The pandemic has had a huge impact on everyone, but even more so on students who have had to adjust quickly to virtual learning classes due to the measures implemented to curb the spread of the virus and keep infections at a minimum.

In addition, students in college or university often look forward to the summer season to start their part-time jobs and earn money while on break. Unfortunately, with the lockdown restrictions, only a small fraction of them were able to work. According to Statistics Canada, the spring and summer seasons are usually the peak employment periods for students, but 2020 was drastically different. The youth employment rate dropped to a record low of 49%, the lowest since 1976, while the unemployment rate reached a record high of 16.8%, the highest since 1997.

While the federal government did roll out a $1,250-per-month benefit for post-secondary students whose finances were affected by the pandemic, with payments covering May to August, most are still baffled at their finances in disarray due to job scarcity or job loss.

The global health crisis, however, did open numerous work-from-home options. With the flexible schedules that these opportunities allow, this winter, students may finally have a good chance of recovering following a meager spring and summer. Let’s take a look at some options below.

Virtual Assistant

If you have experience with administrative work, a job as a virtual assistant can work for you. You will have the same functions as an administrative assistant, but the main difference is that you’re working from home. This is certainly worth looking into if you are used to answering phone calls and emails, preparing spreadsheets and documents, doing invoices, among others tasks.

Virtual Data Entry Clerk

If answering phone calls or emails isn’t exactly your cup of tea, but you do like preparing documents and spreadsheets, then the role of a virtual data entry clerk may be just the opportunity you’re looking for. Data entry clerks need top-notch typing and written communication skills, and if you have these, then you’ll have a big chance of landing the job.

Social Media Content Creator

With the decline of the brick-and-mortar advertising and marketing agencies due to the pandemic, more and more clients are looking into utilizing online tools to help put their products and services into the general population’s collective minds. And what better way to do that than through social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat? If you’re a master of your own social media accounts and have earned an impressive number of followers, then this job will be a walk in the park for you, especially if you’re marketing and advertising savvy.

Virtual Customer Service Agent

We’ve all relied on call centre agents for our problems, whether it was about a wrong credit card charge or a technical issue with our new laptop, and we know how essential they are – especially now that most people are working from home and have the time to call for anything that’s bugging them. If you have excellent communication skills and love to help others solve their problems, then this job is certainly up your alley. A bonus is that most call centres work on a 24/7 basis, so that makes it easier for you to pursue your studies while earning at the same time.

Online Tutor

If you’re an A-student and like helping other students reach their potential, an online tutor job could be a perfect fit for you. There are numerous students in elementary and middle school who aren’t performing as well as they could due to the challenges brought on by virtual learning classes, and this is where you can step in. Choose to tutor a subject that you know you’re excellent at. Another related option is an English as a Second Language (ESL) tutor where you teach kids from abroad on how to improve their English speaking and writing skills.

The list goes on for remote work opportunities, but the above are a few ones which are high in demand. Have a look into these options, and decide which best goes with your study schedule. Good luck!

SOURCES

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/students-summer-jobs-pandemic-covid-coronavirus-1.5558824

https://globalnews.ca/news/7579576a/canadas-top-jobs-2021-randstad/

https://www.thebalancecareers.com/best-online-jobs-for-college-students-4154845