While it may take years to fully assess the economic impact of COVID-19, the global workforce is already reeling from its deadly and devastating wallop.
The International Labour Association, a United Nations agency, says the coronavirus health crisis may result in the loss of 25 million jobs worldwide.1 In one week in the United States alone, a record 3.2 million people applied for unemployment benefits.2 In late March in New York City, nearly one-third of people surveyed said they, or someone living with them, had lost a job.3
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the most important thing to do is to follow your community’s guidelines for safeguarding your health and the health of others. But if the crisis is affecting your livelihood, you may need to explore options for employment. Shelter-in-place orders make land-based (on-site) jobs in many fields unrealistic right now. However, according to the employment website Glassdoor, the number of job postings in fields like healthcare, biotech, and pharmaceuticals tripled in one week.4 Registered nurses were the most in-demand workers,4 for jobs in hospitals, clinics, and nursing agencies.
Many professionals now are exploring remote or virtual employment opportunities, or making time to update resumes, add content to LinkedIn pages, and take other steps to reposition themselves for future employment. Walden University, an accredited university offering more than 80 online degree programs, supports adult learners in these and other proactive career management activities through its Career Planning and Development center.
“Walden University Career Planning and Development has everyone in our thoughts during this challenging time,” said Dina Bergren, the center’s associate director. “As we work diligently to support our students’ long-term career success, the Career Planning and Development team is sharing the following job sites and tips for deeper, more targeted searches for remote, virtual, and land-based job opportunities.”
1. Choose Your Terms
As you conduct searches on employment websites, try the following terms to narrow the scope and hone in on what you’re really looking for: virtual employment, virtual work from home, immediately hiring, remote work, online work, and flexible jobs.
2. Target Your Searches
Choose websites that most closely mesh with your career interests and goals. Here are some examples:
- Job Search Sites by Subject: Here you’ll find links to job search sites for careers in a variety of fields and interest areas.
- iGrad Job Search: Click here for U.S.-based job searches.
- GoinGlobal: Walden students can register with this career and employment resource for global jobs and internships.
- Career Exploration: This site offers a wealth of resources: links to virtual, flexible, and temporary employment sites; nonprofit, government, and corporate job sites; resources for coping with job loss; and more.
3. Widen the Net
The bigger employment search websites offer more than just job leads. Mine them for resume tips, salary comparisons, and other career development tools.
4. Find the Facts
Bookmark this website: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Here, you can research scores of job titles, learning about each job’s duties, required level of education, compensation range, projected growth, and much, much more. It’s a valuable planning resource for job seekers, career-changers, and anyone thinking about earning a degree.
5. Explore Walden Resources
As a Walden student, you have access to exclusive Career Planning and Development content that includes Career Exploration, Resumes & More, Networking, and Interviews. You also may create a free account on Walden’s OptimalResume system and register for upcoming drop-in career advising sessions on the Career Planning and Development homepage. There, you’ll also be able to access over 60 videos and webinars on career-related topics.
Walden offers these and other student support services to help its global community navigate this challenging time. As countries across the continents begin to heal, they are going to need professionals dedicated to serving the public good. For 50 years, Walden has given a diverse community of career professionals the opportunity to transform themselves as scholar-practitioners so that they can effect positive social change. If you want to be ready to answer the call, Walden can help you prepare.
Walden University is an accredited institution offering bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and certificate programs online. Expand your career options and earn your degree using a convenient, flexible learning platform that fits your busy life.
1Source: www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/newsroom/news/WCMS_738742/lang--en/index.htm
2Source: www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/OPA/newsreleases/ui-claims/20200510.pdf
3Source: www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/03/200324102718.htm
4Source: www.cnbc.com/2020/03/12/coronavirus-related-job-postings-spiked-in-the-last-week.html
Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, www.hlcommission.org.