~*~*~ THE RAT RACE REBELLION TELEWORK BULLETIN ~*~*~ Dear Reader, A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR This week's issue brings news of our free work-at-home Webinars, and increasing numbers of "free agents" in the US workforce. Plus, an intro to Virtual Assistance, freebies, tips for parents interested in homeschooling, and 20 hand-picked job leads. DON’T MISS OUR FREE WORK-AT-HOME WEBINAR SERIES -- STARTS MARCH 3 Beginning March 3rd, Chris and I will host a free series of one-hour Webinars on working from home. Drawn from workshops we’ve developed for the US Department of State and the Armed Forces, the Webinars will help you find that job, project or niche you’ve been seeking, and avoid the con artists. With a 54-to-1 scam ratio in online job ads, you won’t want to miss the March 3 Webinar, “How to Spot and Avoid Work at Home Scams.” From 12PM-1PM, US Eastern. (If you’re unfamiliar with Webinars, don’t worry; they’re simple. You log on to a web page, and we show you the subject matter on your computer screen, while you’re with us on a conference call. We use FreeConferenceCall.com. Your only cost is long-distance charges, if any.) To reserve your spot now, go to https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/657014736. We’ll look forward to “meeting” you! “FREE AGENTS” MAKE UP 28% OF U.S. WORKFORCE, KELLY STUDY FINDS There are 30M freelancers, temps, consultants and other “free agents” in the US workforce now, says a recent study from staffing firm Kelly Services. Such “indies” constitute 28% of the workforce, up 25% since 1998, the report adds. With US layoffs reaching record highs -- nearly 5M Americans are drawing unemployment, the highest in over 40 years -- it’s not surprising that record numbers of Americans would also be freelancing and temping. And as a recent poll at RatRaceRebellion.com has shown, many Americans who are lucky enough to still have their jobs are taking part-time work on the side to make ends meet. (Kelly’s report is online at http://tinyurl.com/bslkaz.) If ever there were a time to be thinking entrepreneurially, it’s now. If you’re looking for work, think creatively and consider sources of income -- temporary, sideline or permanent -- that you might have overlooked. Some thought starters: -- An old standby, but still viable -- Do you have an eye for value at flea markets, used-book sales or estate sales? Think eBay or other auction sites. (Ebay has seller tutorials at http://pages.ebay.com/education/selling.html.) -- Are you good at sewing, weaving, or designing patterns? Got a knack for drawing, or other graphic design? Check out our new Crafting resources page, at http://www.ratracerebellion.com/jobs-crafting.html. -- Love animals? Petsitting businesses (a growth industry) often need help. Find businesses in your area (with directories such as http://www.petsits.com), visit their websites, and if it looks appropriate, send them a brief email touching on your qualifications and offering assistance. (But don’t be miffed if some business owners don’t reply. Alas, gone are the days when every application received a polite response.) But Mike, What IS a Free Agent? If you need help getting into the free agent frame of mind -- a critical skill itself, as that quaint concept of “job security” (or even “paycheck stability”) steadily disappears -- see Dan Pink’s 2002 book, “Free Agent Nation,” suitably subtitled, “The Future of Working for Yourself.” (For more on Dan Pink, who also wrote a popular career guide titled “The Adventures of Johnny Bunko,” go to http://www.danpink.com/.) To break up calcified thought channels, consider listening to Jazz. Anything before the Big Band era, which may foster nostalgic fantasies of credit-card use. IN THE SAME VEIN, WHAT IS A VIRTUAL ASSISTANT? While many people are familiar with “VAs” now, it’s still a fairly new concept. If you don’t know much about them, here’s a brief primer. In a word, Virtual Assistants provide office-support services to smaller businesses remotely. Chris founded the industry in 1995, with the launch of the first VA business, MyStaff.com. Most VAs are located in North America and the UK. They can earn upwards of $20 an hour, depending on the services they provide. (For example, if they can design a client’s website, this could earn more. Data entry would earn less.) Businesspeople hire VAs so they can hand over non-core tasks, and get back to doing what they love -- consulting, lawyering, public speaking, plumbing; whatever their mission might be. VAs are