What Jobs are Hiring During the Coronavirus Pandemic

During emergencies, supporting our community becomes the top priority. Here are some jobs that can help you provide for your family while saving the world.

Table of contents

1. Healthcare jobs hiring during the pandemic

Career preparation for the healthcare field requires a strong work ethic, education and training to help you advance. In order to succeed in a career in healthcare, you’ll need to ensure that you’re on the right path and earn the appropriate credentials to reach your goals. If you are already in this industry, and need some help building your CV, make sure to follow our complete guide to nurse CV writing.

Healthcare workers get to experience the satisfaction of helping others every single day they are on the job. More now than ever, healthcare professionals are leading the fight against Coronavirus. They work closely with patients, getting to know them and caring for their needs. They get to experience both the joy of watching patients recover and the sadness of less than happy outcomes. One thing is sure; all members of the healthcare field get to touch other people’s lives in a positive way. Here are some of the most important and on demand jobs in the healthcare field industry.

Operating registered nurse

This field involves great attention to detail. Everything, the patient’s room, and all medical instruments must be kept completely sterile to prevent infections. Like a choreographed dance, everyone on the operating team works fluidly together to make a surgery smooth and error free.

✓ Operating registered nurse duties

You will be among several nurses on the team and your duties will likely include: Assessing patients to ascertain current condition and relevant medical history Gathering supplies needed for a procedure and ensuring they are handled properly Safely transporting COVID-19 patients to quarantined areas Watching for any issues that might compromise sterility, such as torn protective equipment Evaluating the patient and vital signs throughout a procedure and taking appropriate action

Nursing assistant

Another on demand and important jobs in the healthcare field during any emergency is the nursing assistants. As a nursing assistant, you will work under the supervision of a registered nurse or another licenced nurse to provide hands-on care for patients while keeping a cheerful, caring demeanour. 

✓ Nursing assistant duties
Some of your job duties will include: Providing personal care to patients Taking vital signs and reporting results Assisting with bathing, toileting and dressing patients Helping set up medical equipment Watching for and reporting any changes or symptoms

Caregivers

Caregivers work closely with their patients to ensure they are comfortable and have all their needs met. There are few working relationships that bring patient and provider closer than the caregiver and client relationship. This makes caregiving both an extremely rewarding and also potentially challenging job, but it is certainly among our most popular jobs.

As a caregiver, you will work one-on-one with your patient to ensure their needs of daily living are met. Caregivers not only see to their patient’s physical needs but provide a safe environment and emotional support, reassuring the patient and their family.

✓ Caregiver duties
Light cleaning Preparing meals Helping with dressing, bathing and toileting Shopping and running errands Transporting patients to activities and appointments Overseeing adequate personal hygiene Acting as a friend and companion

Pharmacy technicians

A pharmacy technician’s main purpose is to distribute medications and counsel patients on the use of them. This is done in the tens of thousands of retail pharmacies that dot every landscape. Being a pharmacist requires a blend of medical knowledge and people skills. These professionals are also found in hospitals, corporate environments, clinics, senior communities and other medical settings.

During emergency situations patients rely on Pharmacists almost as first responders. Patients want to find the best ways to care for themselves with over the counter products and get general counselling on what to do in certain situations before they can get specialised care from their health provider.

In your role as a pharmacy technician, you will work with your team and with the public, so confidentiality and compassion are essential components. You may experience extremely busy times and must be able to perform your job without errors under pressure.

✓ Pharmacy technician duties
In a typical day, your duties might include: Counting tablets Handling patient details through computers, including insurance information and prescriptions Verifying insurance coverage Working with doctors and clinics to ensure patients are getting the right medication Fielding patient questions over the phone and in person; referring them to the head pharmacist when necessary

What steps should I follow if I am interested in becoming a healthcare provider?

If you are interested in becoming part of the healthcare worker force here are some steps you can follow before considering starting a career in this industry.

Step 1: take testing to determine the right path

The best approach is to take an aptitude test and a career test to get you started down the right path. The aptitude test will tell you what career your talents and attitudes are best suited for and the career test will let you know what kind of educational background you will need to get started.

Step 2: talk to people in the field about a career in healthcare

You should take the time to talk to a variety of healthcare professionals who work in fields that interest you. If you get the chance, you should also accompany these professionals as they do their jobs to get a first-hand look at how it is done.

Step 3: volunteer in the healthcare Field

With a volunteer job, you will be able to see everything that goes into the healthcare profession and see many of the medical professionals that could help shape your future path in action. Volunteer work not only helps you to see the healthcare profession up close, but it is also an excellent foundation for your CV. Be sure to collect as many details about your healthcare volunteer job as you can and include that information on your first healthcare CV.

