~*~*~ THE RAT RACE REBELLION TELEWORK BULLETIN ~*~*~ Dear Reader, This week's issue -- in addition to our customary hand-picked job leads -- brings news of how to find home-based jobs at Monster.com, earn merchandise by spotting trends, land a blogging job, find a (screened) babysitter, and last but not least, get free popcorn! Enjoy, Good Luck, and Be Well. Mike WHY ARE YOU SEEKING HOME-BASED WORK? The more we know about your individual reasons for seeking work at home, the better we can tailor job leads and other resources to your needs. So when you have a sec, please take the new poll on our home page, at http://www.ratracerebellion.com. Thanks! EARN MERCHANDISE BY SPOTTING TRENDS Market-research company Springwise awards merchandise to people internationally who spot emerging consumer or entrepreneurial trends. The “swag” includes: -- iPods -- Cameras -- Skin care products -- Amazon gift certificates -- Books, and more. For details, see http://www.springspotters.com/springspotters/ “HOW TO APPLY FOR A BLOG JOB” We often feature blogging jobs here in the bulletin and at RatRaceRebellion.com, but the trick, of course, is how to land one. (Side bar -- If you’re unfamiliar with blogs, they’re simply online columns, essays or personal thoughts, and cover all topics under the sun. Many jobs require blogging experience, and some do not. Most blogging jobs are part-time, and pay “per post.” Many also offer a share of advertising revenues generated by the blogger’s pages.) As in any sector, applying for blogging jobs requires a certain approach. Darren Rowse, who works from home in Melbourne, Australia, is a well-known authority on blogging, and has written an excellent piece on how to optimize your chances of landing a blogging job. His article is at http://www.problogger.net/archives/2006/08/30/how-to-apply-for-a-blog-job/. Another great source of blogging advice is the team of Patsi Krakoff and Denise Wakeman, also known as “The Blog Squad.” Check out their tips at http://www.ratracerebellion.com/EC_Blogger.htm. HOW TO FIND WORK-AT-HOME JOBS AT MONSTER.COM Many jobseekers visit Monster, but aren’t sure how to search the site for home-based jobs. Chris and I write the home-based careers column for Military.com, and in yesterday’s column we explain in brief how to find work-at-home job leads at Monster. For more, see http://www.military.com/opinion/0,15202,183099,00.html. MIXERS HELP U.S. AND CANADIAN COLLEGE STUDENTS FIND WORK – AND PARENTS FIND BABYSITTERS Speaking of Springwise (the market-research company cited above), we’re longtime readers of its newsletter, which reports on the trends those spotters spot. A recent issue caught our attention with “mixers” for babysitters and parents, which help parents find sitters, and college students (for the most part) find part-time jobs. With both companies mentioned in the piece – Sitter Soirees and MommyMixer – parents pay a fee to participate, and sitters do not. Sitter Soirees performs a preliminary screening of sitters, MommyMixer does not. (Neither company screens parents.) Both services focus on college students as sitters, and recommend that sitters be paid $10 per hour. MommyMixer launched in 2003 and according to its site has plans to expand across North America. Sitter Soirees launched in Florida last year. For more: -- MommyMixer is at http://www.mommymixer.com/ -- Sitter Soirees is at http://www.sittersoirees.com -- Springwise’s newsletter (with the article) is at http://www.springwise.com/index.php?page=2 RULE 1 OF TELEWORK-JOB HUNTING: DON’T CALL HIRERS (UNLESS INSTRUCTED TO) As we often underline, the demand for legitimate home-based jobs is high, and during a recession even higher. (Hence the surge in scams.) In many cases, applicants far outnumber jobs, and hirers have to hustle to keep up. Some readers have written us to complain that work-at-home companies are irritated when they call to ask if any jobs are available. It’s great to have initiative, but in general you shouldn’t call unless instructed to. Most employers try to streamline their application process as much as possible, and incoming phone calls aren’t part of the machinery. Harried HR people, in particular, may not take kindly to spontaneous phone queries, especially when the company’s website or job ads include other instructions, such as “NO PHONE CALLS.” With rare exceptions, applicants should follow the company’s instructions to the letter, and watch out on websites for such phrases as “No jobs available at this time,” or “If you call us, we will not hire you, nor anyone in your family down unto the tenth generation, to infinity and beyond.” FROM THE R3 MAILBAG -- QUESTIONS ABOUT WORKING FROM HOME, AND OTHER RAT RACE TOPICS DEAR R3: My husband says that the whole work-at-home thing is a scam. He says he’s lucky to be able to telecommute twice a month, and I should get a regular job. He likes to drive (his commute is 90 minutes each way), but I don’t like long commutes, and there are no jobs nearby. What should I say to him? R3: If working at