less expensive -- and usually more effective -- than employees, because they are independent contractors and involve no real-estate costs, and their interests are synergistic with their clients’: the more productive the VA can make his or her client, the more the VA can grow. Despite the distance, VAs often become very close to their clients. While VAing is not for everybody -- you have to find your clients, and keep ‘em happy -- it always beats unemployment, and you can set your own hours, do it part- or full-time, choose the people you work for, and take time off when you need it. If you’re good at it, you can also hire other VAs, delegate work to them, and keep a share of the profits. For more, see our VA page at http://www.ratracerebellion.com/VirtualAssistant.htm. FROM THE R3 MAILBAG -- QUESTIONS ABOUT WORKING FROM HOME, AND OTHER RAT RACE TOPICS DEAR R3: I’m thinking about homeschooling my children, but I’d like to know more. Where can I go for information? R3: Check out Rebecca Kochenderfer’s site, at http://www.homeschool.com/default.asp. (Stay tuned here for an interview with Rebecca K., coming soon.) You’ll also find info at the site for homeschooling magazine “The Link,” at http://www.homeschoolnewslink.com/. Rebecca recently interviewed Denise Jonas, the mom of homeschooled hit singers The Jonas Brothers. For a listen, go to http://www.homeschool.com/Registration/. FRUGAL AND SIMPLE LIVING Voila les freebies and cheepies for this week, courtesy of our intrepid freebie drovers. (And a big thank you to readers who have sent freebie tips for our RRR.com freebie page. (Link below.) You guyz rock!) Got a fave freebie you’d like to share? Zap it to me at mhaaren@staffcentrix.com, and we’ll upload it pronto, with a public thank-you (to your initials). (Dull fine print: If you see something you like, snatch it fast, as free stuff goes quickly on the Web. Don’t shoot us; we have no control over supplies, or when the vendors decide to halt their offers or fulfillment.) Enjoy! Free sample Selsun Blue shampoo: http://instoresnow.walmart.com/enhancedrendercontent_ektid65572.aspx Free sample Degree Deodorant for Men: http://www.scifi.com/eureka/madeineureka/degree_form.html Free Start Making Choices Welcome Kit, includes free sample of Orville Redenbacher's® Natural Gourmet Popping Corn in the new Lime & Salt Flavor, plus coupons for: * $1 off any four Hunt's® Diced, Stewed, or Whole Tomatoes * $1 off any two Healthy Choice® Fresh Mixers™ * $1 off any two Healthy Choice Café Steamers™ * $1.50 off any two Orville Redenbacher's Natural Gourmet Popping Corn Click here: http://www.startmakingchoices.com/promotions/walmart.jsp?cookietest=true Coupon for Two Free Tacos at Jack in the Box - good on Feb. 24th only: http://coupon.hangintherejack.com/two-tacos.php For more freebies, go to http://www.ratracerebellion.com/freebies.htm RAT RACE QUOTE OF THE WEEK “Money frees you from doing things you dislike. Since I dislike doing nearly everything, money is handy.” -- Groucho Marx 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. “Urgent Need for Retail Merchandisers” Retail Merchandising Xpress seeks Merchandisers. Positions are home-based with travel to local stores. Involves the maintenance of product displays in stores. For more: http://www.narms.com/cgi-bin/sjb2.cgi?i=50638&cn=1234554070&fnc=jbd 2. Freelance Writer The Institute of Management and Administration is looking for a freelance Writer to conduct interviews, and write case studies and newsletter articles. For more: http://www.mediabistro.com/joblistings/jobview.asp?joid=87594&page=1 3. Medical Transcriptionists SoftScript seeks MTs with at least 3 years’ experience. For more: http://mtjobs.com/job_detail.cfm?RowID=17119 4. Senior Interactive Developer (Flash) Livney + Partners seeks a freelance Senior Interactive Flash Developer to work in their Texas office or remotely from home. For more: http://jobs.37signals.com/jobs/4862 5. Project Administrator Canonical has posted an ad for a Project Administrator to work from home in an American or European time zone. This position will monitor process and progress metrics, and will involve several international trips per year. For more: http://jobs.37signals.com/jobs/4858 6. ASP + XHTML + CSS / Web Developer Wrayco Design is looking for a Web Developer who has a great eye for detail. Will be overhauling a site that was created in ASP. For more: http://www.authenticjobs.com/jobs/3335/ 7. Lionbridge In-Country Tester Lionbridge seeks software testers who reside in specified