Out of crisis comes opportunity.
A lot of people have been talking about the millions of jobs that were lost because of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, many new careers have been created in this era, generating jobs for millions of people across the globe. Most of these jobs have been in the public health sector for good reason. The new jobs created don’t outweigh the current economic losses that are far worse than The Great Depression. Besides, most of these jobs have come with a lot of risks. If you don’t mind taking a risk or you know someone who is in desperate need of a new job, keep reading to find out more.
1. Covid-19 Caregivers
At the time of writing, more than 93 million people across the globe had been infected with the coronavirus. Almost two million have died while the rest have recovered. During active cases, these people need caregivers who can watch over them, and as they recover. The Covid-19 isolation centers are working at full capacity so only people with extreme symptoms are allowed to stay there. Those with mild symptoms are encouraged to isolate themselves at home. They can employ Covid-19 caregivers who are trained to assist with minimal risk of infection. In the United States, these caregivers get up to $25 per hour. You’ll need to be trained and certified before you can work as a Covid-19 caregiver but it doesn’t take up too much time.
2. Covid-19 Testers
If you already have a background in medical testing, you can become a Covid-19 tester with just a little extra training. Countries are in desperate need of frontlines workers who will perform oral and nasal swabs on people. It isn’t just limited to hospital testing. You may find employment in assigned testing sites, nursing homes, airports, and regular offices. Apart from lab technicians, nurses and nurse assistants are also being employed to work as Covid-19 testers. Even if you don’t have a background in medicine, you can opt for a related skills training program and get certified to work as a Covid-19 tester. The pay ranges from $20 to $40 per hour depending on your qualifications.
3. Covid-19 Contact Tracers
As part of an initiative to curb the spread of the virus, contact tracers are in high demand. Right after an individual is diagnosed, the contact tracers are responsible for identifying all the people who may have come in contact with the infected person. You don’t need to be a genius to become a contact tracer. You just need good communication skills. Your job would be similar to the job of customer care representatives. Call the numbers of those who may be infected, explain the situation, and advise them on how to self isolate. In some cases, you may need to recommend a Covid-19 test for them. The pay for contact tracers ranges from $17 to $25 per hour.
4. Covid-19 Temperature Screeners
One of the primary symptoms of coronavirus is an elevated body temperature. This is why Covid-19 temperature screeners are now in high demand. Irrespective of the device being used, the temperature screeners are responsible for reading the result. If the individual’s temperature is above average, they will ask them to take a Covid-19 test. Many organizations are employing temperature screens because the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission made provision for it. You will earn between $14 to $25 hourly. You don’t need any medical experience to work as a temperature screener.
5. Covid-19 Interior Refurbishment
After the first lockdown, many businesses were forced to shut down. However, the economy could not remain on hold forever. To resume operations, businesses had to meet up with Covid-19 guidelines. Construction companies and interior designers were hired to refurbish businesses in line with these guidelines. The job description isn’t just limited to one field; people from different sectors can benefit from the job opportunities presented. These professionals change the layouts of offices, install plastic counters, etc. Jobs like these pay around $42,000-$53,500 yearly.
Despite the development of a vaccine, it’s still not clear how long the Covid-19 pandemic will last. Countries are experiencing second and even third waves of the virus with new strains appearing daily. If you’re not comfortable taking a job that increases your risk of being infected, consider learning a skill that will allow you to work remotely. An online bootcamp like those that you can find at Computersciencehero.com might be just what you need to develop a tech skill.
Artur Meyster is the CTO of Career Karma (YC W19), an online marketplace that matches career switchers with coding bootcamps. He is also the host of the Breaking Into Startups podcast, which features people with non-traditional backgrounds who broke into tech. Follow Artur on Twitter and LinkedIn.
