Dear Reader,
Before you read on to this article and spending your time and effort, understand whether this is for you or not. This particular article is intended for people who are looking for an online and remote, part-time gig or side hustle job. You can be a high school / college / university student, an immigrant expat, a native local or anyone who wants a side income by spending few extra hours Infront of your computer. What do you need to excel in this job? All you need are good language skills in English, ability to think and understand reasoning well, have an attention to detail perception. Yes, that’s it.
If you think, you belong to the category mentioned above, read on!
Disclaimer: I will be repeating this sentence many times throughout this article and in my many article: This job is to be considered as a side hustle only; As an extra passive income additional to your main income source. Never take the risk of leaving all other income source to focus more on this. The amount of work can fluctuate depending on the need of the client who gives the work to us via the company (Telus). It is not just meant for this job or this company, but this entire niche has that behavior as it’s inherent trait.
Subtitle: How students, immigrants, and job seekers can earn money from home by training Artificial Intelligence.
What you need: Good English Skills, Thinking ability and logical reasoning with good observational skills. (Yes it is true)
1. Telus Digital (formerly Telus International / Lionbridge AI) – Remote Jobs
Finding a legitimate and trustable online job can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. For every real opportunity out there on the internet, there are a dozen scams too. However, Telus Digital is one company consistently stands out as a reliable source of income for thousands of freelancers worldwide. (Come on, How can you blindly trust the author? The author of this article is themselves a person actively working with them)
Whether you are a university student looking for flexible hours to earn some money, a recent immigrant needing a local income source, or just someone looking to supplement their salary, Telus Digital offers a variety of jobs mostly which are in the form of certain tasks. These job roles are of different nature. Depending upon the nature of this job or the tasks in them, the job titles are often named as “Raters,” “Analysts,” or “Annotators”.
What do you do if you got one of this job?
You will be given the set of instructions, training if it is necessary and rules to follow and do some tasks. The aim? to train AI.
Why do we need to train AIs? AI is just an empty brain. Though it might have access to a lot of data (the food) and the brain to explore them (algorithm/codes), they don’t know how to do it. So, the original developers of the AI will feed some instructions and data to it and forces it to learn, just like we make a small kid join the pre-kg or kindergarten. But it will take time to learn. Like the child, it will need manual corrections, manual repetitions, manual guidance and many more things manually. Teachers do that for children, You will do that to AI. Yep! you are AI’s trainer and teacher!
But why can’t the developers of the AI do that? The amount of data that needs to be trained on is in the power of billions or trillions or more. It need huge human-resources to do that. That’s where people like you come in. It will be just like training your brother or sister drive their first car for the first few weeks.
Now, enough of the theoretical story, let us focus on the main steps to follow:
In this guide, we will walk you through exactly what Telus Digital is, the types of jobs available, and a step-by-step roadmap on landing a job and getting your first paycheck.
2. What is Telus Digital AI?
Before you begin to apply for a position at their company, it is important to know who you are sourcing your time and effort for. Telus Digital is a technology company. In 2020, they acquired Lionbridge AI, a massive player in the data annotation space. They are a subsidiary of Telus Corporation, a tech giant and public traded Canadian company.
(Yes, Telus is headquartered and is originated in Canada. But their presence is across majority of all the countries in the world. So, you don’t have to worry whether your country of residence is eligible for this job or not. Nonetheless, you should check out their official page where they have listed all the approved or collaborated countries and territories)
What does this company do? The big tech companies (like Google, Apple, Meta and many others) who handles gazillion of data and are also in a big transition towards an AI powered future, cannot manually check every data points or search result or map listing to see if it is accurate as per the needs of a human being or ethics. They hire companies like Telus Digital, who manage a global crowd of “contributors” (Yeah, that’s people like you) to do this work. So, technically you might be working for Google or Apple or Meta or so, but you won’t know. In the most cases, that information will be confidential.
Is it legitimate?
Yes. Of course and Obvious. Telus is a legitimate, large-scale employer. Their brand name is as big as world’s most reliable companies. They pay recurrently and conclusively for all the tasks and works you finish with honesty. As of now, they are using a payment service called Hyperwallet (a PayPal service) to streamline payments, which can be used to transfer your payments to any bank accounts in the world, irrespective of your location.
