Work-at-Home Jobs FAQ: Computer and Home Office Requirements

1. Do I need to have a home office with a computer, telephone headset, and high-speed Internet connection before I apply for a telework job?
2. What are the home office requirements for most work-at-home telework jobs?
3. If I am offered a position, will NTI reimburse me for any of my costs for purchasing equipment?

 

1. Do I need to have a home office with a computer, telephone headset, and high-speed Internet connection before I apply for a telework job?

No, you do not need to have any equipment when you apply. However, all of our positions require certification training before employers will consider you for their positions. NTI provides this training without charge, but you must have access to a computer and the Internet to participate in this training. The answer to question #2 below lists the minimum computer specifications for both participating in certification training.

If you are offered a position, then you will be required to have all of the home office and computer equipment that meets the minimum standards for that position. Please note that minimum computer specifications for these jobs vary. They may be different from the specifications for certification training. For example, although you can use a Macintosh computer for certification training, you must use a Windows computer for your eventual job.

 

2. What are the home office requirements for most work-at-home telework jobs?

You must have access to a computer with the following specifications:

 

Windows PC Requirements

• Internet Explorer 7.0 or newer, Mozilla Firefox 3.0 or newer, or Google Chrome 5.0 or newer (JavaScript and Java enabled)
• Windows 7, Vista, XP, or 2003 Server
• Cable modem, DSL, or better Internet connection
• Minimum of Pentium class 1.8GHz CPU with a minimum of 1GB of RAM (2 GB of RAM is required for Windows Vista)

Macintosh computer requirements [Note: Macintosh is acceptable only for certification training]

• Safari 3.0 or newer, Firefox 3.0 or newer, or Google Chrome 5.0 or newer (JavaScript and Java enabled)
• Mac OS X 10.4.11 - Tiger or newer
• PowerPC G4/G5 or Intel processor and a minimum of 512 MB RAM
• Cable modem, DSL, or better Internet Connection

 

3. If I am offered a position, will NTI reimburse me for any of my costs for purchasing equipment?

There is no reimbursement for any of the equipment you need to perform a job. In some cases, a company may send you equipment. In other cases you must buy basic equipment. If you are a client of your state VR agency, they may be able to help pay for some or all of the equipment you would need.

Some of our positions offer telecommunication reimbursements for your Internet access and/or flat rate calling plans. The details of these telecommunication reimbursements vary depending on the position. Most positions do not offer this kind of reimbursement. Just as employers consider the expenses of a using car or a bus to travel to work the employee's responsibility, they consider the cost of maintaining broadband Internet and a working computer a "commuting" expense.