Hey, fam. I know this is a super weird, hard time for many, and you might be feeling scared right now—especially if you’ve been laid off or you’re on unpaid leave because of the coronavirus (COVID-19). First of all, if that’s your situation, I just want to say I’m so sorry. Take a deep breath and know that you’re not alone.
If you were still working on paying off debt at the time of your unpaid leave, here’s what I want you to do: Press pause on your debt snowball and just make sure you can cover the Four Walls—food, utilities, shelter and transportation—until you can get back on your feet.
In overwhelming situations like this, focus on what you can control (your own actions) and start applying for some jobs. Don’t let the news fill you with fear—even though it might look like the world is ending, there are actually a lot of companies that are hiring right now. I’ve made a list of some of the best jobs and side hustles you can look for to get you through these crazy economic times. I promise, we will get through this.
4 Temporary Jobs in High Demand During the Coronavirus Pandemic
While tons of companies have closed their doors, the need for other businesses like grocery stores and restaurants that deliver has skyrocketed. Here are four of the most in-demand career fields where companies are currently hiring.
And y’all probably know this already, but check local places too. All of the companies listed here are national chains, but there might be local grocery stores, hospitals or restaurants in your area that are hiring too. Since these are the places that are considered “essential,” pretty much any workers in the food, delivery, tech or medical field are going to be super needed right now!
1. Grocery/Retail
Someone has to restock all of that hand sanitizer, right? Grocery stores and retail/food combination stores are some of the only places people are actually allowed to go to right now, so it makes sense that these businesses would be overwhelmed and looking for some extra hands.
Many of these places have come out with press releases saying that they’re planning on hiring thousands of temporary workers during this crisis to help those who are missing paychecks. Even if it’s temporary, it’s better than nothing—and some may turn into full-time opportunities later. Here are some places that are actively hiring:
- Aldi
- Costco
- CVS
- Dollar General
- Dollar Tree
- Kroger
- Publix
- Sprouts
- Target
- Walmart
- Whole Foods
2. Delivery
Bless all of the delivery drivers who are making sure people get what they need—even during a global pandemic. The good thing about these jobs is that most of your time will be spent in your car, so you can listen to music or podcasts and make minimal human contact. Here are the delivery services that are hiring right now:
- Chipotle
- PepsiCo
- Domino’s
- FedEx
- Instacart
- Jet’s Pizza
- Papa John’s
- Pizza Hut
- Postmates
- Shipt
- UPS
- Uber Eats
3. Medicine/Health Care
Sure, not everyone has the training or education for a job in the medical field, but if you do, now’s the time to use it! And don’t write off these places because you don’t think you qualify—some health care companies and hospitals will need receptionists, admins or other workers who might not fit the roles you’d typically think of. Here are some of the places in the medical field that are hiring:
- Ascension
- CVS
- GE Healthcare
- Mercy Health
- Rite Aid
- Walgreens
4. Technology
With so many people working and chilling at home these days, companies like the ones on this list need people with tech skills (and other skills) who can help them meet the demand for all those video meetings and binge-watching sessions. Jobs in this category range from customer support to IT to design. Here are just a few of those companies that are hiring currently:
- Apple
- Hulu
- Microsoft
- Netflix
- Slack
- Zoom
Side Hustles You Can Start While Social Distancing
There are plenty of things you can do to make extra cash during this crazy situation that don’t necessarily involve a specific company and will allow you to build your own schedule—which is dope if you have kids and need something more flexible. Grab your entrepreneurial spirit and see if you can get something going with one of these side hustles.
- Tutoring online: With so many kids missing school right now, you could offer virtual tutoring services in math, science, English, ACT/SAT prep, music, art or whatever your area of expertise is. You could also go through an online tutoring platform like Tutor.com or VIPKid to teach kids all across the country—and the world! (Dude, technology is the best.)
- Freelance writing/editing: People are reading online content more than ever right now, so look for online platforms that need writers and copy editors. (If you have the skills and know how to use the right your, then trust me—people need you.)
- Cleaning services: Businesses (or moms) may need some extra help cleaning their space up to CDC standards. You can reach out to people or business individually, or you can look into joining a franchise like Molly Maid that sends people out on an as-needed basis. Be choosy about which jobs you take, though—your health and safety come first.
- Babysitting/nannying: Now this is a tricky one, because you definitely don’t want to put your health (or anyone else’s) on the line. But there are plenty of parents working in those “essential” jobs who still need someone to watch their kids. Use your best judgment here, and obviously, if you or someone in your family is sick, turn the job down. And if the family has elderly or other at-risk people living with them, don’t put them in harm’s way by coming into their home.
- Web or graphic design: Anything you can do from home on your computer is obviously a great option right now. People still need websites built and products designed, so offer your services via Craigslist or social media, or go through a site like Fivver.
- Security: If you have the right training and qualifications, check with local businesses or even hospitals to see if they’re looking to hire extra security people during this crazy season.
- Taking surveys: Sites like Survey Junkie or Vindale Research will pay you to take surveys online (how easy is that?). They don’t pay super great, so you might have to take a bunch of them before they add up, but every little bit helps.
- Transcribing audio files: Y’all, check out Rev— with some basic training and certification, you can get paid to transcribe recorded or live audio files for the medical industry, legal industry, etc.
You guys, I hope these lists will at least get you started with some ideas for making extra money during your unpaid leave or job layoff. I know things are tough right now, but don’t panic. There’s a light at the end of the tunnel, and I got your back if you need some help and encouragement along the way. To get some daily motivation (or even just some human interaction), connect with me and the fam over on Instagram or YouTube.
We’ll get through this together.