Type of Job: This is one of the most confused aspect among many of the workers. This job or title or profession, for most of the roles, you are not an “employee” of the company, but rather a “freelancer”. In the terms of HR-spoken language and in tax forms, your title of job will be as an Independent Contractor.
3. Who is This Opportunity For?
This gig is perfect for:
- Students: You can work 10–20 hours a week around your class schedule.
- Immigrants/Expats: If you are fluent in your native language and English, you are highly valuable for “bilingual” jobs.
- Stay-at-Home Parents: The work is task-based, meaning you can often pause and resume as needed.
- Layoff Personnel: If it is Winter or due to other circumstances you lost your current job and is waiting for another full-time Job
- Extra Income: Whoever has additional free time and want’s to earn an extra income, for savings or expenses.
- Career Update: People who want’s to experience a new job sector and diversify their resume
- Non-IT people: You work in a sector with no connection to IT or Computers directly but yet want to acquire some skills or a title in IT.
[Optional: Insert a personal story or a “persona” example here, e.g., “Meet Sarah, a biology student who funds her textbooks by rating search results…”]
4. The Most Common Remote Roles Available
Telus Digital offers several different job titles. It is very important to apply for the one that fits your specific skill sets and caliber, as you generally cannot might not be able to hold two positions simultaneously. Yes, you canapply for multiple positions at Telus Digital and work on two different jobs at the same time. However, certain job’s restrict you from doing similar or other jobs unless you de-enroll yourself from that job.
Since most of the job’s offer better than industry standard rates, people usually stick to the one with more work volume and a better payment rate. Some short term projects will have high paying tasks, but like the title suggests they are short termed – sometimes for months, some are even for weeks. (The author had experienced a high paying job title, which only lasted for less than a week)
Below are some of the common and long lasting job titles. The list is limited but the job titles can change or stop at any time. But this section of the article is just from common knowledge and experience.
4.1. Online Data Analyst / Map Analyst
The Job: You verify if online maps (like Apple Maps or Google Maps) are accurate. You might check if a business entrance is where the map says it is, or if a bus route is correct. The tasks aren’t limited to these. It can vary in time, as per the needs of the primary client and their needs. You don’t have to be a professional Data Analyst to do this job, but in time you will learn to handle data well. This job role is mostly available in various countries. So, it is good title to target for global audience.
Requirements: Good research skills and a keen eye for detail. Of course, you should have good communication skills too.
4.2. Personalized Internet Assessor / Rater
The Job: This is the most popular role and has lots of people from North America. You evaluate search engine results or other query results based on a search-query. If someone searches for “best pizza nearby,” you rate the results on how helpful and relevant they displayed results are.
The Catch: This role usually has the hardest exam. This is merely an overview by reading various workers’ experience. It might be easier for you.
4.3. Media Search Analyst
The Job: Often associated with the App Store or music streaming services. You might analyze search terms related to songs, artists, or apps to ensure the correct content appears.
Requirements: Often requires an Apple ID and an iOS device.
4.4. AI Community / Data Annotation
The Job: Simple, smaller tasks. This might involve recording your voice reading a sentence, taking photos of objects, or identifying text in an image. Rating good or bad in a video. Finding faults and errors in AI generated images or Videos etc.
Requirements: These are the easiest of jobs to get. If you don’t have any IT or computer skills or are a student, go for this.
5. The “Hidden” Requirements
Even though the job requirements in general are okay for you, there are some other general requirements you miss due to which you might get a rejection. Before you click “Apply,” ensure you meet these non-negotiable criteria. If you don’t, your application will be automatically rejected by their system.
- Residency: You usually must have lived in your current country for at least 1 to 3 consecutive years. This is because they need you to understand the local culture and current events. If you are applying from the country you were born and brought up, ignore this. But if you are a student studying abroad or an immigrant worker/spouse, make sure this is followed.
- Equipment: You generally need a laptop or desktop. A smartphone is rarely enough for the Analyst/Rater roles. For some jobs you might need Google Chrome browser as a requirement, while for some other you might need an Apple device like an iPhone or iPad or Mac.
- High-Speed Internet: You are working with data-heavy tools; a stable connection is mandatory. Make sure you have access to high speed 5G network or a Wi-Fi Connection.