countries. Must be fluent in English and in target locale's language, both written and spoken. For more: http://tinyurl.com/br4klp ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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, click here: http://www.helium.com/?ad=680&placement=HAP002 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 8. Arts / Crafts Business Expert Information supersite About.com, owned by the NY Times, seeks a part-time expert (“Guide”) to write about growing an arts and crafts business. “On average, a Guide in his or her first two years will make $1,000 a month. The average Guide compensation is around $2,000 a month, and we have Guides who earn more than $100,000 a year.” For more: http://beaguide.about.com/applynow.htm 9. Freelance Writers from Australia/New Zealand EBSCO Publishing is looking for "authors/subject-matter experts from Australia and New Zealand with a Master’s or Ph.D. degree, and relevant professional experience in one of the following fields: Ecology, Economics, Education, Environmental Science, Finance, Law, Medical/MD, Political Science, Sociology, Theology." For more: http://careers.peopleclick.com/jobposts/Client_EBSCO/BU1/External_EP/pck365-3811.htm 10. Associate Director Claims Recovery/Resolution This telecommuting position is with AmeriChoice, a UnitedHealth Group company. "The Associate Director of Recovery will take the lead and focus on improvement of Coordination of Benefits with emphasis on cost avoidance through flag loading, process improvement, vendor contract negotiation and administration, operation, management reporting, and integration with Unison." For more: https://uhg.taleo.net/careersection/10000/jobdetail.ftl?lang=en&job=1227889 11. Expert on Beadwork Information supersite About.com, owned by the NY Times, seeks a part-time expert (“Guide”) on Beadwork. “Ideally, we'd love to find someone who creates original patterns and projects, but is able to demonstrate/teach classic patterns and techniques as well.” “On average, a Guide in his or her first two years will make $1,000 a month. The average Guide compensation is around $2,000 a month, and we have Guides who earn more than $100,000 a year.” For more: http://beaguide.about.com/applynow.htm 12. Online Graduate Sports Psychology Instructors Argosy University seeks Online Graduate Sports Psychology Instructors to teach graduate classes in Sports Exercise Psychology at the Master’s level. For more: http://chronicle.com/jobs/id.php?id=0000592480-01&pg=s&cc= 13. Home-Based Certified Medical Coders MedAssurant is recruiting full-time certified medical coder(s) to perform medical record reviews from home. "MedAssurant reviewers are provided with a laptop and full abstraction and technology training." For more: http://www.medassurant.com/open-positions.aspx#2 14. Second Shift Call Center Manager Manpower has a client who seeks a Second Shift Call Center Manager to run their contact center remotely. For more: http://tinyurl.com/azmdmn 15. Danish Freelance Translator SDI Media is looking for a Danish Translator (fluent in English and Danish) to perform a variety of tasks, ranging from proofing to translating. For more: http://sdimediagroup.com/_jobs_interior_la.php?id=397 16. Korean-to-English Gaming Editor SDI Media is looking for a freelance Korean-to-English Gaming Editor. "Must be an avid gamer with online and/or offline games." For more: http://sdimediagroup.com/_jobs_interior_la.php?id=396 17. Web Designer Dreamten Studios needs a talented front-end designer. For more: http://www.authenticjobs.com/jobs/3327/ 18. Expert on Salt Lake City, Utah About.com, the NY Times-owned information site, continues to seek a part-time expert to write about Salt Lake City. “On average, a Guide in his or her first two years will make $1,000 a month. The average Guide compensation is around $2,000 a month, and we have Guides who earn more than $100,000 a year.” 19. “Home-Based Bloggers Needed” Home Design Find, “a growing blog covering topics ranging from home design, architecture, and furniture,” seeks “bloggers who are passionate about the topics featured at www.homedesignfind.com.” For more: http://jobs.problogger.net/view/2040 20. Google Ads Quality Raters - English Google is once again recruiting temporary Ads Quality Raters, who are “responsible for reporting and tracking the visual quality and content accuracy of Google advertisements.” For more: http://tinyurl.com/bakd8e ******************************* 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.