Step 4: Develop a strong work ethic

No matter what aspect of the healthcare industry you decide to pursue, you will have to have a strong work ethic that will put you in a position to succeed. Unlike other fields, the healthcare field is one of the few where lives are at stake. So, many healthcare workers have long shifts where they must be alert for long periods of time. Working well under pressure and having stamina is key.

2. Food service jobs hiring amid Coronavirus

While many restaurants have closed temporarily during stay-at-home orders, food workers are still essential to the community during times such as the coronavirus pandemic. Food, like medicine, is essential for survival. So the work force that supports food supply chains, grocery stores, and the delivery of prepared foods is a part of critical infrastructure during a crisis.

Cooks and servers are known for their amazing hospitality skills by providing services to people in need of meals, like the elderly and the homeless population who can’t physically prepare their meals or don’t have the time or the place.

Regardless of one’s background, education or skill level, this is an industry that has something to offer everyone and is constantly in need of candidates – especially during emergencies. Here are a few career  tips to get yourself ready for jobs in this field.

Food server

As a fast food server, even if it is drive-thru or take-out, your job is to provide a great customer service experience, getting their orders quickly and accurately. From working the front lines as a cashier to making sure dishes are cleaned and put away in the back, food servers encompass all aspects from the front of the house to the back of the house.

✓ Food Server duties

Depending on your position, you can expect to perform some or all of the following tasks: Taking orders and inputting them into a computer Handling cash or credit cards and making change Cleaning and maintaining the restaurant and its equipment Take phone orders for delivery or take-out, resolve complaints and ensure customer satisfaction Preparing food and packaging it for sale Delivering orders to people’s homes Stocking and tracking inventory

What information do I need in a CV and cover letter for a food service job?

Step 1: keep your cover letter and CV focussed

If you are a table busser who wants to become a server, then focus your cover letter and CV on the CV skills that will make you a great server. As we mentioned, there is a great deal of diversity of roles in the restaurant industry, which can make it difficult for hiring managers to find the perfect candidates for each job. By keeping your documents focused on your goals, you will catch the attention of hiring managers and get the interviews you want.

Step 2: drop a few names if you have any

When applying to a job it is always a good sign if your cover letter has a few names that the hiring manager will recognise. If you worked under a chef who went on to gain a good reputation and is very popular, then be sure to mention those names early in your cover letter. If you worked in a popular or well known restaurant in your area, make sure to add that experience in your resume and mention it in your summary.

Step 3: use concise sentences

Restaurant hiring managers are extremely busy people who usually double as chefs, head waiters or general managers. That means that they do not have a lot of time to view in detail your cover letters and CV. This puts the responsibility on you to write your documents that will jump out at a restaurant hiring manager and get you the job you want. To do that, you need to use  concise sentences that allow your important information to stand out and make it easier to read your cover letter.

Step 4: Utilise a professional format

Regardless of the industry you should use a proven and professional format that will make your information completely accessible. You’ll notice that cover letter examples and CV for any industry are formatted clearly and professionally, and documents for restaurant positions are no exception. This Use CV builder to start your CV the right way.

3. Critical sanitation jobs during COVID-19

The sanitation teams is  a workforce that includes janitors, housekeepers and cleaning crews. This group plays a necessary role in helping homeowners, business owners, hotels, schools, hospitals and places stay clean and organised. Despite many COVID-19 shut downs, sanitation jobs continue to be in-demand. Without their help, all these spaces would be chaotic and unkempt simply because there is no one to watch over the space’s needs on an everyday basis.

As a member of a sanitation team, it is your job to keep things neat, tidy and organized. You may be the only person responsible for cleaning a home or you may step in on occasion to help with bigger jobs.During emergencies, sanitation teams help restore businesses and public spaces. They are an essential group of people that help return a sense of normalcy by keeping spaces cleaned and ready for the next step.

✓ Sanitation team duties

Depending on your position, you can expect to perform some tasks like: Picking up and sorting belongings into their appropriate places Surface cleaning homes, offices and businesses Performing occasional deeper cleanings to help clean those less common areas Working with all manner of clients and maintaining courteous professionalism Handling cash, payments and invoices for clients Traveling to and from various job sites

4. Pandemic-Critical Security Guard Jobs

The security officer profession offers diverse opportunities to people with a variety of backgrounds. You can work in corporate security which allows you to maintain a stable job in a single location, or you can choose to get involved in personal security which could take you around the world. Being a security officer offers the opportunity to have an exciting career which can also be quite lucrative as well.

During emergencies security offices play a very important role offering support to local authorities not just in businesses but also parks, common areas, hospitals and communities by securing premises, controlling traffic, and supervising assigned areas. In the era of coronavirus, security jobs continue to be in high-demand as security roles are essential to the safety of our communities. Being a security guard is also a good way of mixing law enforcement skills with people skills, offering help and protection without overworking the authorities and collaborating hand in hand with community leaders and business owners.

