New COVID jobs: The workers turning a huge negative into a positive
The travel industry was decimated by the COVID-19 pandemic, but there are some workers who are now loving life after the unexpected career transformation.
NSW
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A cruise director driving a truck, cabin crew taking Triple-0 calls and a travel agent working in medicine – the great COVID job switch has the travel industry working in fields they never anticipated.
In 2020, an estimated 470,000 jobs in or affiliated with the tourism sector have been lost in NSW, and more than $5 billion worth of wages and salaries lost from direct tourism job losses.
While JobKeeper has played a vital role in sustaining stood down workers financially, many have repurposed their skillset to pivot into vastly different careers that they never expected to work in.
Engadine man Lance Dye, 36, was the business development manager for Carnival Cruiselines before COVID-19 hit, but he got his heavy vehicle license and looked for work the old fashioned way – calling around to companies to see if they had any hours.
He got a job driving buses ferrying kids to and from school sport, which he took genuine joy in.
“I was a bit of a larrikin myself and the funniest stuff is watching how the kids react with the teachers,” he said, laughing.
“It brought memories back to me of the school bus getting in trouble.
“I could only sit in the front of the bus and have a laugh when the kids were getting into trouble and the teachers are getting upset.”
But after two and a half months, Sydney was hit by the second wave and schools were shut down, meaning Mr Dye was out of a job again.
He eventually got a job earthmoving with SJ Read Haulage, an opportunity he was grateful for considering he was a rookie.
“It’s a lot different to what I was expecting – I expected to jump in the truck, fill it up with stuff, take it to the tip, drop it off and do it again,” he said.
“But there is so much to learn about weight management.
“If you overload you can get fined – different materials have to go together, different tip sites for different materials.
“I’ve definitely got a whole new respect for truckers.”
Chief Executive of the Tourism & Transport Forum (TTF) Margy Osmond said with the vast expanse of skills workers in tourism have at their disposal, it is no shock to her that they have been snapped up by other industries during COVID.
“The tourism sector covers a range of occupations and roles including a wide range of accommodation providers, regional and metropolitan airport and airline employees, restaurant and hospitality workers, bus, train, drive and travel providers as well as a wide range of industry professions,” she said.
“From highly technical roles to front line customer facing occupations Australia’s tourism industry is world class with skills that are highly desirable and easily transferable.”
Nick Deligiannis, Managing Director of recruiting experts Hays said they saw a huge spike in
travel industry professionals applying for new roles.
“One of our Insurance sector clients hired hundreds of customer service staff, many of whom recently lost their travel industry jobs due to COVID-19,” he said.
“We were also able to place many pilots into government roles.
“Their soft skills are highly transferable; they demonstrated empathy, adaptability and strong communication skills.
“Candidates with previous experience in the travel industry typically possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills, empathy, administration skills, attention to detail and great problem-solving skills.”
Qantas International flight attendant Nathan Greaves was assisted by his employer to secure a job with NSW Ambulance taking emergency Triple-0 calls, and he said working in a job that has taught him so much had been consolation for losing his dream job.
“When COVID hit it was really tough to come to terms with as I had only just found my career with Qantas and had only just started operating my first flights,” he said.
“I felt quite cheated and I hope I will be back in the skies next year 2021.
“In saying that I have had many different jobs throughout my working life and NSW Ambulance has been a challenge for me but also a wonderful experience.
“NSW Ambulance have been amazing to me and I have learnt so much.”
Emalee Adams-Harris was also working as a flight attendant, a role she called her “forever job”.
After months of uncertainty she began nannying and working in retail and said it took time to regain her positivity.
“For those first few months I lost hope in my job and in my life because I saw no purpose in getting another job as I loved flying and didn’t see myself doing anything else,” she said.
“It took me four months to get my current position in retail at Gingham & Heels in Miranda, which I am forever grateful for with some beautiful people.
“I also nanny two beautiful girls, Emmie and Sienna every Friday and I am forever grateful for this amazing family as they have supported me through these tough times by welcoming me into their family to help them out.”
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Originally published as New COVID jobs: The workers turning a huge negative into a positive
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