In 2019, the world was hit by the Novel Coronavirus, COVID-19, a highly infectious and deadly disease.
The Coronavirus Pandemic has shaped our environment in many unexpected ways. One of the ways to try to combat the seriousness of this virus was to limit exposure to other people and to practice social distancing. Many companies have had to adjust in multiple ways to account for the new regulations, the lack of revenue, and the need to lower their workforce.
Rise of Remote Work During This Pandemic
Many companies have been able to adjust most of their workforce to be remote. Remote jobs have been growing in popularity over the last decade. According to FlexJobs.com-in the last 5 years there has been a 44% increase in the amount of available remote jobs before the pandemic began. Remote work is here to stay but has been greatly accelerated due to the virus.
According to Forbes, before the pandemic began, only 4.2% of the American workforce reported as telecommuting. Globalworkplaceanalytics.com projects that by the end of 2021 that number will reach 25-30%.
The cost savings for the employee and the employer make working remotely extremely advantageous. Lower commuting costs for the employee, lower facility costs for the employer as well as many benefits for the environment.
With unemployment on the rise, many Americans are looking for jobs both remote and in the office. There are plenty of companies hiring currently and many offer flexible work options. If you are one of the 21 million Americans looking for work, here are a few great websites to check out different remote opportunities: Search Remotely, Indeed.com, and Glassdoor.com.
Working from home presents some difficulties, including blending home life with work life and not having a clear separation. Interruptions can happen more often, productivity may take a dip, potential increase in certain utility costs, and other responsibilities may interfere.
It is important to be flexible and create systems that help you stay on task and remain successful. You can also use some productivity apps like Milanote, Asana, and Trello to help you stay on track.
If you are currently looking for work, there is still hope. There are now more remote opportunities available within the changing workforce. Looking for a remote opportunity has now opened up more locations in the country and is not limited to a commute. It is possible to look for roles within desired companies or specific experience or skills.
Many companies are becoming more flexible and offering remote opportunities that will continue even after the pandemic ends. Twitter announced recently that they will offer remote work indefinitely, while many other companies are projecting their workforce to remain remote through the fall.
If you are searching for a new role, a great place to begin is updating your cover letters and resumes to show your experience in any telecommuting roles or to highlight your experience being an individual contributor. These are both highly valuable skills for remote roles. It is also a good idea to practice for a virtual interview. Prepare yourself to be able to use technology to connect and prepare a few answers to questions related to working remotely.
Remote work was on the rise before the pandemic hit; however, the pandemic has shaped the workforce to grow and adapt. Companies are now more willing to consider remote talent to fill positions and produce results going forward.
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