Are There Real Work at Home Assembly Jobs?

Are there real work-at-home assembly jobs? If you’re thinking about the type of position where someone pays you to build things, most of the “jobs” that you’ll find online aren’t real jobs.

Instead, you can buy a startup kit that will supposedly set you up so you can start assembling products, or you may be charged for materials you can make into products to sell. In either case, you won’t be making money assembling products from home. Don’t waste your money buying a kit or anything else to get started, the offer is most likely a scam.

Watch Out for Work-at-Home Assembly Job Scams

Legitimate companies pay you to work for them, not the other way around. It’s not cost-effective for manufacturers to pay people for piecework. Most of the type of goods you’ll see listed when you’re checking out work-at-home assembly jobs are made in factories overseas where the costs can be scaled.

If you’re not convinced that a job is a scam and you think you may have come across a legitimate opportunity, spend a few minutes checking it out:

• Google the name of the company, then add “reviews” or "scam" and search again. It will only take a few seconds to find information on the company if it's not legitimate.
• Check sites like the Rip Off Report and the Better Business Bureau to see if there are complaints.

Another red flag, in addition to being asked for money, is when you’re asked to provide confidential information like your social security number or driver’s license number. If you are asked for bank or credit card information, or to wire money, those are also warning signs. Here’s more information on how to tell if a job is a scam.

How to Earn Money Doing Assembly Work

Though what you had in mind when you started researching work at home assembly jobs probably doesn’t exist, there are other ways to earn money assembling things. That’s especially the case if you’re creative or have handyman skills.

Another option is to work for a company assembling products for customers. You won’t be working from your home, but you will have flexibility, and if you like building things it’s a way to get paid to do it.

Types of Real Assembly Jobs

If you like putting things together, there are jobs available assembling things like exercise machines, bikes, grills, furniture, sports equipment, swing sets, electronics equipment, and anything else you can think of that people buy, but don’t want to build or install themselves.

Retail Assembly Jobs

You could work at a large retailer like Walmart or Home Depot that offers assembly services, for example, or sign up to be a home services provider for companies that offer assembly services for the products they sell.

In-Home Assembly Jobs

If you are interested in building things, you could: sign up for Amazon Home Services, list your services on other sites and apps that provide in-home assembly and repair services, post on Craigslist in the services section, respond to inquiries on NextDoor, and mention your availability to everyone you know.

Set Up a Small Business

Another option is to work as a freelancer or small business. If you’re interested in crafting, for example, you can sell set up an Etsy, eBay, ArtFire, or Handmade by Amazon shop. Depending on what you’re making, there are many options for selling your goods on a third-party website or your own blog or site.

Alternatives include selling at craft fairs, flea markets, farmer’s markets, or establishing a relationship with a retail store to feature your products.

Where to Find the Jobs

There are many different sources for finding assembly job listings, but it will take some time and effort to review the job listings. You can look for full-time or part-time employment, and although you probably won’t have the ability to work from home, you may have some flexibility when scheduling hours.

Apply Online

If you’re interested in signing up for one of the services or sites listed above, you can apply directly online. For example, to sign up for Amazon Home Services there’s a simple one-page form to complete. Note that to apply, you will need a link to a third-party review site where customers can attest to the quality of your work. Etsy has a sign-up page online, as well.

Look for Listings

Search Indeed.com and the other top job sites for positions in your location, using terms like home assembly, assembly, assembler, and product assembly. There’s an interesting array of employers who are seeking permanent and temporary employees for assembly positions.

Also check local listings on Craigslist and postings from your neighborhood on NextDoor.

Use an App

You’ll also find postings for assembly jobs on apps like Handy, Taskrabbit, Thumbtack, Mrhandyman, and NeedTo (handyman and assembly category). With this type of gig, whether you’re working for yourself or directly for a client, you will typically need your own tools and transportation.