Let’s face it; our generation is facing a very trying time. The immensity of COVID-19 has affected every single person worldwide. Rich or poor, health crazed or lazy, child or adult, everyone is at risk.
We are all left to wonder what the new “normal” will be. The reality is, life as we know it has changed and will keep on changing until there is a set solution to this pandemic.
The economy has taken a drastic hit. More people are now working from home, there are far lesser working hours, and worse, many are losing their source of income as the government categorizes jobs as “essentials” and “non-essentials.”
In essence, it’s essential to go into a career path where it will not be heavily dependent on the economy’s rise and fall. While it is impossible to get rid of field jobs, the trend shows that remote jobs or work-from-home set-ups will be more widespread. Here are the five career paths to consider whether or not the COVID-19 pandemic will be over:
[A CAREER IN] INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
One of the many things that the pandemic has taught us is that our world is very capable of fast technological transformations; and that the fundamental laws of economics apply: high supply equals high demand.
A career catering to the continual shift to digitalization is an excellent career choice. Some of the scopes are online portal development/configuration, technical support services, operating system applications & maintenance, and analysis/management, to name a few. Information Technology covers a vast range of specialization that will never run out of demand as companies – big or small – will always need an expert in IT. According to indeed.com, “The average salary for information technology ranges from approximately $41,904 per year for Technical Support Representative to $130,677 per year for Director of Information Technology.”
ONLINE TRANSCRIPTIONIST
For fast typing fingers, preference in working from home, and keen listening skills, this is a great career path to delve into. A transcriptionist converts live or recorded audio to text form. Excellent grammar and listening skills are vital, but the format of the transcribed texts varies depending on the company’s requirements. Rate varies depending on the length, difficulty, and number of speakers in the audio. It can range from 75 cents up to $1.50 per audio minute for transcription services.
TRAIN PRESENTATION OPERATIVE
If you prefer a more laid-back career, check out opportunities in the rail/train industry. An entry-level job, a train presentation operative’s role is ensuring that the train looks presentable by cleaning and tidying up the assigned train. The position comes with a basic minimum wage but with excellent benefits and incentives, not to mention job security. The rail industry also offers vast opportunities for career growth and promotion.
MEDICAL ASSISTANT
Completing a program only takes a year or less; being a Medical Assistant is also a licensed trade. Its job responsibilities are both administrative and clinical, so certified medical assistants are cross-trained to be able to perform playing a supportive role to physicians. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this field is expected to grow in demand and prospects to be stronger in the coming years. Besides job security, there are plenty of opportunities to grow from this position, such as pursuing a career in medical administration.
SURGICAL TECHNOLOGIST
In a nutshell, a surgical technologist’s role is to assist the surgeon before, during, and after an operation. They work in a team consisting of an anesthesiologist, nurse, and surgeon and under the surgeon’s direct supervision.
A surgical technologist assists in preparing the operating room before the procedure, such as setting up the equipment and supplies needed, assembling and setting up sterile surgical equipment, and anticipating the surgeon’s needs during the operation, to name a few. In movies, the person who assists the surgeon in putting on his/her gown and gloves hands over the scalpel when the surgeon says “Scalpel” is the surgical technologist.
A training program that can take up to 12 months for a certification or a two-year course to get an associate degree is required to qualify for the job.
With the world turned upside down, jobs that were unique and profitable before have now disappeared. In the past, it was encouraged to “keep up with the trend” and go where the economy is heading. It’s a smarter move to stick to career paths that have proven to be stable and secure over time, regardless of what happens to the economy.
Whatever career path you may want to take, whether on the list or not, a crucial step will always be how you package and present yourself to land that interview and, eventually, that job. Take your time in diligently tweaking and composing your resume that will appeal to the recruiter’s needs. Remember, how you put together your resume will differ depending on the industry you’re applying for.
Article written by Teresa Jenkins
