Desperate Times Calls For Desperate Measures?

Easier said than I done? What do you think? I thought about this as I saw the police outside of my neighbor's house - who was robbed a few hours before I got home. It could have been my house, but it wasn't - this time.

It's all around us: bad news.....People continuing to lose their jobs, homes and livelihoods, not knowing where their next meal, mortgage, rent, car note, insurance payment is coming from. Is this an excuse to steal or find other means to break the law to order to get money?

We have to be smarter, we have to learn how to plan so that we can be prepared for the down time. We're losing so many of young men and women to jail over decisions that could have been made - different.

We need to reach out to each other more, be there for each other more, by listening, by helping, by praying, by making ourselves available for each other. Each day brings it's own uncertainties, but one thing we can be certain of: each one of us are accountable for our own individual actions.

Yes, we are living in desperate times and it calls for desperate measures, but not if it means breaking the law.

Employment Recruiters - Do They Really Help?

The last four interviews I've been on, all through employment agencies (and I'm grateful for their efforts) have resulted in 1)no follow-up from them, 2)being passed over for a job, 3)my resume being mixed with others and then forgotten and 4)a recruiter who doesn't really know you or what type of job you're looking for.

One agency I registered with set up on a interview with a large telecommunications company. The interview went well, I was told that I would be contacted either way the decision went. I followed up with emails and telephone messages to the recruiter and not one was returned. Two months later, I see the same agency posting the same job that I previously interviewed for. I immediately called the agency, spoke to the recruiter who then informed me that the job was already filled and the next thing he said was 'Didn't I call you back to let you let you know what happened?' I told him that he didn't, I said thank you and I hung up the phone.

I'm not bad-mouthing recruiters, some of them have the best intentions and seem to want to help. And I know it's not really up to them who gets chosen for the jobs they advertise. Actually, there are two agencies that I deal with now and they will keep in touch with me and will return my phone call, whether they have good news to share or not. They will even call me to check on me to let me know they're keeping me in mind for any opportunites that come up.

While I do appreciate their efforts to help me find a job, their follow-up skills are less to be desired. As an job applicant, it's suggested that it's good on our part to follow-up with a prospective employer. If we're dealing with a employment recruiter or head-hunter to find us a job, then they need to do the same.

Working From Home - Dream or Nightmare Job?

I had thought about working from home for a while now. I'd save money on gas, lunch money and I could actually work in my pajamas and set my own hours.

I went on Craigslist under my state and searched under Customer Service and came across numerous ads like this:

"Are you looking for a fun and easy job you can do from home? Look no further! Doing surveys for pay requires nothing more than an internet connection and your opinion. If you can sign your name and click a mouse, you can make extra cash right away.No experience is required as all surveys are very basic and straightforward...Ready to start earning today? Have more questions? Please visit the website below and you'll discover all of the exciting details.http://www.FunSurveySchedule.info"

Interestingly, I clicked on the website and after scrolling to the bottom, I see that there is a membership that you have to pay $79 bucks for....wait a second, I'm looking for a job, why do I have to PAY someone whom I've never met before to give me a job? I put in my credit card or bank account number on a website that is not secure? If this is true, it hardly sounds good.

There are hundreds of similiar ads posted all over the internet. You have the typical website where there is a picture of stacks of money, a happy, smiling person typing on a laptop, alleged testimones of people who claim they've made hundreds of dollars in 24 hours, can you spell
S-C-A-M?

Working from home is possible, there are real opportunities out there. It does take time and effort to find them. You just have to do your homework, check the Better Business Bureau website, see if the company or firm has a legit address and phone number for them to be contacted.

Literally, you have to look before leap into these home-based job opportunites. You'll wind up being without a job and out of your money if you spend it on these scams.

Being Hired for a Job - By What Standards?

There is no such thing as a career change - job change, a definite yes. As the roller coaster ride of the financial market continues, it's also affecting the job market. Unemployment continues to rise and companies are going for broke when it comes to their hiring standards.

Today I received a phone call from one of many employment agencies I am registered with. The recruiter informs me that 'he tried to submit my resume to a company but they strict in hiring folks only with Microsoft certifications." If that's their rule, no big deal. However, I've been on the other side where a individual with a certification would be hired to work in the same department where I am, but they don't even know how to turn on a computer.

What's more acceptable? Having a piece of paper or having prior work experience? Seems that companies are going for the first option - which may explain why the salaries they're offering are so low. Blame it on the economy - it seems that this trend will continue.