- No Conflicts: You generally cannot work for Telus and their competitors on the same type of projects simultaneously. But of course, you can try them as well.
6. Step-by-Step Application Process
Here are the basic steps to be followed to get hired and start the job.
Step 1: The AI Community Portal
Visit the Official Telus International AI Careers page. Do not apply via third-party scam sites or by seeing an advertisement through social media promotion; Scammers often mimic the exact model of official ads and lure you to traps. Always look for the “AI Community” section.
Step 2: The Application
Create a profile using your email account. Submit all the necessary details to update your profile. In the last step, they will ask you to upload your Resume. Create a CV specifically tailored for these kind of jobs and upload. Even though this is a “gig” job, they scan resumes for keywords and your educational qualifications as well as experiences.
Tip: If you already have a working paypal/hyperwallet account, try to use the same email you used there to signupat Telus.
Step 3: The Waiting Game
It can take anywhere from 2 days to 3 weeks to hear back. If you are selected, you will receive an email inviting you to the exam phase. (Yes, there is an exam). Check your spam folder daily.
Important: Every job, once applied will go through an assessment if you are selected. It’s not a big deal, but never try to cheat.
Pro Tip: From the personal experience of the author, reply mails and invitations to new projects from Telus has often appeared in the PROMOTIONS section of the Gmail. (In your Gmail, there is a default filter which separates emails as Primary, Promotions, Social and Updates)
7. The Hardest Part: Passing the Exam
This is where 50% of applicants fail. The exam for the “Rater” and “Analyst” roles is open book, but it is difficult.
- The Guidelines: Telus will send you a PDF guide (often 150+ pages).
- Do Not be lazy: You must read the guidelines. The exam asks specific questions based on their definitions of “Quality” and “Relevance,” not your personal opinion. A person who scrolls their eyes over all the pages at least once has a higher chance to get right answer.
- Use CTRL+F: Since it is open book, learn to search the PDF for keywords found in the exam questions. (But only a person who has already gone through at least once can only search and find it in time)
- The Structure: The exam is usually divided into three parts:
- Theoretical: Multiple choice questions about the guidelines.
- Page Quality: Assessing if a webpage is trustworthy.
- Needs Met: The hardest part. Assessing if a search result actually answers the user’s question.
Warning: If you fail the third part, you are usually out. Occasionally, they offer a second chance, but do not count on it.
8. Onboarding and ID Verification
Once you pass the exam, you aren’t done yet. You must verify your identity.
- They will likely use a third-party service to scan your ID (Passport/Driver’s License or any other approved national identity card) and your face.
- Why? To prevent people from creating multiple accounts or farming out the work to others. Yeah, people do that. They apply using multiple accounts and once approved sell those account to people who aren’t eligible to do these kinds of works.
9. Getting Paid: The Financial Logistics
We all want to know about the money.
- Platform: Telus typically uses Hyperwallet. You will receive an activation email once you are hired. From Hyperwallet, you can transfer funds to your local bank account or PayPal.
- Frequency: Payment schedules vary by role, but it is typically Net 30 or bi-weekly. This means you might wait a month for your first paycheck.
- Taxes: As an independent contractor, Telus does not deduct taxes. You are responsible for reporting this income to your local tax authority (IRS, CRA, HMRC, etc.). Set aside 20–30% of your earnings to be safe.
10. Pros and Cons Summary
To make this article balanced, here is an honest look at the reality of the job.
| Pros | Cons |
| Flexibility: Work whenever you want (usually). | No Guaranteed Hours: Some weeks there is “No Tasks Available” (NTA). |
| No Phone Calls: 100% non-voice work. | Isolation: You have no co-workers or manager to talk to. |
| Entry Level: No specific degree required. | Unpaid Training: You are not paid for the time spent studying for the exam. |
11. Conclusion: Is It Worth It?
For a student needing beer money, or an immigrant building a resume in a new country, Telus Digital is a fantastic starting point. It is not a get-rich-quick scheme, and the work can be repetitive. However, in the landscape of online scams, Telus offers something rare: reliability.
If you are willing to put in the effort to study the guidelines and pass the exam, you can secure a steady stream of side income that you can do in your pajamas.
Ready to start?
Head over to the Telus Digital AI Community portal today, dust off your resume, and start reading those guidelines!