When this whole pandemic lockdown business started a few months ago, a lot of people settled in for what we thought would be a few weeks—maybe even a whole month—of staying home. Those who were fortunate enough to have a job where it’s possible to work remotely set up what they thought would be temporary home offices.
But not everyone is in that position, and people who have jobs like bartenders, librarians and painters typically require the work to be done in-person. As it turns out, one of the few positive side effects of the pandemic has been a change in thinking of what types of work can realistically be done remotely.
But not everyone is in that position, and people who have jobs like bartenders, librarians and painters typically require the work to be done in-person. As it turns out, one of the few positive side effects of the pandemic has been a change in thinking of what types of work can realistically be done remotely.
There’s more remote work available than ever
Life during the COVID-19 pandemic has been all about adapting to new ways to work, go to school, socialize, and get the services we need. So if more services are not offering virtual options, the flip side is that more employees will be needed to operate them. And according to Brie Reynolds, career development manager and coach at FlexJobs—a subscription-based site focusing on remote and flexible jobs—more and more positions are now being offered on a remote basis. [Here is the pricing model for FlexJobs. The code “SAVE30" gets you 30% off a subscription.]
“Opportunities for interesting work-from-home jobs will continue to increase as more companies recognize and capitalize on the win-win benefits that telecommuting arrangements offer for both businesses and workers,” she tells Lifehacker.
This shift has happened pretty quickly: Before the pandemic began, approximately 31% of people worked from home occasionally. By the end of April, 63% of employees in the U.S. said they have worked from home in the last seven days because of COVID-19 concerns.
And from an even broader perspective, Reynolds says that more people are professionally engaged in the “knowledge economy”—meaning that they work with ideas and information, rather than with machinery and large, physical equipment. “The knowledge economy naturally supports jobs that can be done from home,” she explains.
“Opportunities for interesting work-from-home jobs will continue to increase as more companies recognize and capitalize on the win-win benefits that telecommuting arrangements offer for both businesses and workers,” she tells Lifehacker.
This shift has happened pretty quickly: Before the pandemic began, approximately 31% of people worked from home occasionally. By the end of April, 63% of employees in the U.S. said they have worked from home in the last seven days because of COVID-19 concerns.
And from an even broader perspective, Reynolds says that more people are professionally engaged in the “knowledge economy”—meaning that they work with ideas and information, rather than with machinery and large, physical equipment. “The knowledge economy naturally supports jobs that can be done from home,” she explains.
How to stand out when applying for a remote job
Applying for jobs online can feel like you’re just sending your resume and cover letters out into the abyss. So how can you make your application stand out from the rest of the pile? In a recent interview with CNBC, Reynolds—who has sifted through hundreds of resumes for remote positions—said that a lot of applications miss the mark because they don’t indicate why the person would be good at the job when performed remotely.
“Your resume should tell employers that you’ve got what it takes to not only do their job, but do it remotely,” Reynolds told CNBC. This includes highlighting your written and verbal communication skills, as well as your ability to work independently and stay organized, and having a growth mindset.
“Your resume should tell employers that you’ve got what it takes to not only do their job, but do it remotely,” Reynolds told CNBC. This includes highlighting your written and verbal communication skills, as well as your ability to work independently and stay organized, and having a growth mindset.
Jobs you didn’t realize could be done remotely
Here are just a few examples of remote positions, according to the Most Surprising Flexible Jobs:
Nurses
Trained nurses and other healthcare workers can find positions within telehealth, including answering calls on nursing advice lines.
Librarians
If you’ve been trained as a librarian, you may have imagined working in a quiet room full of stacks of books. Now you can do that from home (though the quiet isn’t guaranteed).
Interior designers
With so many sites and apps offering virtual home makeovers and revamped designs, there are positions available in this field, too.
Physicists
You no longer need to be in a lab to do work in physics. You can also work on spaceships from home now.
Paralegals
Review documentation and records—no courtroom or law office required.
Social workers
While some licensed clinical social workers have moved to an online therapy practice, there are remote opportunities for other types of social workers, too—including those who work in schools.
Painters
Apparently, painting can be done remotely, too.
Bartenders
If you’re an experienced bartender, you may want to look into becoming a “mixology” instructor, training people in the skills of bartending via online classes.
Investigators
No need for a trench coat and magnifying glass for these jobs. For example, this job for being the director of identity and freelancer fraud is fully remote.
See more at: Lifehacker
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