Being Positive While We Struggle

An eldery woman of 90 shoots herself because she lost her home, a family of three loses their home and has to live in a tent and just today, a unemployed man kills himself after killing his family. All these people have something in common, like so many of us: we're struggling.

Struggling to find a job, our next meal, money to pay the rent or keep the lights on. Everyone has a story but no one can provide long-term relief. The financial market is uncertain, the unemployment benefit is running out and the employment recruiter has not returned the phone call.

While there may things that seem out of our control, there are things that we CAN control, which may give us light at the end of the tunnel - our light, our tunnel.

1. Don't live above your means. If you can't afford it or have to figure out a way to pay for something, that means you don't need it.
2. Don't spend just to spend - Discern a want from a need
3. Whatever money you have, put it aside, SAVE IT
4. Cut out coupons for products that you use on a regular basis
5. If you fall behind on a bill, call the company and see if payment arrangements can be made - paying a smaller amount is better than not being able to pay anything on the bill or debt
6. Instead of spending $10 at your local car wash, do you have soap, hot water and a towel? You can wash your automobile yourself, it's fun, it's good exercise and your automobile will be clean the way you like it. That money can instead be used for gas for your clean automobile or for a few grocery items for you and your family
7. If you find yourself unemployed, get your resume together and post it on the various Internet job sites such as: http://www.monster.com/, http://www.hotjobs.com/, http://www.careerbuilder.com/, http://www.jobalot.com/ and for technical job (only) opportunities, http://www.dice.com/. Also, check your local newspaper on Sunday, Wednesday and Friday in their classified sections, check into your local township and also the federal government, post office, etc. for job opportunities. Find out what unemployment services are available - most of them are free of charge.
8. Be positive, stay active and busy, exercise your body and mind, get fresh air every day, take a long walk outside, reach out to family and friends you haven't spoken to in a while.
9. Visit your local library and find a good book to read
10. Attitude Is Everything!

Is Your Money Really Safe?

Summer is over and the kids are back to school. Unemployment is still on the rise, as well as gas, food....basically everything.

And now the very thing that we often put too much trust in, is in trouble: money. My money, your money, your neighbor's money, your parent's money. The very thing that people kill for, die for and lie for. It's not worth the lives that are lost, the jobs that are saved and the merchandise that we want and need.

So much for the stock market, uncertainty is always going to be there. And now with some of the banks starting to have trouble, we need to wonder if our money is really safe?

Take the necessary precautions because everyone has a different situation. If you are not sure about your savings, call up your bank and be blunt and ask questions. Voice any and all concerns that you have. If you also have a accountant or someone who you know and can trust who is good at financial management, speak to him/her right away.

It's your hard-earned money and if you have to protect it. Sadly, with the turnover of the financial market nowadays, the only person that can look out for you and your savings is YOU.

Vista Print - Beware!

After getting laid off from my IT job that I held for over 10 years, I decided to put my resume out on Internet, get contacts, network - do whatever I could to make myself marketable for a new job assignment.

One of the things I also decided was to get some business cards printed out, offering my IT services. I had heard about Vista Print but never did any research on them prior to checking out their website to order their free business cards.

Yes, free - but not without a price somewhere. I chose one of their 'free' business card templates, paid $6 for the shipping and I'm thinking, 'that's wasn't bad at all'. I paid the $6 with my debit card.

Wellllllll.......two weeks later after checking my account online, Vista Print took out $14.95 out of checking account for 'membership fees'. I never signed up for any membership! I immediately called Vista Print and after finally getting a live person, I was then told that I could cancel my membership. I told the person that I never signed up for one. It was then relayed to me that there are certain buttons that you click on from their website and once you do this, you're automatically accepting their membership.

A little misleading if you ask me - so I told them that I wanted to cancel this so-called membership since I was never asked, never saw anything on their website. I was told that the charges would be credited back to my card at the close of business.

The close of business, nothing happened. I tried to call Vista Print again, was not able to speak to a live person. Instead, I just received recording after recording. The next day I checked my account again and not only was the $14.95 not credited, but a second charge of $14.95 was taken out and this time from a Vista Print afilitate whose number directed you to a recording.

I checked the Better Business Bureau website and I came across this for Vista Print:

http://reports.bosbbb.org/Boston/Public/Reports/BrandedReport.aspx?firm=82218

I then checked Consumer Affairs' website and came across this:

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/online/vistaprint.html

Notice that the latest complaint was just days ago? I was recently contacted by a lawyer who is in the process of filing a class action lawsuit against this people. He told me that hundreds of folks are being represented besides myself and hopefully soon, Vista Print will stop their fleecing practices.

Before you order 'free' business cards from these folks - DON'T!