Scam Alert or If It Seems Too Good To Be True, It Probably Is

 Looking for jobs online is easier said than done. There's a lot of clutter to sort through. It can also be difficult at times to determine whether or not a job posting is legitimate.

I've identified several scams over the last several months. Here are a few tell-tale warning signs:

1. Email accounts that are not associated with a particular company. 

If you see an email address that's from Yahoo or Hotmail, for example, odds are that the job posting is a scam. Real job postings originate from actual companies. They should also have a contact form or contact information that you can use to verify if the person that you're receiving messages from actually works there.

2. You have to pay to get a job.

You should never need to pay a company or service anything to work for them. An employer will pay YOU for your time and effort. Sure, there are certain agencies that offer access to opportunities via paid memberships. You can pursue them at your own risk. Some of them may be worthwhile, while others could only be listings for jobs that either aren't available by the time you can get to them or they're just more frustrating than they're really worth. 

3. Interviews are conducted by text apps.

I've encountered a few scams where the interviewers have asked me to communicate via WhatsApp, Telegram and other text-only services. If you can't hear a person's voice or see their face on a Google, MS Teams or Skype interview, they've probably got something to hide.

4. The compensation is above industry average.

Take some time to research the average salaries for the positions that you're applying for in your area. If a job offer comes across offering far more than that amount, it's probably a scam. As I've stated in the title of this article, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. 

5. You're asked to pay for or provide different equipment.

There are a few phony jobs that require certain programs and accessories. Read the descriptions and pay attention to them carefully. For instance, if an employer mandates a software program from 2009, it's not legit. Modern companies update their software regularly. 

A company may also ask you to pay for certain items for which you'll be reimbursed. The catch is that they want access to your bank account, credit card or other potentially sensitive information. This should be a huge warning sign. No legitimate company will ever ask for that data or have a candidate pay for the tools they need to do the job. Real jobs will provide the necessary training and equipment to employees at no charge to them. 

6. You qualify for multiple positions.

Have you ever applied for one job, and then received a response stating that you're qualified for multiple openings at the same company? I've seen this more than once. The latest scams offer as many as fifteen to twenty different jobs. This can take you by surprise, especially if you've applied to more jobs than you can remember. 

When in doubt, email or call the company that is supposedly sending you this offer. If you don't get a response or if the person that you talk to confirms that it's a scam, delete that email. Better yet, block the contact and report it.

These are just a few things that I've noticed recently. Working from home is challenging. It's hard enough trying to find reputable jobs with all of the scams that exist. In time, you'll know what's real and what isn't. Trust your gut instinct. If something feels or sounds wrong, you probably have very good reasons to question it. 

Well, that's all for now. Until next time, have a great week, everyone!

Writers' Rights

 I've been writing professionally for 20 years. It's a great creative outlet. I've received a lot of praise for my works, which is very humbling. I love being able to write about topics and causes that I'm passionate about.

Choosing to pursue writing as a vocation was challenging. I didn't know where to begin. I found a few freelance sites, and started ghostwriting for others for a while. I'm not particularly proud of everything that I've written but it was a learning experience that I'm thankful for. It got my foot in the door for some good opportunities. 

If you want a career in writing, you have my full support. GO FOR IT! Don't let anyone tell you that you can't do it. With that in mind, here are a few things to consider:

1. Don't write for free. Unless you're writing for fun or volunteering to write for a non-profit, you should be compensated fairly for your work. After all, you're taking time out of your day to work for organizations. It's okay to set your own prices and ask to be paid what you're worth.

This includes writing samples or test assignments for employers. Personally, I think that any work that takes more than an hour to complete should include financial compensation. Otherwise, you're just devaluing yourself. Also, the more that you work for free, the more others will come to expect it. 

2. Don't ghostwrite. If you want to make a name for yourself, don't ghostwrite works for others. Ghostwriting got me started in freelance writing, but it isn't a long-term career path for many (unless it pays really well). I'm thankful for the clients who have insisted that my name be added to any articles that I've written for them. Some companies may even ask you to create a profile which can help you get your name out there. 

3. Know your worth. After you've been writing for a while, you probably know how much your time and effort that was put into writing is worth. You can name a set price for each article or your daily output. Personally, I  prefer to set a price for how much I can write on a daily basis. After all, I've got bills to pay, and prices aren't decreasing.

4. Get credit where credit is due. One of the biggest frustrations that writers face is not being properly credited for their work, I remember a situation years ago where I was asked to rewrite marketing articles for a company that I worked for. I significantly revamped and improved the pieces that had been written by an intern. My colleagues were impressed by the final products You can only imagine my shock and disappointment when I found out that copy contained in the final brochures had the intern's byline on them. I wasn't given proper credit or recognition, which was one reason why I'm glad that I no longer work for that organization. You deserve full credit for any articles or other content that you spend time writing or revising.

Well, that's all for now. Writing can be frustrating, but if you love it, don't give up. There are plenty of customers and companies that reward hard work and like to showcase upcoming talent. Be persistent and work at your craft every day.

Until next time, have a great week, everyone! 

The Trumperor's New Clothes

 I love to read. I've been reading ever since I first learned how at the age of three. I still read just about anything and everything that I can get my hands on today. 

I had a lot of story books when I was younger. One book that stuck with me was The Emperor's New Clothes. It was about a revered leader who hired a couple of con artists to craft new garments for him. The thieves gladly took the money and pretended to work, but never actually created any clothing. They convinced the emperor that they had designed a fabulous set of new clothes that were invisible. Failing to see through their ruse, he gladly paraded around town in what he thought were his new duds. It wasn't until a child in the audience pointed out the fact that the emperor wasn't wearing any clothes that doubt started to set in.

I see some parallels with this story and our former president Donald J. Trump. I can't overlook the fact that he tried to incite an insurrection by continuing to falsely claim that the 2020 U.S presidential election was stolen. Multiple articles that have been released since then seem to suggest that Trump was trying to have himself installed as a dictator. That goes against everything that our democracy stands for. 

Let's face the facts here: Trump legitimately lost the electoral and popular vote in 2020. He isn't going to be reinstated, because that isn't how our elections work. All of his more than 60 challenges were thrown out. The lead counsel for his state challenges has now lost his law license. 

What I don't understand is how or why so many people continue to believe him, even though more than 30,000 of the lies that he told while in office are documented. Some people refuse to believe the truth, for some reason or another. I guess they have their blinders on and want to live in a world that's full of the promises that Trump never fulfilled, like the border wall that Mexico was supposed to pay for and his nonexistent health care plan. 

The people pointing out his fallacies are somewhat similar to the boy in the story. More people have started to doubt Trump's claims as more evidence has been brought forward. I just hope that people start looking at the situation realistically regardless of their political affiliation. It's time to stop all of the political infighting, put aside our difference and start working together to solve problems.

Well that's all for now. Until next time, have a great weekend, everyone!