbers, the Internet has over 1.13 billion websites. That is more than a few, right? And, when we think about it, someone has to design every single one of those websites out there. Enter the web designer.

Web designers create and code internet web pages. They also decide on the layout of a website and work with a web page's variety of elements such as text, pictures, videos, and graphics. This job too, belongs to the lucky bunch who can opt for working at home.

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Social media comprises a huge part of the Internet experience these days. Some would say, even a major part of it. Almost every single company has figured out by now that online presence in social media is paramount to being successful and interacting with the community requires dedication and time.

Enter the social media manager: an internet-savvy individual who oversees a company's social media channels. They reply to comments, post content, and ensure the channels align with the overall brand. Social media managers also create content and devise social media marketing strategies to increase engagement and expand the company's online reach.

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A job that has been replaced by Artificial Intelligence in many aspects, a human virtual assistant can still be an extremely valuable asset to someone who needs, well… assistance with a diverse range of things.

These helpful individuals perform several administrative tasks for their clients. They answer telephone calls, reply to emails, schedule meetings, and create their client's travel plans. Just like a secretary but from the comfort of their own home.

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Like a modern-day Hemingway, the freelance writer creates content for various companies on a non-contract basis from wherever she or he wants to be, through a computer. This job entails gathering information on a topic, writing article drafts, and editing content for grammar, spelling, and adherence to company style guides.

The freelance part of the gig means that the professional who delves into this line of work can be constantly looking for clients, although some manage to retain regular assignments for a more predictable workflow.

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If you encountered or maybe even participated in one of those online language classes then you are familiar with this one. Online tutors help students learn and understand various subject areas.

As we said, they assist students with the learning of a foreign language, but also with their homework and help them prepare for upcoming examinations. A tutor can explain topics to students and answer any questions they might have.

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Freelance video editors shape and adjust video content to fit a desired narrative. This professional is trained in specific video editing software and uses potent hardware, key to achieving the task at hand.

Many freelance video editors work at home since the equipment needed for the job is a desktop computer with a big screen (or more than one), but portable laptops can sometimes do the job too.

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Forget that old stereotype of the hacker locked up in his room, with the windows closed, surrounded by junk food leftovers, staring blankly at a computer screen filled with random numbers and letters. Well, maybe that last part is a bit accurate.

These days, software developers create software or applications on computers or mobile devices. Their responsibilities typically include improving existing computer systems, creating code and working with project managers or clients on the progress of developing software, and debugging software. And yes, they usually can work at home.

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This one will seem as if it's the other way around: the patient is at home and the doctor is at the hospital. But, many times, both participants get to be where they want/need to be. A telemedicine physician who works full-time in this capacity usually does so from the comfort of his or her home.

These professionals communicate with patients via telephone, online chat, or through video calls. They address their concerns, treat them for non-emergency conditions, and prescribe medication as needed. While most of us still prefer to be in the physical presence of a doctor when being examined, this modern method definitely has its advantages, like the more immediate attention that it can provide.

LANGUAGE JEWELS

Did You Know These 10 "Wicked" New England Words?

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Few regions in the world are as gorgeous as New England. The six states that comprise "Yankeeland" are filled with beautiful landscapes, historical sites, and, perhaps most importantly, amazingly friendly people.

With that in mind, New Englanders certainly have a particularly colorful vernacular. We have selected ten of the most amazing and iconic New England slang terms to make you feel like a local the next time you visit. Enjoy!

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We’ll start with one of the most well-known regional terms. if you find yourself on a hot summer’s day in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, or Wisconsin, you can ask someone to point you in the direction of the nearest "bubbler". Rest assured, you are not asking them for champagne or any other type of bubbly drink; they’ll just point you to the closest drinking fountain.

Curiously, a state outside of New England also famously calls their drinking fountains "bubblers". Residents of Portland, Oregon, regularly drink from the iconic "Benson Bubblers", named after philanthropist Simon Benson.

