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A guest Post by Noah Rue
The coronavirus pandemic has had a shocking effect on nearly every aspect of life. Even if you don’t know anyone who is sick, you’ve probably felt the effects of COVID-19 through a mandated quarantine, a fearful and panic-stricken Facebook feed, and a desperate hunt for toilet paper.
You may have also found yourself struggling to pay the bills. Millions of workers have been asked to spend days and weeks at home. Though many employers are working double-time to shift their operations to a remote format, many employees simply cannot work remotely.
If you find yourself amongst the ranks of the unemployed, here are a few of the most promising areas where you can try to pick up some extra work until life levels out again.
Consider Delivery
One major change that coronavirus has brought is a shift to online delivery. As everything from groceries to games are purchased online, delivery drivers find themselves in increasingly higher demand. If you don’t mind driving all day, it may be worth enquiring at your local UPS or FedEx location to see what work may be available.
Amazon has also announced that it is opening 100,00 new fulfillment and delivery roles at increased pay to keep up with the flurry of online orders. Amazon has its hand in everything from perishable foods to healthcare e-commerce. Getting your foot in the door as an employee could be a savvy way to spend your free time.
Stock Some Shelves
Another way to generate some income is by applying for a job at a store. Any store that has been deemed essential is still open, even in the midst of the crisis. Dollar General and CVS are hiring 50,000 extra employees each, and Wal-Mart has plans to hire 150,000 more workers during the crisis, just to name a few.
Major U.S. employers have pledged to hire a whopping 815,000 new employees to help with the ongoing situation.
Get a Gig
If you’re unwilling to commit to a second job but you want to establish a temporary stream of income, you may want to turn to the gig economy. There are many remote work positions available on a freelance basis.
You can apply to freelance writing, graphic design, and marketing jobs on Upwork or Fivver. You can also get a job as a customer service agent. You can even simply spend your time filling out online surveys to generate a little extra cash on the side.
Freelance work requires a lot of applying and involves a lot of rejection, so don’t get discouraged if you don’t find work right away. Also, as you start applying, don’t let the panic of needing additional income allow you to overlook the importance of protecting your online privacy while you hunt for a job.
Care for Kids
If watching kids is something you enjoy, you can transform your independent freelancing spirit into an entrepreneurship opportunity by starting your own childcare operation. Millions of parents who are still working are suddenly facing the prospect of finding childcare for the remainder of the school year and the summer.
In addition, with schools not in session, there is plenty of work to be found in online education. You can use online tutoring services to look for work in remote education that can be done right from the comfort of your couch.
Surviving the COVID-19 Pandemic with Poise
As you apply to jobs, prepare for online interviews. Most importantly, as you sort life out under a long-term quarantine, it’s critical that you remember to stay calm. Allowing fear and panic to guide your employment decisions rarely ends well. It can make it difficult to find a good job and even harder to actually be hired for one.
Instead, take a few deep breaths, look at your options using the above list as a starting point, and then make a decision about where to look for work with boldness and confidence.
