Looking for employment even while you’requarantined or practicing social distancing? There are a number of jobs that can bedone remotely — and are in high demand.
Job seekers should “think about the industries that would be overwhelmed with additional work right now,” says Brie Weiler Reynolds, career development manager and coach at FlexJobs, and let those be your guide.
Here are six jobs with thousands and even tens of thousands of openings, as of April 2020, according to FlexJobs and Monster, that can be done remotely. Note that all of these jobs require at least a computer and a working internet connection, and that a few require a relevant degree.
Customer service representative
Customer service representatives communicate with and respond to a company’s customerinquiries via internet chat, email, or phone. They report issues customers may be having and generallyserve as the face, or the voice, of a company.
Many companies needs customer service reps, and the median salary for the job is just over$35,000 per year, according to Salary.com. Apply for remote customer service jobs on FlexJobs, Monster, Indeed, or LinkedIn.
Online educator
Online education is “one of the top remote fields” right now, says Reynolds. “From pre-K all the way through Ph.D. level, programs are moving online.” As such, full- and part-time teachers in a variety of fields,from ESL teachers for kindergartners to biology teachers for high schoolers, are needed to take on remote work.
Online educators make an average of about $41,000 per year, according to ZipRecruiter. Apply for remote educator positions on FlexJobs, Indeed, LinkedIn, or Monster. Note that many of these jobs require a bachelor’s degree and some experience in education.
Health insurance enrollment specialist
Not all jobs in health care must be done face-to-face.“More medicine is moving to telehealth,” says Reynolds, “especially right now.”
A health insurance enrollment specialist enrolls people in health insurance programs. Depending on the position, they might also educate people about their insurance, reach out to potential customers, and perform administrative duties like recording data.
Health insurance enrollment specialists make $42,000 per year on average, according to ZipRecruiter. Apply for remoteenrollment specialist jobs at Indeed, Monster, or on FlexJobs.
Accountant
Accountants examine financial records, compute taxes owed, and prepare tax records.They’re in high demand during tax season, which typically runs from late January until April 15. With the 2020 tax season extended until July 15 and an increasing number of people needing help to file, the demand for accountants will continue intothe summer.
“More people are confused about what they need to be doing,” says Reynolds, “so accounting and finance in particular, that’s still a strong area.”
The median annual wage for accountants is $70,500 per year, according to 2018 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Note that most accounting jobs require a bachelor’s degree in accounting or a similar field. Find remote accounting jobs on FlexJobs, Monster, or LinkedIn.
Management nurse
Management nurses assess the quality of health care provided by a given organization, conduct outreach to collect clinical data, help build guidelines for health-care providers, perform other key functions within their medical system, and can work remotely.
The average salary of a management nurse is $77,000 per year, according to ZipRecruiter. Apply for remotemanagement nurse positions on FlexJobs or LinkedIn. Note that management nurse positions often require a registered nurse license and some experience working in the medical field.
Software engineer
Software engineers develop software, design computer programs and smartphone applications, monitor their systems’ functionality, and make any updates necessary to ensure their tech runs smoothly.
“In the past week alone,” says Natalia Panowicz, CEO of recruitment platform Codility, which helps companies find software engineers, “we have seen a 300% increase in demand for virtual interviews.”
Software developers make more than $105,000 per year on average, according to 2018 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Find remote software engineer jobs on Monster, FlexJobs, and LinkedIn. Note that software engineer jobs often require a bachelor’s degree, typically in a field like computer science.
Other jobs have the potential to be remote, too
While some employers make it clear in the job description aposition can be done remotely, others may not. That doesn’t mean working from home isn’t an option, though, especiallyunder the circumstances.
Whilesocial distancing regulations are in place, job applicants caninquire about work-from-home options “as early as the first contact,” says Vicki Salemi, career expert for Monster. And even if a job description “doesn’t mention it’s remote,” she says, “job seekers still have the right to ask if it’s a possibility to become remote.”