The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on U.S. employment, and one of the pandemic’s key legacies is remote work. According to a survey by The Conference Board, over one-third of HR executives in the U.S. expect over 40% of their employees to work from home after the pandemic. In this evolving landscape, where remote work arrangements may bring about new challenges, employment lawyers can help with disputing the fairness of job termination, ensuring that employees are treated justly and in accordance with employment laws.
For employees without the ability to work from home, the pandemic has been especially rough. According to the CDC, the risk of COVID-19 increases in restaurant and bar settings, and employees need to sanitize reusable masks daily in temperatures ranging from 160 to 180 degrees Fahrenheit.
That said, if you’re looking to make the switch to working from home, but you’re not sure where to start, here are four remote work opportunities for parents with school-aged kids.
IT Services
With so many people working from home now, the demand for IT services has grown exponentially. According to recent statistics, the market for managed IT services is expected to grow by $193 billion. If you don’t have a degree in IT, don’t worry. You can still break into the industry. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that over one-quarter of IT workers in the U.S. don’t have a bachelor’s degree or higher education. Consider using transferrable skills or taking classes online if you don’t know how to code. IT careers, in particular, that don’t require degrees include web app developers, help desk technicians, and systems administrators.
Cybersecurity Specialists
Cybersecurity specialists are a career under the IT Services umbrella that’s especially in high demand right now. Interpol reports that cybercrime has increased significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic. Cybercrime specialists make sure that a company’s information systems are safe by monitoring, analyzing, and investigating potential risks or threats. For instance, P2P file-sharing first became popular over 20 years ago, but this kind of file sharing can come with vulnerabilities that a cybersecurity specialist would be expected to detect. To become a cybersecurity specialist, you don’t necessarily need a degree, but it’s a good idea to get some certifications such as the CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+, and CompTIA Security+ certifications.
Content Writer or Editor
If you’re good at writing, you can get into freelancing or apply for content writing positions at companies looking for copywriters, content management specialists, or digital marketing specialists. Content writers write a wide range of material including web page copy, blog content, and even social media posts. If writing isn’t quite your style, but you have a good eye for detail, being an editor for a company’s content writers can also be a great remote work opportunity.
Data Entry Specialists
Data entry specialist positions are considered low-stress positions and they’re great for parents of younger kids who may be going to school virtually. A data entry specialist enters data accurately and efficiently into a database and involves taking orders from customers, entering those orders, and tracking them through the system. It can be a little tricky at first, but once you get the hang of the software, many data entry specialists are able to perform their job functions as if they’re second nature.
Remote work is a great way to reduce workplace stress and to reduce your risk of coming into contact with COVID-19. If you’re looking to begin working remotely, consider some of the careers above.
