Work at Home Positions: VIPDesk

Work at Home Jobs VIPDesk

Should You Work for VIPdesk?

VIPdesk is one of the most popular, highly regarded work-at-home companies that exist today. When large corporations realized that outsourcing could save them money, VIPdesk took off and has not looked back. They also play a prominent role in the work-at-home community.

VIPdesk leaders are members of national panels, participate in seminars, are members of the Better Business Bureau and work very closely with the Small Business Administration. In addition to all that, the SBA has given VIPdesk numerous awards. Many women’s work-at-home organizations have given them recognition for their part in giving stay-at-home moms a chance to do work while caring for their children.

VIPdesk offers two different programs. The first one is a Brand Ambassador (independent contractor). These ambassadors work for very well-known companies running their call virtual service centers. As an ambassador, you would work a set amount of hours a day answering customer service phone calls. Usually, this will be done during weekends and peak hours.

The second program VIPdesk has is their Concierge Services jobs. In this position, you would be hired to do services like handling reservations for restaurants, tickets, travel, scheduling and event planning. You are also an employee of VIPdesk. Other responsibilities would include creating a rewards program for a company to give to their employees. Basically, anything a company needs to put together is done by you, the concierge service provider.

VIPdesk does have another program, VIP Experiences, but it is along the same lines as the concierge service but on a larger scale.

How to get a job with VIPdesk

Applying for a job with VIPdesk is long and involved. You need to first submit your resume online and then answer a questionnaire where your responses allow recruiters to match a job to your education, work experience and skills. You may be asked to answer another questionnaire if a hiring company is looking for something specific.

If you make it through the rounds of questions, you will be called on the phone for a screening. Because the number of applications they get is high, they will only be calling those who have the background and skills they require. If you are fortunate enough to make it to this point, you can ask all the questions you may have and the VIPdesk employee will be more than happy to answer them.

What is the VIPDesk pay scale?

While you will not know the exact amount you will make until you have gone through the entire screening process, most ambassador and concierge jobs will earn you $9-$14 per hour. However, there is no posting of pay on their website so this number may vary. They do offer incentives and bonuses related to volume and these are offered on a regular basis. There is also an overnight hour adjustment in pay.

A brand ambassador is paid by his or her productive minutes on the phone while concierge service employees simply get a flat hourly rate. Payment is easy through VIPdesk’s tracking software system. All you have to do is send them an invoice request form every two weeks and you will receive a direct deposit payment.

How much will you make?

You cannot really pinpoint an exact amount since there are both full-time and part-time options and you have the opportunity to pick up extra shifts now and then. If you work doing concierge services, the pay is easier to calculate since it is a basic hourly rate and you multiply that by the number of hours you work—simple math. You are also qualified to receive benefits if you work full time so there is extra to be made there.

As a brand ambassador, your payment will vary depending on how many productive minutes you are on the phone. But like concierge services, there are also incentives and bonuses that can add to your income.

What will you need for your home office?

For brand ambassadors, a high-speed computer and internet connection are necessary as well as filing cabinet (preferably with a lock), a separate landline phone and a good set of headphones to block out any surrounding noise—customers do not want to hear your dog barking or your kids screaming.

Keep in mind that having a home office means you under a certain bit of scrutiny come tax time. In order to lessen the chances of a red flag going up by the IRS, it is advised that you get a background check and incorporation papers. If you are not sure about these things, seek advice from a CPA or tax professional. This may seem like a tremendous burden, but you will benefit greatly when tax time comes.

For concierge services, the setup is similar in terms of the equipment, but because you are a direct employee of VIPdesk, you do not need the incorporation papers. Still, you may want to double check this with either the VIPdesk representative who contacts you or a tax adviser.

Will you need any training from VIPDesk?

According to people who have worked for VIPdesk, there was a required two-week training course, but it was unpaid training. While it is admirable that VIPdesk wants their employees to be trained when it comes to certain jobs and having qualified people doing those jobs, they could be a bit more forthcoming with this information and it is not made very clear on their website. However, they do include a lot of training materials, webinars, tips and advice for just about anything related to work-at-home jobs—including whether or not they are scams. This is a very admirable quality in a company and probably why they are so popular and well liked.

The Cons

VIPdesk is not without its flaws. Here are a few:

1.    Some former employees have complained that the pay is not as high as it should be for the amount of work they do. This, of course, is a matter of opinion.

2.    There are start-up costs involved depending on which job option you choose—especially if you do not have the required equipment. This may be a problem for some people who do not have the money readily available to them as some of the equipment is not that cheap.

3.    VIPdesk’s website seems like nothing but smoke and mirrors when it comes to crucial information like pay, training, scheduling, etc. There is almost a feeling of secrecy when it comes to getting more detailed information about critical points. Many people probably lose patience and think the company is nothing but a scam since they cannot easily find what should be basic information about a company and the jobs they have. You really need to make an effort to search high and low on their site, and other sites, to find out what you want to know.

4.    If you do not want to deal with rude or obnoxious behavior, these jobs may not be for you—especially a brand ambassador where you must routinely deal with customer service calls. People who make these calls are generally upset about something so you need to be prepared going into this that you are going to be on the receiving end of some not nice behavior.

And you, as the ambassador, will have no choice but to be pleasant and polite as your calls will be monitored to ensure that you are acting professionally. So if getting yelled at, cursed at or insulted is too much for you to handle, this is definitely not the right opportunity for you. Sensitive people need not apply here.

5.    VIPdesk’s technical requirements are pretty steep and for those with slow and/or old computers, this can be a problem. Periodically, they will check your computer’s speed and bandwidth. If you really want to work for them, make sure that your computer is up to speed, so to speak.

Final thoughts on VIPDesk

VIPdesk is definitely a company that is on the up and up and worth a look if you interested in earning some extra money. However, how much money you want to earn and why will be something to consider before investing your time with them. If you are looking to do this as your main source of income, you may be disappointed with your pay. However, if you are looking for something in addition to your income or just want to be able to do work without leaving your home, VIPdesk may be just right.

Your income will be steady no matter if you choose to be a brand ambassador or work in concierge services. Just make sure you choose the right option for you and work the number of hours that you can honestly work each day.

If you are unsure, you can always look around and see if you can connect with people who have worked for VIPdesk and what their experience has been. These can be valuable in providing top-notch information.

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