“I found a new job in 24hrs!”

Emily Cash, 42, from Derby was due to start a new position when coronavirus left her jobless. She applied to Tesco online and, within a day, got work. You could do the same!

As the pandemic spreads, many people have found themselves out of work, causing anxiety about their financial situation. While the government has offered to pay 80 per cent of people’s wages for at least three months – up to a total of £2,500 a month – many businesses have already collapsed and some of us will have already lost out. If you’re in that position – don’t despair.

If you are unable to work, thanks to new childcare responsibilities, visit Moneyadviceservice.co.uk for the most-up-to-date advice and support. For those who are able to work, the good news is that numerous jobs are being created. It’s estimated that around 50,000 new positions need filling, and they could help you bridge the gap.

Of course, the idea of working on the frontline could worry you, but businesses are working hard to protect employees. For example, supermarkets have increased their social distancing measures with staggered queuing, restricted shopper numbers, the use of protective screens at checkouts, and giving staff gloves and masks. Here, Emily Cash, describes how she quickly found a job…

EMILY SAYS

“I’ve worked for the same employer for 15 years – ten of those years in a restaurant, and then five in a tea room. Two weeks ago, I handed in my notice because I’d found a new job working for a company that sells coffees, paninis and cakes at train stations. My start date was supposed to be last week, but it’s been put on hold because of the coronavirus.

“I was worried about how I’d get by, so I went on Indeed.co.uk and searched for ‘temporary jobs’. I applied to Lidl, Aldi and Tesco and got a text from my local Tesco store manager that night asking me to come for an interview on Saturday, dressed for work. I went from having a new job, to no job, to starting work within three days! One of my children is at university, and I needed to support him, so I couldn’t afford to have a gap without an income.

It’s not my ideal job, but I’m lucky that I’ve been able to fall into it. It’s temporary, but that’s OK, because if my new job goes ahead I can leave. The manager also said that although there isn’t a permanent position at my store, he could ask elsewhere if I wanted to go permanent.

“I’m a customer assistant, so I’m replenishing stock and keeping everything tidy. So far I’m working around 25 hours a week, for £8.60 per hour.

“If anyone else has lost work and is worried, there are jobs out there, so have a look and apply online. Don’t think of it as your forever job, but as something to get you through, and that will help other people.”

WHERE AND HOW YOU CAN APPLY FOR WORK

If you are healthy and everyone else in your household is too, and you would like to apply for work, here are some places that, as Closer went to press, were advertising. You can find opportunities in retail, delivery and operations, earning from £8 to £13 an hour.

RETAIL JOBS TESCO

is taking on 20,000 temporary workers “to feed the nation”, including delivery drivers and shop assistants. The roles are temporary, but some could become permanent. Visit Tescocareers.com/search-and-apply

LIDL

now has 2,500 temporary jobs across its 800 UK stores. It mainly needs stock assistants in stores and warehouses on a minimum of four-week fixedterm contracts. Apply at Careers. lidl.co.uk

ALDI

has 5,000 new temporary posts and will take on 4,000 permanent new workers in stores and distribution centres. Interested? Visit Aldirecruitment.co.uk

MORRISONS

announced it was creating 3,500 new jobs to expand the home delivery service, including pickers and drivers, plus 1,000 staff in its distribution centres. Morrisons workers make around £9.13 an hour. Apply at Morrisons.jobs

ASDA

needs 5,000 new staff to help with online picking, security and store assistants for both day and night shifts. Head to Asda.jobs

WAITROSE

has a shortage of supermarket assistants. Go to Jlpjobs.com/waitrose-andpartners

B&M

wants more temporary staff during the outbreak as it deals with soaring demand. Head to Bmstores.co.uk/careers

OCADO

is looking for delivery drivers and operations managers in locations across the UK. Apply at Ocadogroup.com/careers

ICELAND

is looking for retail assistants, store managers, online pickers and delivery drivers. Go to Icelandcareers. co.uk/

SAINSBURYS

hasn’t yet announced any extra jobs, but there are adverts for delivery driver roles, who earn around £9 an hour. Check at Sainsburys.jobs

DELIVERY JOBS AMAZON

is looking for delivery drivers and operations specialists. Check Amazon.jobs/ en/locations/unitedkingdom

DELIVEROO

is advertising for food delivery drivers. Go to Deliveroo.co.uk/apply

JUST EAT

needs food delivery drivers and bikers. Head to Couriers.just-eat.co.uk/ application

UBEREATS

also needs delivery drivers. Apply through Uber.com/gb/en/drive/delivery

FARMING JOBS CLA

The Country Land and Business Association (CLA), which represents landowners and rural firms, estimates that we could be short of 80,000 workers. Find farming, agricultural and rural work at Jobs.nfuonline.com