The U.S. economy is struggling in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, but some industries are hurting more than others. Energy, finance, and real estate are among the sectors that have seen losses during the pandemic. While some industries are expected to recover, others are likely to remain crippled long after the economy reopens.
That’s bad news for workers laid off from these sectors. While most unemployed Americans view pandemic-related layoffs as temporary, research predicts that 42% of all jobs lost during the pandemic will never return.
Instead of waiting for a rehire that may never come, workers in these sectors should start preparing themselves for a new career. But how? Here’s what unemployed workers need to know about pivoting their career post-pandemic.
Best Industries for Job Growth After COVID-19
While tourism, entertainment, traditional retail, and other sectors suffer under conditions created by the pandemic, some industries have found themselves poised for success. Industries expected to grow during the pandemic and beyond include:
- Augmented reality
- E-commerce
- E-learning
- Industrial real estate
- Logistics and last mile distribution
- Pharmaceuticals
- Robotics
- Streaming and gaming
- Video conferencing
How to Prepare for a Career Change
A lack of experience in these sectors shouldn’t discourage job seekers. Instead, they should look for skills they can use to their advantage in a new field. Consider partnering with Sterling Career Concepts for personalized assistance on what that might mean for you personally.
Transferable skills are the key to any career shift. To identify transferable skills, MarketWatch recommends jobseekers list all of their formal education, licenses and certifications, tech capabilities, and soft skills to assess what they can bring to a new job. Then, explore career possibilities that match that skill set.
To gain a competitive advantage, unemployed workers may need to invest in education as well. Online courses and certifications can fill small skills gaps, but job seekers looking to transition into a specialized field like healthcare, education, or IT may need formal education. Affording tuition while unemployed requires careful budgeting, but students can save by opting for online universities over traditional colleges. With many colleges operating online due to the pandemic anyway, paying a premium for the traditional college experience no longer makes sense.
Jobseekers don’t have to wait until they have a job offer to get busy in their new career. Freelancing, networking, and side projects strengthen a candidate’s resume and provide an opportunity to test drive a new career. Tapping into dormant contacts may even turn jobseekers onto an opportunity not advertised on hiring boards.
Job Hunting in the Remote Economy
There’s one type of job that’s on the rise across all sectors: remote work. The majority of employed Americans worked from home during the pandemic and most of them would prefer to keep doing so after the crisis ends. While employers are less enthusiastic about remote work, there’s still broad support: 55% of employers expect to continue offering remote work after COVID-19.
As a result, remote work skills will be critical for jobseekers in a wide range of industries. These include tech-savviness, especially when it comes to remote collaboration and security, and strong online interview skills. Performing well in a remote interview requires tricks that aren’t intuitive to candidates accustomed to face-to-face meetings — for example, looking into the camera to create the illusion of eye contact instead of gazing at the screen.
Ultimately, pandemic jobseekers may need to brace themselves for a long hunt. While the number of jobs is on the rise, economic recovery doesn’t happen overnight and it may be some time before the U.S. economy is back in full force. Rather than letting the job hunt get you down, continue investing in the skills and education that will make you stand out when the right job comes around.