 In the immediate aftermath of the novel coronavirus first assault, most investors scrambled for cover, resulting in sharp, extreme volatility. Sentiment bounced back quickly, though, in part due to strong government leadership. But with political divisiveness now the order of the day along with a rise in coronavirus cases, the case for hot stocks to buy appears in danger.While Im not going to dismiss the risks associated with investing at this juncture, many publicly traded companies fundamentally offer compelling exposure. Yes, its true that the pandemic has busted many business models, such as buffet-style restaurants. At the same time, it has also opened opportunities for suddenly relevant entities, attracting attention as potential hot stocks to buy.Beyond the obvious health concern, arguably the biggest source of anxiety for most Americans is the workplace. Particularly, what will it look like in the new normal and more elementally, will it even exist? For now, many white-collar workers are fortunate enough to operate remotely. But Ive become cynical in that companies may use the pandemic as cover to outsource these jobs.InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice Trading TipsHowever, Paul H. Pincus, partner at Ortoli Rosenstadt LLP and head of the firms employment law practice, wrote to me in an email:Federal and state laws generally do not prevent private employers from outsourcing U.S.-based jobs to other countries, although doing so may raise legal issues regarding data protection and privacy, export controls, and intellectual property rights. Also, outsourcing of specific jobs may be impacted by state or federal regulation of certain industries such as healthcare, finance, and insurance. 10 Cybersecurity Stocks We Need Now More Than Ever Additionally, Pincus noted that it was too early to know if the present remote work phenomenon will lead to outsourcing. Given the complexities of this issue, hot stocks to buy related to the work-from-home sector may enjoy continued relevance. As well, these other companies may prosper in our new normal. ETrade Financial NASDAQ:ETFC Upwork NASDAQ:UPWK Intuit NASDAQ:INTU Clorox NYSE:CLX Tesla NASDAQ:TSLA K12 Inc. NYSE:LRN Universal Technical Institute NYSE:UTI Chegg NYSE:CHGG Sturm Ruger NYSE:RGR Arlo Technologies NYSE:ARLOFor this gallery, Im going to mix in some classics as well as other names that I havent much covered. This way, youll have several choices for possible hot stocks to buy for our new normal and whatever lies beyond. ETrade Financial ETFCSource: Alexander Oganezov Shutterstock.com Starting my list with ETrade may seem like an out-of-left-field idea. After all, were talking about hot stocks to buy -- where you buy them doesnt really matter. In addition, weve been hearing talk for years about how millennials dont invest in the markets. Straight off the bat, this dynamic doesnt seem helpful to ETFC stock.Frankly, thats a valid point. However, that was an argument in the old normal. Were in the new normal now and the rules have changed. Thanks to the development of numerous online educational resources, I will argue that in some respects, the modern young investor is much more sophisticated than they were even 10 years prior.I believe this will benefit ETFC stock in that such investors dont want to miss out on a grand opportunity. They watched firsthand how the devastating Great Recession turned out to be a once-in-a-blue-moon moment to capitalize on great companies offered at a discount.Thats why I believe ETrade has recovered well from its March doldrums and why it belongs on your list of hot stocks to buy. Upwork UPWKSource: Sundry Photography Shutterstock.com When it comes to pursuing a career in the new normal, the obvious name among hot stocks to buy invariably comes up: Zoom Video Communications NASDAQ:ZM. While Zoom and the teleconferencing industry is no doubt benefiting from this crisis, I believe the nature of corporate America will shift. If so, youll want to take a long look at Upwork.Considered a social media network for freelancers, Upwork connects businesses seeking assistance with specific projects with specialized independent contractors. Client companies receive bids from prospective freelancers or gig workers and they can make choices based on several criteria, including hourly rate, experience and certifications. Its the new way to job hunt, which makes UPWK stock especially intriguing.Also, I expect a sizable exodus from traditional employment structures to the gig economy. For one thing, many of those who are now working remotely are getting a taste of the gig life. According to the New York Times, many dont want to go back to the office. Top 10 Sector ETFs on the Market Today Further, you must expect that hard-hit companies will collectively lay off