Job Searching? 3 Pandemic Career Pivots to Consider

By Kevin Harrington

“Workers in Hard-Hit Industries Still Struggling to Bounce Back.” This is just one example of the headlines we've been seeing in the news lately. However, for the millions of Americans who lost their jobs during the pandemic, there’s a bright spot on the horizon. After over one million jobs were added in the last three months, all signs indicate that the job market could be headed for a much-needed, even bigger hiring surge this summer and fall.

Despite the recent gains, economists predict that it could still take more than five years for some major industries to recover from the pandemic. In the meantime, many workers—especially in hard-hit industries like hospitality, travel, and construction—are struggling to find work or advance their careers; some workers say that they’re willing to settle for less money, a lower-level position, or fewer hours in their next role.

The good news is that, while some industries have suffered, others have boomed. And the shift to remote work has opened up new opportunities for many to pursue career paths that may not have been accessible just a year ago. That means it could be an excellent time to consider a career pivot.

If you’re in need of work or just looking to make a change, here are three pandemic-related career pivots to consider.

Career pivot #1: Hospitality → Insurance

The hospitality industry has been one of the most impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Fortunately, many of the skills required for hospitality jobs are widely applicable to other jobs that have had a surge in hiring. For instance, jobs in online customer support, e-commerce logistics, in-home care, and insurance are all booming and require the same organization, communication, multitasking, and client service skills that are core to hospitality.

The insurance industry in particular offers a high number of potential opportunities. Nearly half of insurance companies plan to increase staff over the next year due to increased business volume. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, insurance sales agent jobs are projected to grow 5% this decade, faster than the average for all occupations.

The insurance industry’s embrace of remote work also makes it extra appealing. During the pandemic, the majority of insurance industry professionals shifted to at least 50% remote work and a third went fully remote. McKinsey has ranked insurance as the No. 1 industry with the highest potential for remote work long-term. It’s clear that not only will there be more insurance opportunities moving forward, many of them will also be fully remote, making them even more accessible to career switchers.

Career pivot #2: Travel and event planning → Virtual assistant

It has been a very difficult year for travel and live events. While travel has begun to pick up now, demand for travel coordinators and event planners remains much lower than it was before the pandemic.

With specialty skills in coordination, planning, and working behind-the-scenes to do what it takes to make things run smoothly, travel and event coordinators have the perfect skill set for a new role as virtual assistants. Virtual assistants help entrepreneurs and business leaders manage day-to-day tasks, from scheduling meetings and taking notes to handling correspondence, conducting research, sending invoices, managing social media, and more.

Depending on your expertise and area of interest, this could be an extremely relevant change, and an opportunity to gain experience in a wide range of industries, as many virtual assistants work for multiple clients.

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Career pivot #3: Oil and gas → Solar

There has been close to a 10% unemployment increase in the oil and gas industry in the last year. Due to reduced demand and macroeconomic uncertainty, oil and gas companies laid off a significant number of workers during the pandemic. It’s likely that it will take a while for many of these jobs to come back, if ever.

The renewable energy industry could offer a creative pivot for those looking to switch out of oil and gas. Solar installation jobs have already been on the uptick in all parts of the country, with cities like Las Vegas, Phoenix, and even Burlington, Vermont, leading the charge. Cities like Austin, Texas; Hartford, Connecticut; Boston; and more are also quickly turning into solar-driven cities of the future. With a bit of upskilling, making the leap from an extraction-based to a renewable energy career is well within reach.

In addition to solar jobs, a shift away from fossil fuels would also stand to drive growth for broadband installer roles and other jobs related to building and maintaining new electrical grid and water systems. For those currently working in oil and gas, this could be another creative career pivot.

Is now the time for a career pivot?

While the pandemic may have disrupted the careers of many, it’s also opened new doors of opportunity in some alternative industries. Now is a great time to explore a new career and perhaps find a “second act” in a new role that’s rewarding and offers room to grow.

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