home is a scam, tell him he’s scamming his company twice a month. But more civilly, there are always people who prefer living in earlier centuries. You might get him a toga to wear when he’s reading his scrolls. Polish your resume, hone your credentials, dig hard for jobs (check out the work-at-home discussions at sites like http://www.WAHM.com and http://www.workplacelikehome.com/, too), be ever faithful to this bulletin, and network like a maniac. Who says you can’t both be happy? You at home, he in his chariot. FRUGAL AND SIMPLE LIVING Herewith this week’s freebies. If you see something you like, be sure to grab it fast, as free stuff goes quickly on the Web. (Especially in these tight economic times.) (Sorry, but we have no control over supplies, or when the vendors decide to halt their offers or fulfillment.) Enjoy! Free Bottle of Body Eclipse© Aromatherapy Shampoo (US and Canada): http://www.meditasto.com/aromatherapy.php Free Breath-A-Licious Green Bone for dogs: http://www.breathalicious.com/freebone.html Free Orville Redenbacher's Natural Popping Corn: https://secure.startsampling.com/sm/100576/captureAddress.iphtml?item=100576&source=kingsoopers Free TripAdvisor luggage tags (US and Canada): http://www.tripadvisor.com/GOffer?wid=167&pid= Free Plant food samples: http://www.gardenlink.com/catalog/contact_us.php Find more freebies at http://www.ratracerebellion.com/freebies.htm. RAT RACE QUOTE OF THE WEEK “It requires a very unusual mind to undertake the analysis of the obvious.” -- Alfred North Whitehead Rebelliously Yours, Michael Michael D. Haaren, Editor-in-Chief The Rat Race Rebellion =>=> New Leads for Home-Based Jobs and Projects <=<= *Editor’s Note: All positions are screened, but we can’t of course “guarantee” the legitimacy of any hirer or lead, so please do your own ‘due diligence’ as well! Also, please note that on occasion the hirer will decide to change the description or the availability of the job or project shortly AFTER the summary is published here. (Unfortunately, we have no control over this.) Therefore, be sure to read the underlying ad carefully, and apply promptly for any job that interests you. 1. Part-Time Spanish Bilingual Tech Support Representatives (Entry level OK) Educate Online seeks part-time Spanish Bilingual Tech Support Reps, entry level or experienced. “This position entails providing a mixture of technical and customer support including assisting callers with internet connectivity issues, verifying student addresses and scheduling student sessions.” For more: http://tinyurl.com/9uccds 2. Medical Transcriptionists Fast Chart seeks MTs with at least 2 years’ experience in acute-care and multi-specialty clinic transcription. For more: http://mtjobs.com/job_detail.cfm?RowID=16964 3. Freelance Sports Reporters PA SportsTicker seeks freelancers for pre- and in-game updates as well as post-game quotes, notes and recaps. “Working knowledge of all major sports (MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL).” For more: http://tinyurl.com/8d7hrw 4. Research Consultant for Bank Brokerage Kehrer-LIMRA is looking for a Research Consultant. “This position will be responsible for assisting in the creation of critical Kehrer-LIMRA research products. These responsibilities include the collection and organization of survey data, analysis of and drawing meaning from the data, and reporting on findings.” Northeast US candidates preferred. For more: http://tinyurl.com/8zk3sr 5. Full-Time Copywriter for Online Shopping Sites Catalogs.com is looking for a web-content writer for its online shopping sites. “Writer will be paid per assignment completed, and should average between $600 to $750/week.” For more: http://jobs.problogger.net/view/1952 6. Freelance XHML/CSS Developer Liberal Art seeks a freelance Developer “who knows XHTML, CSS, jquery or prototype, and MovableType inside and out. Experience with Salsa, ActBlue, BlueStateDigital, or political campaigns is a major plus.” For more: http://www.creativehotlist.com/index.asp?linkTarget=fullJob.asp&jobID=129277 7. Medical Writers Liberty Personnel Services is seeking Medical Writers for a client. “We need someone degreed in Science with 2-5 plus years experience working for either a CME or health care communications company.” For more: http://tinyurl.com/9z4aq5 8. Instructional Designer Level III Kaplan University seeks a full-time Instructional Designer Level III “to plan production elements of courses, innovate and create engaging content delivery methods, based on adult learning principles. They build the courses in the platform (eCollege) using an authoring tool (Lectora) and create advanced interactive components for the courses.” Will also mentor other Designers. For more: http://tinyurl.com/99ju8t ~*~*~*~*~*~*~Advertisement~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Chris and Mike here -- Do you need writing experience to qualify for freelance writing, blogging, proofreading or editorial jobs? Want to demonstrate your expertise for hiring managers or prospective clients? We recommend Helium (it’s free). You can get writing experience with an easy-to-start blog, and be eligible for compensation while you learn. You can also choose among many popular topics, and build your credentials while you write about what interests you. For more, visit http://www.helium.com/?ad=680&placement=HAP002. