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Need a Job During the Pandemic? These Companies Are Hiring Now

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As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact the global economy, cities, counties and states (and even entire countries) are mandating that folks stay home. As a result, small businesses and companies in "nonessential" industries have been forced to furlough and lay off employees. In some cases, these entities have closed altogether. Undoubtedly, for many Americans, job insecurity augments so many other concerns: Anxiety over having health insurance and being able to afford rent, bills and groceries swells.

If you were looking to change fields ahead of the pandemic, now might be a great time to skill up: Enroll in an online class, learn how to code or find a certificate program. If you can afford to turn your time at home into an educational opportunity, these skills could shape your future, post-pandemic career. Of course, not all folks have the means to wait out the next few months without a full-time job. Although looking at a job board may seem strange right now, it's clear that some industries, which perform "essential services," need helping (and well-washed) hands now more than ever.

In-Person Services

Grocery Stores & Pharmacies: Across the country, cities and towns are taking drastically different measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. However, even areas that are mandating shelter-in-place directives, such as the entire state of California, still rely on essential services and industries. At the top of that list of essential services? Grocery stores and pharmacies.

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While you probably won't be able to just pick up a job working behind the prescription counter at CVS or Walgreens, chain pharmacies are still looking for employees to stock shelves and run check-out services. Likewise, grocery stores, from nationwide chains to your neighborhood market, rely on employees for those same services. With panic-buying, sadly, in full swing, supermarket employees are dealing with supply shortages and altered business hours. If you are not part of a high-risk group, picking up shifts at your local grocery store, Safeway or Raley's may be a quick solution to pandemic-induced unemployment.

Food Delivery Services: Looking for something grocery-store adjacent? Try signing up to be a shopper or driver for a delivery service. Programs like Instacart and Peapod are always popular, but, now more than ever, folks who are unable to safely leave their homes to shop for essentials rely on these services. Similarly, mom-and-pop restaurants and cafes are ramping up their takeaway options. Although many eateries aren't allowing customers to sit down for a meal, they are accepting online and phone orders. That said, driving for a service like UberEats, DoorDash, Postmates or Caviar could provide a great employment option: You're able to collect a paycheck while helping out other businesses that, without take-out options, would be forced to close. Better yet, many of these app-based services have integrated new social distancing features. Those who order from the apps can choose a contact-less delivery option, meaning neither party has to break the 6-foot safety bubble.

Shipping and Delivery Companies: Without a doubt, many folks are relying on online-based retailers for all of their shopping needs. Some UPS and FedEx hubs are hiring, but it's Amazon that's really making waves. Recently, the Seattle-based company announced that it's opening 100,000 new part-time and full-time jobs, mainly to help with fulfillment and delivery needs. Of course, long before the COVID-19 outbreak, Amazon faced criticism for treatment of its employees, especially those working in warehouse locations. During the pandemic, both UPS and Amazon, while eager to offer gainful employment, have also faced criticism when it comes to employee safety. Just this week, a reported 10 Amazon warehouses nationwide have seen employees test positive for the novel coronavirus.

Childcare: This one can be a tad tricky. While it's best to practice social distancing and limit just how many people outside your household you're coming into close contact with, childcare has posed a particular quandary, especially for parents who work in essential fields or the healthcare industry. Nationwide, schools and daycares are closing, with little hope of reopening before the new academic year begins. If you snap up a childcare gig, be sure to do so safely.

Roles for Those Who Prefer a Virtual Workspace

Online Learning Companies: As mentioned, over 30 million children are out of school several months early. While some private or well-endowed schools are turning to online learning, others are unable to institute mandatory online learning as a continuation of the school year. Nonetheless, some parents may want their kids to pick up classes outside of a school program. To meet these demands, companies like Outschool are hiring thousands of teachers. Moreover, folks who are looking to use their bevy of new at-home time may be looking to skill up: If you can teach something like Photoshop or coding remotely, now might be a great time to dust off that professor hat.

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Remote Meeting and Communication Companies: In accordance with social distancing, many office-based companies are allowing employees to work remotely. While working from home is a wonderful way to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, it can pose a problem when it comes to communication between employees. These days, we can rely on more than just email and conference calls, thanks to platforms such as Zoom, for video conferencing; Slack, a text-based communication tool; and Google Hangouts, a video-based extension of GChat and G Suite. In order to account for the influx of users, companies like these are hiring remote workers.

Remote Healthcare Services: Instead of self-diagnosing — creating heaps more anxiety — Americans are turning to telehealth services, which allow for long-distance contact, care, advice, monitoring and more between patients and clinicians. "The demand has shifted forever on virtual care," Teladoc Health CEO Jason Gorevic told CNBC. "We're on the verge of a new era for virtual care in the healthcare system." During the pandemic, daily virtual visits have totaled 15,000, with roughly 100,000 folks seeking tele-advice in the span of a week. Needless to say: help wanted.

Last updated: March 25, 2020. Check back for updates regarding the latest on companies that are hiring during the COVID-19 pandemic.