Many people in the retail, restaurant, and hospitality industries have lost their jobs as a result of COVID-19 closures. While much of the working world has transitioned to remote work, that doesn’t mean people who already had remote jobs are immune from the effects of the pandemic. If you’re dealing with a COVID-related job loss, these resources can help you rebuild your work-from-home career. 

Where to Find Remote Work During a Crisis 

Even though remote work is gaining popularity, it doesn’t mean it’s suddenly easy to find a telecommuting job. Here are a couple techniques you can try to find the job you’re looking for during the pandemic. 

• Browse websites that specifically cater to remote workers. 
• Use Facebook to strategically find work-from-home opportunities. 

Tips for Standing Out from the Rest

Remote jobs have always been coveted among office workers, but with the pandemic, these jobs are in even higher demand. These steps can help you stand out from the competition. 

• If it’s been a while since you put yourself out there, make sure you cover the basics such as having a good LinkedIn profile, polishing up your resume, and drafting some fresh cover pages. 
• It doesn’t hurt to build a portfolio website that highlights your professional skills or showcases your past work. If you’ve already got a personal website, now is the time to revamp it and make sure everything is up-to-date. 
• You don’t have to be a tech wizard to have a good website. There’s nothing wrong with hiring someone to meet your needs. Checking CSS freelancer reviews will help you find someone who’s a good fit for you. 
• It might seem obvious, but simply following the instructions on a job posting can make you stand out. Remote employers sometimes include a special tidbit to make sure you’ve thoroughly read the post! 

Brush Up on the Latest Tools 

If you were working one telecommute job for years or working with a longstanding freelance client, chances are things have changed since you last checked. To set yourself up for success in your new remote job, make sure you can walk the walk with these popular tools. 

• It’s probably a good idea to get yourself set up for conferences on Zoom. This video chat software has soared in popularity with remote workplaces. 
• Employers often use project management software such as Basecamp, Trello, Asana and others. Be ready to learn tools like these as soon as you start if you don’t know them already. 
• Even if your new employer doesn’t require it, there’s no harm in using time management software to stay on track. Not only will this keep you organized, it’ll also help you be more accountable, which is a trait that goes a long way for a remote employee!

It’s disappointing when the remote career you built doesn’t work out as planned. However, there are countless other opportunities waiting for you. Finding a remote job during the pandemic may require a little more perseverance, but it is possible! 

This article was contributed by Matt Williams.