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~*~ 9. Information Architect Tuitive is looking for an Information Architect “to aid in a project with a major healthcare organization to turn user research into testable information architecture, wireframes, and user interface deliverables. The project has started and runs through Friday, 4/24/09.” For more: http://gigs.37signals.com/gigs/4743 10. College Students - Share Class Notes, Study Guides GradeGuru.com is looking for college students to share class notes, study guides, etc., online. Contributors earn cash and rewards. For more: http://www.gradeguru.com/sps/hello.htm 11. Freelance Fashion Writers / Bloggers for UK Website Website UBO seeks Fashion Bloggers to write daily articles. “UBO is a large online site that sells high-end mens and womens clothing to Europe. We have websites in over 7 languages and our website is visited by thousands of people a day. We are currently looking for Bloggers / Fashion writers to write/submit articles for our UK website.” For more: http://jobs.problogger.net/view/1945 12. Webmaster The Assoc. for Fundraising Professionals is looking for a Webmaster. “The AFP Webmaster has primary responsibility for the complete renovation of the AFP website, a complex and large scale project, and the development and ongoing maintenance of the chapter website program.” For more: http://www.associationjobs.org/jobdetail.cfm?job=3058502 13. Editor, Custom Publications Journal Communications, Inc., is seeking a “highly motivated editor for annual economic development and business publications.” For more: http://www.journalismjobs.com/Job_Listing.cfm?JobID=1011411 14. Medical Transcriptionists Hils Transcription is hiring full- and part-time independent-contractor MTs “for all specialties including but not limited to: Pediatric Cardiology and Outpatient Surgery. Must have at least 3 years experience in one or all specialties…” For more: http://www.mtjobs.com/job_detail.cfm?RowID=16958 15. Translation Proofreader (“Chinese – Simplified and Traditional”) Integrity seeks a Translation Proofreader with native fluency in Chinese. “Ability to work with both Simplified and Traditional Chinese text.” For more: http://tinyurl.com/8bu7mq 16. Experienced Freelance Journalists and Writers - Wellington, NZ Wesley Community Action seeks writers to interview residents of Wesleyhaven, one of NZ's oldest rest homes, and “highlight the background, interests and life experiences of up to 12 of the interesting residents…” For more: http://www.writerfind.com/freelance_jobs/job5076.htm 17. Web Designer - "Giant Design Monster" Indie Labs is looking for a Web Designer “who can apply a more liberated thinking process to the web world. A giant design monster with print sensitivities and web hands.” For more: http://www.authenticjobs.com/jobs/3198/ 18. Google Ads Quality Rater - Korean Language Google continues to seek part-time Ads Quality Raters who are fluent in English and Korean. “As an Ads Quality Rater, you will be responsible for reporting and tracking the visual quality and content accuracy of Google advertisements.” For more: http://tinyurl.com/8fkzud 19. Medical Transcriptionists WEBMEDX seeks full-time MTs with at least 2 years’ experience. “As ESL physician dictation is part of our work, candidates must have experience transcribing this type of dictation. Schedules currently available are Sun-Thurs or Tues-Sat, first, second or third shift. We also have radiology MT positions available!” For more: http://mtjobs.com/job_detail.cfm?RowID=16963 20. Expert on Tech Certifications About.com, owned by the New York Times, is looking for a part-time writer to cover tech certifications. Pays a minimum of $725 to start, plus a share of ad revenues. For more: http://beaguide.about.com/applynow.htm ******************************* That’s this week’s issue, Dear Reader. Until next week’s issue, don’t forget to visit us for fresh job leads at http://www.ratracerebellion.com/job_postings.htm ! Rebelliously Yours, Michael -- Michael D. Haaren, Co-Founder & Editor-in-Chief Staffcentrix, LLC Email: mhaaren@staffcentrix.com Co-author of the bestseller on working from home as a Virtual Assistant, THE 2-SECOND COMMUTE, now available at Amazon.com or http://www.2secondcommute.com. See what else we’re up to on the Web, at http://www.WAHBoom.com (our new work-at-home site for Boomers), http://www.msvas.com (our Military Spouse Virtual Assistant community), and http://www.fse-entrepreneur.com (our Foreign Service spouse e-Entrepreneur community). ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ All contents copyright 2008 Staffcentrix, LLC, "The most trusted name in home-based careers."(TM, SM) All rights reserved.