✓ Security guard duties

Secures premises and personnel by patrolling property and monitoring surveillance equipment Ensures operation of equipment by completing preventive maintenance requirements Inspect buildings, equipment, and access points Supervise and permit entry to premises Completes reports by recording observations and surveillance activities Obtains help by sounding alarms Prevents losses and damage by reporting irregularities, informing violators of policy and procedures and restraining trespassers Controls traffic by directing drivers Complies with legal and law enforcement requirements

5. Remote teaching jobs

Teachers make such a difference in the lives of a children. Seeing the spark of education take hold in a young mind is just one of the reasons teachers are so passionate about their jobs. During the coronavirus school closures, teachers continue to work online and companies in the education field are hiring as demand for remote instruction grows. As the demand for skilled and trained teachers increases, so too does the popularity of this career choice. Make sure to read our CV writing guide for teachers.

During an emergency, teachers are one of the most important support systems for children in their community. Recently during the novel Coronavirus (COVID19) crisis many teachers have gone above and beyond to continue their duties, bringing the classroom home by teaching their students remotely and using video conferences to continue with the curriculum. Though it is a challenging task, teachers have proven how essential they are in children’s lives by keeping a routine and helping them overcome a crisis.

As a teacher, you will work closely with children in a particular age group. Your training generally dictates the ages of children you work with, so you can choose where best to use your talents.

✓ Teacher duties

You will mentor, encourage and inspire the children under your care while performing some of the following duties: Writing lesson plans Implementing lessons and adhering to curriculum Recognising students with particular needs Working closely with individual students to help them achieve their educational goals Maintaining your classroom and necessary supplies Keeping students on track and maintaining a disciplined, organized classroom

6. Truck drivers needed during this outbreak

Truck drivers provide an essential service to industrialised societies. They make sure goods and raw materials arrive at their destination in a safe and timely manner. Even while many businesses are shut down during the Coronavirus pandemic, truck drivers continue to be in demand, delivering toilet paper and other necessities to millions. This job requires good time management skills, attention to details and logistics. Truck drivers are also responsible for their vehicles and making sure they are always in optimal operating condition.

During emergencies, truck drivers operate non-stop to keep up with the increased demand for supplies, food or medicine. Truck drivers are like the red cells of the economy, their job is to move oxygen to the places where the body needs it the most.

✓ Truck driver duties

There are three main categories in this industry, and your duties may vary depending on what area of this field you are positioned: Owner-operators: self-employed independent contractors who own the trucks they drive and lease them by contract to haul for a company (or multiple companies). Company drivers: employees of a particular trucking company and drive trucks provided by their employer. Independent owner-operators: those who own their own authority to haul goods and often drive their own truck, possibly owning a small fleet anywhere from 1-10 trucks, maybe as few as only 2 or 3 trucks.

7. Essential grocery store Jobs

During emergencies like the coronavirus pandemic, grocery store clerks are the initial point of contact for customers to find necessity items and are responsible for stocking and restocking shelves with products, ensuring the grocery store/supermarket has the products available for customer purchase.

In the support of other grocery store employees (such as the cashier) you may be asked to assist in the check-out process helping with bagging groceries and assisting customers with moving bags into their vehicles. Thanks to the grocery store clerks, people in despair can find comfort while purchasing the items they need in a friendly and safe environment. In a way, grocery store clerks bring a feeling of stability to customers’ lives.

✓ Grocery Store Clerk Duties

Some of your duties could include the following tasks: Safely and accurately restock product shelves. Assist customers in taking groceries to their vehicles, upon request. Support other grocery store personnel such as cashiers to help with the check out process. Ensure products are front facing and orderly on shelves. Interact with customers of diverse backgrounds in a positive manner. Work with other team members to ensure products are properly stocked on shelves. Provide accurate information to customers on location of items in store.

8. Journalist covering COVID-19

The job of journalists is even more important during a crisis as people heavily rely on journalists to provide them timely facts needed to know what to do during a crisis. Responsibilities include interviewing, investigating and verifying facts from multiple sources and then writing and reporting the news gathered in a timely manner.

During emergencies getting the story can be hard work and verifying facts can be more difficult than usual. Many journalists expose themselves to vulnerable situations to share information that could affect the general public so people can make decisions to keep themselves safe and develop opinions regarding what’s going on.

✓ Journalists duties
Some of your duties could include the following: perusing press releases developing story ideas verifying facts researching and investigating a single topic for a column assigned or for a long-form/in-depth piece cultivating sources and relationships; and interviewing subjects.

9. Job opportunities during this crisis

In conclusion, regardless of your skillset and education, there’s a wide range of in-demand jobs during emergencies like the COVID-19 outbreak where you can provide for your family while helping the greater good. Any crisis presents an opportunity to rise to the occasion or adapt to a new normal. And if you were at all displaced by a crisis, may you find your place in its resolution.