With work on hold, workers take to TikTok to “perform” their duties

Whoever said TikTok is only for Gen Z is clearly following a very limited, very niche group of people. Apart from bored adults taking on dance challenges, making a duet with another user and educating the youth about cooking among other things, there are professionals, semi-professionals and service industry workers who have taken to the social media platform to exercise their skills while their place of practice remains closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

[READ: Help, I can’t get enough of TikTok cooking. I blame these accounts]

For the field workers who have always been on-call, being suddenly stuck at home is a daunting adjustment to make, especially when for so long, they’ve equated their selfhood with the job that they do. The sudden halt of a day-to-day grind can make you question things we’ve long believed to be self-evident. And that’s where TikTok comes in with its unexpected utility: as a platform where every wage earner can somehow still “perform” their line of work.

@44shadesofbrayTikTok dances are hard. ##workfromhome ##millennial ##minitutorials ##fyp ♬ MARCH 2020 – randikate

From chiropractors who made their own back pain tutorial music to Dairy Queen employees spilling the secret of the trade, here are some of the workers who are now partially employed but fully-committed to TikTok.

This chiro/songwriter

@nopainmoregainsTry this stretch to help your back! Excuse my lame vocals. Just a 29 year old tryna stay trendy. 😂 ##TexansHelpingTexans ##chiropractor ##doctor ##pain ♬ original sound – nopainmoregains

This dermatologist/dancer

@teawithmdWhat foods ACTUALLY cause ##acne? ##dermatologist ##hypehospital ##docsoftiktok ##doctor ##4u ##fyp ##science ♬ Cannibal by Kesha – rapidsongs

This dentist and COVID-19 dental emergencies

@dr.m_My wisdom tooth hurts and my dentist is closed 😩 ##dentist ##healthtips ##quarantine ♬ Toosie Slide – Drake

This TikTok therapist

@dr_julie_smithEvidence shows dancing to music is good for your ##mentalhealth Can you relate? 🤷‍♀️ ##onmyown ##isolation ##dancingonmyown ##isolationmoves ♬ Dancing On My Own – Robyn

This veterinarian to answer all your online pet concerns

@dr.hunterfinn ##veterinarian ##fyp ##learning ♬ I Like Him – Princess Nokia

This real estate agent with a pro-tip

@khang.wtmDon’t Buy A House ❌🏡 ##tiktok ##house ##realestate ##wholesalingrealestate ##investing ##moneytips ##duplex ##mutifamily ##investment ##financialfreedom ##fyp ♬ im a flirt – freshhbeats

This pilot giving us the 411 on aviation school

@chezkacrndngBe a Pilot as fast as this video! ✈️ ##foryou ##fyp ##foryoupage ♬ Supalonely (feat. Gus Dapperton) – BENEE

This flight attendant helping you be one, too

@anjarandelaHow to ace your interview ❤️ ##flightattendant ##crewlife ##flightattendantlife ##cabincrew ##edutokph ♬ Supalonely (feat. Gus Dapperton) – BENEE

This Ace Hardware employee on how to mix paint

@liz.delpescehow many of you had this color on your walls when you were 13?##calm ##asmr ##paint ##color ##fyp ##paintmixing ♬ original sound – liz.delpesce

This DQ employee exposing trade secrets

@brittaney__lynneDilly Bar Day? ##ButterGlossPop ##gamingszn ##MySkinandME ##mealprep ##MoodBoost ##likeandfollow ##notapro ##foryoupage ##dqlove ♬ Flex (Ooh, Ooh, Ooh) – Rich Homie Quan

This hairstylist doing her own hair

@lyslhartEver wonder when hairstylist have time to do their own hair? The answer is 1 AM… ##everwonder ##hairstylist ##hairtutorial ##browwax ##fyp ##foryoupagе ♬ Shining on My Ex – bbno$ & yung gravy

This microblading instructor doing her own eyebrows

@chawarmabakeskinilayan ko sarili ko. burado na kasi kilay ko eh hehehe…dont worry professional instructor ako ng microblading. ##ecqeffect ##tiktokph ##kilayislife ♬ original sound – Malou Granada

This pro voice artist/your new online voice coach

@tigerpigletAudio recording tips from a professional voice actress: you can use your car! Watch til the end to hear it ##howto ##diy ##voice ##vo ##fyp ##foryoupage ♬ original sound – Inka Magnaye

This volleyball coach who turned his home to a training camp

@nickserowskiAre you keeping up with your volleyball skills? ##happyathome ##MySkinandME ##volleyball ##fyp @tantan_serowski♬ Something New (feat. Ty Dolla $ign) – Wiz Khalifa

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Writer: CHRISTIAN SAN JOSE