How to Become a Home Call Center Agent

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Call center work is highly valued in many of today’s major service industries. In financial centers, call center workers help customers handle their financial products and deal with questions about banking policy. In medical groups, they help process insurance claims and inform patients on the status of a claim. Retail call center agents may field calls about a product, handle complaints, or talk to customers about payment. There is generally no formal education required to become a home call center agent, as most of the skills a call center workers uses are things that he or she learns on the job. An independent contractor working as a call center agent combines these skills with some business knowledge to develop a client base that will provide them with ongoing work.

Steps

1. Set up reliable telecommunication services. As an independent contractor, you will need telephone and Internet service to communicate with potential clients about assignments, conduct telephone interviews and, assuming you build a client base, communicate with your clients’ customers.
   • Sign up with a telecommunications provider that offers both land line long distance and high speed Internet for package rates that could save you some money.
   • Make sure your work space is free of distractions. A quiet, professional work space is essential to become a home call center agent.
2. Look for call center work on job search engines. Be sure to focus on looking for contracts that include the word “telecommuting,” “work from home” and “freelance.”
3. Review any contract that a potential client offers you to be sure it spells out all the terms of work, including task description, rate of pay, invoicing procedures, and payment timetable.
4. Complete the necessary paperwork. Paperwork requirements vary from country to country, but, for instance, in the United States, independent contractors must supply clients to whom they contract a completed IRS W-9 Tax ID form. At the end of the tax year, U.S. independent contractors receive an IRS 1099-MISC form that documents the income earned for tax reporting purposes.
5. Manage your client base. Once you’ve developed a client base, pay careful attention to record keeping and time management. Use productivity software and other tools to securely maintain client records, keep track of billable hours or units, fulfill your contractual obligations to your clients, and invoice and track accounts receivables.

Things You’ll Need

• Late model laptop or desktop computer with sufficient word processing, spreadsheet and Internet capability
• Printer and fax machine, if necessary to fulfill the job requirements
• Office supplies (paper, pens, etc.)
• A high speed Internet line and unlimited long distance on a stable land line
• A standard headset for talking on the phone while typing

Related wikiHows

• How to Start a Home Based Business
• How to Avoid Internet Scams While Starting a Home Business
• How to Earn Money by Work from Home
• How to Find the Perfect WOrk at Home Opportunity

Sources and Citations

• http://www.icmi.com/knowledgecenter/details.aspx?id=1969
• http://www.macquarietelecom.com/news_centre/remote_working_research.htm
• http://www.vermontbiz.com/article/july/case-home-based-employment-and-telecommuting

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