“The Internet has changed the way we communicate with each other, the way we learn about the world and the way we conduct business.”
- Ron Wyden

Internet has made a major impact on every aspect of our lives, from the way we communicate to the way we entertain ourselves. The recent developments in the field of computers and Information Technology have made it possible for people to use the internet not only for informational, communication and entertainment purposes but also to earn a livelihood.

The development of E – Banking and the advancements in the IT sector have made it possible for people to do all kinds of paid jobs on the internet, from writing to online trading. The world of working online is developing so fast that people have already started leaving their daily jobs to work and earn money on the internet. And it’s only the beginning yet. New and unique ways to use the internet are being discovered every day. A career that uses the power of the internet therefore promises endless possibilities.

The development of E – conferencing and applications like Skype have further expanded the scope of the jobs you can do online. Jobs like teaching online would not have been possible without the advent of Webcams and applications like Skype. It should be kept in mind that even though working online seems like a good proposition due its flexible nature, it is not easy and requires a lot of self – discipline, perseverance to make the users change old habits and form new ones, and an innovative bent of mind to explore new possibilities.

Road to start working Online:

You can work on your own, start a new business or work as a freelancer. Or you can join an organization that runs an online business. In both these cases, you need to understand and get used to the new and innovative models of working which are vastly different from the traditional offline ones.

To know about the Top 7 Careers for Freelancers, click here.

The methods of approaching users, interacting with them, delivering products and services, understanding their satisfaction levels, building products, updating products, there is uniqueness attached to every aspect of running an online business. The key is to get a hang of life on the internet. Understand how users use the internet, interact with it and what they expect of it. You will spend the initial years of your career figuring all this out. You will probably start off working on one aspect of the many different roles and functions available in an online business. Then you will either look to specialize in one area or diversify to gain experience into many. You will take your opportunities to contribute and innovate and discover the path forward in your career. If you like to innovate and seek new ways of doing old things, an online career is ideally made for you.

In terms of an education, there is no one established route to take. Study and do whatever interests you. Online opportunities exist in almost any field of work that you would like to choose in your future.

Types of Online Careers:

Online business professionals are the people who initiate new online business ideas and take them forward. They identify cumbersome offline business processes and explore ways to improve them using the available and developing technologies. They make use of the power of the internet to innovate ways to reach out to the end users of the business processes.
To know what is it like to work in the E - Commerce Industry, click here.

Online marketers are people who take the online business to the potential users. Online marketing can be very different from the traditional methods of marketing. They make use of methods such as search engine optimization, online advertising, and use social media techniques to build brands and reach out to the users. They also monitor user behavior in using the online platform and constantly strive to improve user experience.

Online software experts work with existing online technologies and find ways to use the technologies to meet business requirements. They need to develop new methods and keep track of new emerging methods being used by others. At the cutting edge of new developments, opportunities to contribute and grow are endless for these technical resources.
To know what is it like to work in the IT Industry, click here.

Web/Graphic Designers are in great demand on the internet. As every business is moving towards having an alternative life on the internet, there is a greater need of professionals who can design websites, logos etc. Such designers usually use software like Adobe Photoshop and Coral Draw to design and then E – mail their final projects to clients.

Online Writers are professional writers who work on the internet. They communicate the advantages and benefits of the business to the users through the content on the website and fulfill the informational needs of the users by writing articles and blogs. Some also go on to write novels and short stories and sell them in the form of E – Books through online platforms.

Customer Support people get a lot of jobs on the internet. Due to rapid globalization, businesses have expanded internationally and now need to deal with customers in several countries. Tele – callers provide assistance to customers as well as promote deals, offers and companies.
To know what is it like to work in a Call Center, click here.

Advantages of Working Online:

The opportunity to shape the future, to innovate old methods, to create efficiencies, and uncover possibilities makes an online career an exciting one. If you are someone who relishes the newness, who likes to lead instead of to follow, and who’s not intimidated by the uncertainty, you will relish every bit of your time working online. Experience of working online and the understanding of the online business and operational models becomes a source for entrepreneurial, freelancing or work from home opportunities for many.

Disadvantages of Working Online:

From the newness of the career comes uncertainty and volatility. Many new and promising businesses incorrectly estimate the potential of their business and either crash out or are forced to downsize leaving employees jobless. Knowledge of friendliness with technology is almost a necessity in every online role; therefore, you would need to build and constantly update your technical knowledge. An online job won’t ever let you settle down into a routine – what worked till now may not work tomorrow, making innovation an essential requirement to just survive in the industry.

The Prospect

The future of online careers as a whole is very bright. The ever – expanding scope of the internet combined with the ongoing developments in the IT sector have built a strong base for the world of online careers to survive on. As technology will advance further, more and more careers will come under the ambit of the business end of the internet and provide great employment opportunities for people across different industries and specializations.