54 and Jobless: Can I Find Remote Work Without Experience?

Ans: With your background in banking operations and a Master's in Commerce, there are several work-from-home opportunities you can explore. As a virtual assistant, you can provide administrative support to businesses or entrepreneurs remotely. Tasks may include email management, scheduling appointments, data entry, and document preparation. Many companies hire remote customer service representatives to handle customer inquiries, resolve issues, and provide support via phone, email, or online chat. With your expertise in commerce and banking, you could consider offering online tutoring or teaching services in subjects such as accounting, finance, or economics to students or professionals. Leverage your banking operations experience and commerce background to offer financial consulting or advisory services to individuals or small businesses remotely. Many businesses require remote bookkeeping or accounting services to manage their finances. You can offer services such as bookkeeping, invoicing, budgeting, and financial reporting from home as well.

Ans: Hi Sravanthi,

It's great to hear that you have six years of experience in Quality Control (QC). As you know, QC roles are generally onsite, unlike IT roles that can often be done remotely. Given your expertise in QC, you have the option to transition to Quality Assurance (QA), Regulatory Affairs (RA), or the Validation team, but we need to assess the feasibility of such a shift. While it is uncommon, it is possible to find roles in RA, such as preparing and submitting documents, pharmacovigilance, or medical scribing. However, since these are not your areas of expertise, if you choose to pursue them, you may be considered a fresher in those fields.

You also mentioned that need to work long hours. Even with work from home (WFH), you will likely face similar challenges; once you log in, you cannot skip the tasks assigned to you. Being at home may hinder your ability to care for your children, creating additional difficulties.

If you are financially stable, you might consider quitting your current job to find other opportunities or to take care of your family. If not, you will need to weigh your options carefully.

My recommendation is to prefer onsite work rather than WFH.

On a lighter note, there are many advantages to onsite work that can actually save you money—such as reduced electricity bills, food expenses, and travel costs. Compared to WFH, where you may incur higher electricity costs due to using AC and your computer, along with food expenses for snacks and meals.

Logically speaking, as a working woman, if your maid were asking for a WFH arrangement, how would you respond?

As an additional suggestion, you might consider applying for government jobs as a Junior or Senior Analyst in your state’s Drug Testing Lab within the Drugs Control Department.

Ultimately, I recommend that you continue in your current field and potentially explore opportunities in a different company or industry that offers a higher salary. Alternatively, you could also consider transitioning to QA, but ideally in an onsite position.

All the best.