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Who knew that bugs could be this tasty? Now, don’t get us wrong: We are strictly speaking of the type of bug someone from New England would recommend. "Bug" is a New England term for the delicious lobster, a true delicacy of the region.

The reason for this nickname is rather obvious: Lobsters and insects share several characteristics. In fact, lobsters belong to the arthropod family, which makes them close relatives of several common insects.

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In New England, your groceries only travel in the fanciest of rides! While calling shopping carts "carriages" might sound a little silly, it adds a layer of formality and elegance to a mundane trip to the supermarket. It can also be considered a journey back in time: After all, when was the last time the word "carriage" was used in everyday conversation?

So remember: The next time you are shopping in New England, make sure to take a moment to appreciate this quirky term for shopping carts. And please remember to return your carriage after you are done shopping.

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We hesitated to include "clicker" on this list: Anyone who watched TV with their grandparents has heard at least once "Can you pass the clicker?" However, this term is still extremely popular in New England, and you might hear it used to describe a plethora of different devices.

As you might have guessed, the term "clicker" comes from a bygone era when buttons on a remote control made a distinctive clicking sound if pressed. However, the term encompasses every device or gadget that clicks, like a cash register.

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Dungarees, a New England term for blue jeans or denim, definitively sounds too silly to describe such a fashion staple. Jeans have grown to be the common denominator in many different outfits, but don’t expect to hear a designer present their new "dungaree" line at the next Levi’s fashion show.

Now, to be fair, this word is not particularly popular these days; it is mostly an old-fashioned term used by an older generation. Regardless, should you wish to add a little humor to your next visit to New England, be sure to pack a pair of dungarees in your suitcase!

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If Dorothy had traveled to Boston instead of the magical Land of Oz, the Wicked Witch of the West would have been a far more positive character. The New England use of the adjective "wicked" is particularly versatile: It can be used to describe something impressive, or of excellent quality. In fact, the one use of this word that New Englanders don’t regularly employ is the one most commonly found in dictionaries, which is "evil" or "mischievous".

How did this word grow to have such a contrasting definition? No one is completely sure, but most agree that it first appeared in New England vocabulary during the infamous Salem witch trials. However, it seems to have acquired its current positive meaning during the 20th century.

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Let’s once again take an imaginary trip to New England: Imagine you're at the end of a lovely dinner at the home of a New England friend or relative. Now, let’s also say that this person asks you to do them a solid and "run this to the barrel" while handing you a bag.

Not sure how to answer our hypothetical friend? Don’t panic: For starters, they don’t actually exist, but we’ve got you covered. In some New England states, "barrel" is just another term for a trash can.

By the way, always remember to throw your recyclables into the recycling barrel.

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You would think that something as universal as a rubber band would be known by one universally recognized name. However, New England has another word for this versatile object, despite being ever-present in virtually every office around the world.

Unsurprisingly, that word is "elastic", taken directly from the rubber band’s most important characteristic. While this term might sound old-fashioned, to this day many New Englanders ask someone for "an elastic" when they need to hold some stuff together.

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This is the only derogatory term in this list. While the term "flatlander", which describes someone who doesn’t come from New England, isn’t particularly insulting in meaning, it can easily be used to disparage someone visiting the region. Let’s put it this way: You probably don’t want to be called a flatlander in New England.

"Flatlander" also indirectly describes one of New England’s most beautiful sceneries: Its gorgeous hills and mountains. Granted, being called a "flatlander" doesn’t necessarily imply that you live in a flat place: It just describes that you are unaccustomed to the region’s ways.

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Let’s end this article with another fictional visit to New England. Let’s say you want to conclude your trip on a sweet note and decide to order a milkshake. You might be surprised when someone places a drink made from milk and syrup in front of you, instead of the ice-cream-based treat most Americans know and love.

That’s because, in New England, milkshakes are known by an entirely different name. The term "frappe" describes what the rest of the world calls a milkshake. This word comes directly from France: In French, frappé is a term that describes a chilled or iced drink.