Applying for telecommuting jobs

Telecommuting jobs abound all over the Internet. Unfortunately, scammers are also plentiful, preying on unsuspecting victims trying to find a job. I still have to experience a real scam in my applications, as I normally would not reply to postings that give me some doubts from the start. It is for this reason that I haven't been victimized by MLM or networking scams in the past - I'm not the type who would grab at any money-making opportunity unless I'm convinced that it's legal and safe to do so.

But others may be easily tempted by the large fortune offered by some scammers. Work-at-home mom Rosalind Mays created a helpful article in HomeBiz Central comparing the actuation of real employers against the acts of those just who just wanted to get money from you. According to Mays, some of the ways to tell if your being scammed are:

1. Scammers post vague descriptions, including the catch-all phrase 'no experience necessary' to beguile as many people as possible. Real employers, on the other hand, will list the details of the job and requirements, as they need to make sure that applicants are suited for the job, especially as telecommuting work means that the hiree would work largely on his own and hence must be a professional and highly-disciplined person.

2. When a real employer responds to your email, it will usually ask for a resume, sample works and references while scammers ask for money to process the application or as payment for some step-by-step booklet that you will supposedly need to apply for the job.

3. When you are hired, real employers will contact you directly and ask you to sign contracts, request for your tax details and gives complete instructions on the work the hiree is expected to do. Scammers give vague instructions and some materials for your supposed work.

Read the full article here and be enlightened. It is particularly important for those using the Internet to find gigs, as anonymity is the rule in cyberspace. It really wouldn't hurt to be on the side of caution when you apply for telecommuting jobs.

10 dumbest job-interview moves

Here's an interesting - and funny- article on the ten dumbest and wackiest moves of applicants during interviews. Remember the acts and responses made by the applicants, so you won't also be bringing your mom to your job interview.

Advertise Your Job Hunting

I found this very novel way to make people aware that you need a job, and advertise your qualifications as well. I wonder if people here in the Philippines are ready for this method of finding a job. But it is true that the person sitting in front of you in the MRT or in the next table of a restaurant may just be the HR person wanting to hire someone with your qualifications. Who knows?

If someone is truly desperate, I think this idea is worth trying. The question is, are these T-shirts available in the country?

The Easy 10 Step Job Hunting Guide

Here's a helpful guide for you job hunters out there. A career counselor lists The Easy 10 Step Job Hunting Guide that will help you find, and win that dream job of yours. Briefly, the ten easy steps are:

Step 1: Get your head on straight
Step 2: Conduct a self-assessment
Step 3: Determine your job hunting objectives
Step 4: Prepare your career portfolio
Step 5: Organize a support group
Step 6: Identify target employers
Step 7: Apply for employment
Step 8: Interview for employment
Step 9: Accept or reject the offer
Step 10: Evaluate the process

Read the full article here. Note that each step has a rather lengthy explanation when you click the corresponding link.

Job Hunting Horror Stories

Everyone knows that job hunting is not fun. It's costly, tedious and tiring and you got to meet all sorts of prospective employers. But some people are less fortunate than most, and they got to experience really horrible things in their hunt for jobs. Read some of the most interesting job hunter horror stories here. Draw lessons from their mishaps so that you won't be traveling the same road they did.