If you enjoy talking to people on the phone and helping them solve problems, a work-at-home job as a virtual call center representative may be just what you have been looking for. More and more companies are outsourcing their customer service to virtual call centers. These virtual call centers hire or contract with women and men to work from home as customer service agents.

If you enjoy talking to people on the phone and helping them solve problems, a work-at-home job as a virtual call center representative may be just what you have been looking for. More and more companies are outsourcing their customer service to virtual call centers. These virtual call centers hire or contract with women and men to work from home as customer service agents.

What Do Virtual Customer Service Agents Do?

Virtual customer service agents work from their homes handling calls for companies in various fields, including telecommunications, media, entertainment, tech support, finance, retail, travel, utilities and others. Each assignment has its own specific duties. Bilingual agents are encouraged to apply. Most agents earn about $9.00 per hour, but some make considerably more. Your per-hour wage will never be less than the current minimum wage. A few call center companies hire customer service agents as employees. Most of the time customer service agents will be working as independent contractors.

Qualifications

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Prospective call center agents must pass a diction test, computer knowledge test and must pass a background and credit check. The background check will cost the applicant around $50. A credit check is also done; FICO scores must be 500 or higher. The background and credit checks are necessary because you may work with credit card numbers and other financial data.

Your home office must be in a separate room capable of being locked. The room should be silent. Call centers insist that no pets or children are allowed in the office with you when you are working. Each company requires a high-speed internet connection, as well as an up-to-date computer. Windows is the preferred platform. You must have a separate phone line with a corded, in-the-wall phone that does not have call waiting or voicemail, and whose buttons must be on the phone base not the handset.

How to Apply

To apply, visit the call center website and complete an application. The procedure for each company is spelled out very clearly on all of the websites referenced in this article.

Virtual Call Center Companies

Virtual call center companies who hire at-home workers include:

Alpine Access
Working Solutions
VIP Desk
West At Home
LiveOps

Deborah Walker is a freelance writer, independent Fuller Brush and Watkins distributor currently living in northern New Hampshire with her family.