millions. In that case, Upwork can help turn those frowns upside down. And thats a win-win for UPWK stock. Intuit INTUSource: dennizn Shutterstock.com Its confession time: tax software specialist Intuit is undeniably boring. So why am I mentioning it on this list of hot stocks to buy? Well, if you follow the logic behind the case for Upwork above -- and more importantly, if you believe in it -- then INTU stock is a no-brainer.Like millions of you, I find tax season to be an arduous process. Just the thought of taxes makes me break out in a cold sweat. Its not the paying money to Uncle Sam thats the difficult part. Rather, the paperwork is just mountainous. And the more complex your tax situation, the more awful every April 15 becomes.As a run of the mill W2 employee and assuming you take the standard deduction, President Trumps tax law changes have been good for you, at least from an administrative perspective. But for freelancers who must deduct expenses from profits, its another ballgame entirely.Potentially millions of people will find this out the hard way over the next few years. While a difficulty for those suffering from the transition, its a net positive for INTU stock. Clorox CLXSource: TY Lim Shutterstock.com Over the past few weeks, the Trump administration has gone full blast on promoting the necessity of reopening the economy. Undoubtedly, this is a crucial matter. However, more Americans are worried about the Covid-19 pandemic than they are about the economy. Its hard to argue with the logic -- nobody cares about money when theyre sick and dying.This is a great time to bring up Clorox. As you know probably from firsthand experience, the companys disinfectant products helped make CLX one of the hot stocks to buy during this crisis. However, shares got a little bit flat between the second half of May to early June. At the time, it seemed we got a handle on the coronavirus.Of course, we all know that this was a case of declaring mission accomplished before the job was truly done. Hmm ... where have I heard that one before? But with Covid-19 cases spiking to record levels in several states, the bullishness for CLX stock has returned. 7 Earnings Reports to Watch Next Week And I believe that the memory of this pandemic will stick with us for a long time. Therefore, dont be surprised if CLX stock has a longer upside pathway than you initially anticipated. Tesla TSLASource: Pe3k Shutterstock.com As a play on pure hot stocks to buy, Tesla is an obvious, perhaps tired idea. As the dominant force behind electric vehicles -- and all other car manufacturers, depending on Wall Streets mood -- TSLA stock has been a phenomenon. Yes, this is an overused word, but it applies perfectly for Tesla.However, prospective investors may not appreciate that TSLA stock is also a direct play on our new normal. On an individual basis, electric vehicles all other things being equal are easier to maintain. Operating purely on an electric battery, it conspicuously doesnt need an oil change -- the maintenance bane for many traditional drivers.Back in our old normal, I didnt think too much about this maintenance advantage. However, when the pandemic struck and I found myself simultaneously needing an oil change, yeah ... you bet I got a rude awakening in favor of EVs. Presumably, others got woke to that reality, which may continue to drive TSLA stock on a longer-term basis.Another point is the oil price war. While cheap gasoline prices theoretically hurt EVs, it also demonstrates that our national fossil-fuel-based energy independence is actually still dependent on geopolitical factors. Moving to electric may help mitigate this vulnerability. K12 Inc. LRNSource: Shutterstock As a 2018 USA Today report demonstrated, school violence has been on the rise. But its not just high-profile incidents that worry parents. Though controversial for reasons I dont understand, I believe that schools removing faith-based principles and practices have contributed to moral decay and apathy in our young.Its enough to make you as a parent want to homeschool your children. Of course, thats a tricky process. Fortunately, K12 Inc. has an entire online infrastructure geared toward comprehensive home learning.I mention this because LRN stock was relevant before the pandemic. But in our new normal, contactless services come at a premium. You already see how companies like Amazon NASDAQ:AMZN and Dominos Pizza NYSE:DPZ have skyrocketed this year. I would hope that your children are more important than trinkets and pizza.Sure enough, LRN stock has launched into low-earth orbit since late June. Thus, I dont recommend buying shares right now. Like anything, I expect gravity to take over. 7 Semiconductor Stocks Ready for Big Growth However, a possibly imminent correction could be a temporary one. 