Another day, another Coronavirus-related blog post!
UGH.
I know, I'm getting exhausted too. I hate writing about it as much as you are probably sick of reading about it.
But as they say, the show must go on!
Look... I really want to do my part and share some of my thoughts so that you feel like you have all of the options available to you. And currently, it's my belief that the financial stresses this pandemic is causing are at the top of the heap.
A lot of you have lost your jobs and aren't sure when the next paycheck is coming. So it thought it would it would be great to talk about three jobs that are still relevant regardless of what is happening in the world.
3 Jobs That are Still Relevant During the Covid-19 Outbreak
Without further ado, here are three jobs that have been able to be somewhat pandemic-proof.
Cashier
As you may have seen in my last blog post, many of the big-box department chains are still hiring. Companies like Walmart, Target, Home Depot, Costco and Amazon have all been looking for assistance as customers panic-buy and put the stores under pressure to deliver.
And who is generally the first and last person you see when you walk in and out of one of these stores?
Well the cashier, of course!
Cashiers are one of the most valuable cogs in the department store machines, and it is no surprise that they are in great demand when the poop hits the fan.
According to my pal (and interview expert extraordinaire) Jeff Gillis in his new article Cashier Job Description, "...a cashier’s primary role is to assist customers in the in-store check-out process. This can include collecting payment, scanning items, bagging, giving appropriate change and more..."
So, you can totally understand the key role that a cashier plays when it comes to keeping order, moving customers through the store, and most importantly, making sure the money gets into the till.
And the best part under these current circumstances is that the work is mainly part-time, and does not require much in the way of education, certification or qualifications.
So spend some time brainstorming the chains that are close to you and hit up their job boards. There is a good chance that you'll find a company that is in desperate need of some help.
Call Center Representatives
If you're anything like me, this one may have caught your attention a little bit.
Call centers Mike? Aren't we supposed to be social distancing?
Yes, you are. Please continue to do so for the near future.
However, much like the cashier example above, many businesses that are designated "essential" have been permitted to stay open. And in some cases, such as telecommunication, this would also seem to apply.
As recently as yesterday, Spectrum announced it would be raising wages AND hiring more call center representatives at one of their offices in Columbus.
We can only hope that they are also taking the necessary precautions to ensure the safety of their employees.
So what does this mean for you? Well, it means that there may be some call center opportunities near you. And much like the example above, there are not a lot of prerequisites to becoming a call center representative.
However, I have one requirement for you should you be able to find an opening near you. Polish up on your Call Center Interview Questions. Because while you don't need to be a rocket scientist to be able to perform the duties associated with this job, you do need to be prepared for the style of questions you are going to be asked.
It is a unique position so you'll have a huge advantage if you're familiar for what a hiring manager might throw at you.
Customer Service Representative
Ok, I know this sounds similar to the last example. And in a way, there is some overlapping of the two positions.
A call center could be filled with customer service representatives, but not all customer service representatives work in a call center.
Did that blow your mind or what?
Joking aside, as the tech-genius-turned-interview-expert I mentioned before (the one and only Jeff Gillis!) said in his piece Customer Service Representative Job Description, customer service work is "...one of the top jobs that can be done remotely. Very often companies will allow you to work from home or from another location while doing your customer service work."
This is no different during this pandemic. Many companies are fielding more calls from angry, scared and frustrated customers, and even though many of their reps have been sent home, they have made it possible to facilitate these calls from their homes.
The great thing about this work, is that you can earn some extra money without putting yourself or your family in danger when leaving the house.
Having said that, there are also many other customer service opportunities that are being posted that might require a traditional work environment, so make sure you give it some thought when assessing which opportunity would work best for you.
Either way, it's good news that there are opportunities out there in the field of customer service.
What Next?
Take some time and learn more about the positions I listed above. I know they are not the most glamorous jobs you've ever seen, but in reality, they could provide the opportunity to reduce the stress you're feeling from this pandemic.
And who knows? You might surprise yourself.
Maybe you learn some new skills? Meet some new people? Find a new-found passion? (Yes, I'm trying to be ultra positive here, lol).
Whatever you decide, please be careful out there!
Good luck!
P.S. Jeff just put out a pretty helpful list of interview questions over at our main blog that I think would help you prepare for any of these job interviews: 200+ Job Interview Questions List (PDF Practice Cheat Sheet Included). Check it out!
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