A Guide to Working from Home in the Age of Covid-19
The coronavirus pandemic has hit the economy hard, regardless of where you are in the world. In particular, the job market has seen a major decline–some of the worst in decades–with many businesses being forced to shut down. For those who have managed to keep their jobs, they are now forced to work from home in order to practice social distancing rules and to limit exposure to the virus.
If you are out of a job, don’t despair. There are many work-from-home job opportunities that have emerged during this pandemic. Take time to explore what these options are to determine if they are a good fit for you so you can earn extra income. This is also ideal for students who would like to gain work experience through an internship.
Online Teaching
Most schools have shut down because of the pandemic and parents now have to homeschool their children. For this reason, online teaching is in high demand nowadays. Teachers who can work remotely can earn at a starting rate of $9 an hour (it varies depending on where you are located). The demand for online teaching jobs is equal across all levels–from kindergarten to grad school. If you are an educator, you can take this opportunity to earn extra income by teaching online.
Home-Based Real Estate Agent
The economy might be in a recession right now, but many real estate investors are making the best of the low prices in the market. Investors are buying properties right and left. For this reason, it is a good time to become a home-based real estate agent. You can work with clients who are looking for investment properties because real estate prices are down, and so are interest rates from banks and lenders.
If you have clients who want to see the new condos in Pickering, for example, you can use virtual tools to help them tour the properties. Whether you are a freelancer or a part of a brokerage, take advantage of this downtime to close out more deals. This is one of the most lucrative real estate career opportunities that you can exploit, especially if you have the right skill set.
Virtual Assistant
Working as a virtual assistant is another job opportunity with promising pay potential. You can earn anywhere from $10 to $30 an hour, depending on the virtual assistant services company you work for. As a virtual assistant, you will be performing administrative support tasks such as email management, setting appointments, and so on.
Accountant
There are many reasons why being an accountant is the perfect job during the pandemic. For starters, the work can be done entirely from home, which means you don't have to worry about exposure to the virus. Unfortunately, the CPA exam needs to be taken in a registered testing center. However, preparing for the CPA exam from home has never been easier, with plenty of resources online to help you. And, since more and more businesses are moving their operations online, there's a growing demand for accountants who are comfortable working in the digital world. So if you're looking for a stable and secure job that you can do from home, look no further than accounting.
Home-Based Writer
If you have skills as a writer, then you can use your talent to make money during the pandemic. There are plenty of websites that offer you the opportunity to work as an online writer. You can choose to get paid per piece or by the hour (with rates of up to $50 an hour). There are many topics that you can write about, so feel free to choose your own niche. Some industries pay more than others, so take this into account when building your writing portfolio.
Contact Tracer
Another home-based work opportunity that is uniquely available at this time is a contract tracer. The pay rate can range from $18 to $24 an hour. Your role is to track down any individual that has come into contact with a known infected person. The goal is to keep track of those individuals in order to limit the spread of the virus and manage the outbreak. This is one of the most invaluable roles in an effort to manage the COVID-19 pandemic.
Best work-from-home job opportunities during COVID-19 (Image Source: Unsplash)
Customer Service Representative
Working as a customer service representative is another job that you can do from home. There is an ongoing demand for customer service representatives and you can provide your services to a wide range of businesses and industries. You can provide customer service support via call, email, or chat. In order to qualify for the job, some companies might require experience in this field, however.
Claims Investigator
During a health crisis such as COVID-19, there are many individuals who will be filing for insurance claims. As a claims investigator, it is your job to track down and investigate each one. Your role is to assess these claims and ensure their legitimacy. The level of experience and education required for this job will vary depending on the position and the specifications.
Tips for Choosing the Best Job Opportunities
There are plenty of employment opportunities that have surfaced in an effort to provide a livelihood for those in need. However, you need to verify where these job offers are coming from to ensure they are legitimate. While many such opportunities have increased, there are also plenty of scams out there. Always deal with legitimate companies only and be wary of common scams and schemes so you can protect yourself from them.