Work-from-home opportunities abound
BOULDER — While many companies are reducing staff or completely shuttering from state efforts to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus, others are in search of employees.
Boulder-based FlexJobs Corp., an online job services company for professionals seeking remote or flexible-scheduled work, compiled a partial list of businesses hiring:
- Aha!
- Automattic
- Clevertech
- Collage.com
- Evolving Wisdom
- GitLab
- Greenback Expat Tax Services
- inVision
- LoveToKnow
- MomsRising
- ScrapingHub
- Simple [A]
- The Cheat Sheet
- Time Doctor
- Toggl
- Toptal
- Tri.be
- Upworthy
- Working Solutions
- X-Team
These companies already have an established work-from-anywhere model and are ready to take on new talent, according to FlexJobs. There are more remote options listed on FlexJobs’ sister site, Remote.co.
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In an email to BizWest, Kathy Gardner, senior director of public relations at FlexJobs, said: “As leaders in remote work, FlexJobs is very dialed into the remote work landscape, including companies that operate without physical offices. Because these 20 companies are completely virtual, they are well equipped to continue hiring and bringing on new employees during this uncertain time. We investigated each company, and found that all 20 are currently hiring right now, for a wide variety of positions.”
She advises job-seekers not to be discouraged if there are no openings in their fields. They might consider sending an introduction to a company’s human resources team or the CEO if it’s a smaller operation. Messages should include a resume and cover letter stating previous remote work and abilities with technology such as online chat, document sharing and project management programs.
FlexJobs advises searching in the medical and health, computer and IT, customer service, education and training, sales, and accounting and finance sectors.
Last week, an estimated 25,000 Coloradans applied for unemployment benefits through the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. That’s a number almost the size of Windsor.
Sandie Troup, executive recruiter and career coach for Sandie Troup Recruitment LLC, is based in Arizona but all three of her children live in Colorado. While two of them have jobs that went remote, her oldest daughter got laid off as of late from a physical therapy group.
On Sunday, Gov. Jared Polis ordered non-essential businesses to reduce the number of people physically present in the workplace by 50 percent. Businesses are expected to comply today.
In person jobs are limited, with communities such as Boulder, Denver, Pitkin and San Miguel counties and the Southern Ute Indian tribe ordering people to shelter-in-place.
Troup said that while this new normal is less than ideal, out-of-work Coloradans can use this time to freshen up their Linkedin profile, resume and cover letters. They can also implement better productivity habits before “things in the dust start settling.”
“You know, it’s interesting how we kind of hit the reset button when we didn’t really choose to,” Troup said.
Before looking for remote work, job-hunters should evaluate their capabilities with working at home, Troup said. That includes having a reliable internet connection, software or other technical factors for a specific job. It also means following a schedule that works, whether it’s working in a sweatshirt after rolling out of bed or still getting dressed for the day. A normal routine of meal breaks and working hours can help people adjust, she said.
Just as work schedules should stay the typical course, so should the hiring process, she said. The main difference is that those seeking telecommute employment should be prepared to interview through webcam services such as Zoom, as employers may opt out of face-to-face meetings, Troup said. Unlike a phone interview, web calls allow the employer to evaluate a candidate’s body language.
Troup advises eating a meal before, as interviews can go long. She added to still dress professionally — well, at least the top half.
“You can have your sweat pants on and your slippers. They will never see that part,” Troup joked. “But it is important to really be on and be prepared, just as though it were an in-person interview.”
Don’t forget to come ready to negotiate. Though it’s hard to be picky at this time, candidates should research appropriate compensation for the job, she said. However, flexibility is required for finding work.
“You might have a very specific job in mind but if you’ve been laid off or your hours have been reduced, you might have to think out of the box a little,” Troup said.
While some companies are searching for workers, the waiting period may extend longer than average as they pivot and address work-place disruptions, Troup said.
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