| You will need to be prepared to invest quite a bit of | | | | types of connections. |
| money on getting the right equipment for establishing | | | | You will also need to be able to use the Internet as |
| yourself as a work-at-home call center assistant. It is | | | | well as the telephone line at the same time. This is |
| also important to be wary about buying the right sort | | | | typically not an issue if you have a broadband |
| of equipment and high quality gear at that. The | | | | connection which is already a requirement anyway. |
| equipment needs to be built to a high standard and | | | | There will likely be various requirements for the type of |
| expected to last a decent amount of time, so | | | | telephony hardware that you need for the job, |
| automatically going with the cheapest options can | | | | depending on your employer. |
| often turn out to be a false economy. | | | | All of the above are probably things you have already. |
| The most expensive and also most important | | | | Since so many people these days have at least one |
| requirement is to have a computer. If you want to be | | | | computer in their household and broadband Internet |
| on the move and have a little more flexibility with | | | | access, these are unlikely to become extra |
| regards to where you work, then a laptop can be a | | | | expenditures. However, you may well find it preferable |
| great option. However, price-wise, desktops are still | | | | to have a dedicated computer which only you have |
| cheaper and are generally capable of more as well as | | | | access to. Using the primary family computer as your |
| being more upgradable. With computers as cheap as | | | | primary work station is generally not a good idea for |
| they are nowadays, this is not likely to be a particularly | | | | security and reliability reasons. |
| daunting investment considering all of the other things | | | | You will also need to spend a bit of money on a |
| that you can use a computer for too. Since most | | | | decent headset. Something that has a high quality |
| people will already have an adequate computer | | | | noise cancelling microphone is a must. However, these |
| system, this is unlikely to even be an issue. | | | | are not too hard to find and do not cost a great deal |
| The Internet connection required can be a slightly | | | | of money. In fact, there is unlikely to be any reason |
| demanding requirement in some cases. For a call | | | | why you would need to spend more than about $25 |
| centre, you will need to have an adequate amount of | | | | on this. |
| bandwidth so you can use the Internet telephony / | | | | Your working environment should also be taken into |
| VoIP programs that you will need. This basically rules | | | | account. Your employer will most likely require that you |
| out any older 56k modem connections. Cable modem | | | | have a separate room to work in and no interruptions |
| and DSL are generally adequate but bear in mind, any | | | | such as noisy air conditioning units etc. Simply put, there |
| employers you might have might not permit certain | | | | must be minimal background noises in your work place. |