~*~*~ THE RAT RACE REBELLION TELEWORK BULLETIN ~*~*~ Dear Reader, A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR It’s been busy here at Rat Central the past few weeks, with Chris on ABC’s 20/20 last week and in ongoing interviews at CNN to discuss scams. Our new book, “Work at Home Now,” was also just set for a Fall pub date by Career Press, the hardworking folks who published our popular how-to for Virtual Assistants, “The 2-Second Commute” -- now in its sixth printing. The 20/20 work-at-home segments pulled the mask off rebate processing, as well as envelope stuffing and mystery shopping, and on CNN Chris has covered a broad array of cons. We’ve been delighted to contribute to their reporting, and we thank both 20/20 and CNN for shining a much-needed spotlight on Internet fraud. If you missed the 20/20 segments and would like to see them, they’re in two parts at: -- http://a.abcnews.com/images/2020/abc_2020_work1_090306_mc.jpg -- http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=7016398 For more on work-at-home scams, see the article by Jim Avila and Ann Varney, at http://abcnews.go.com/Business/Economy/story?id=7014111&page=1. For extra tips on spotting scams, see our article at http://www.ratracerebellion.com/spottingscams.htm. POST-SCAMSPOTTING WEBINAR FOLLOW-UP Last week Chris and I gave a free Webinar on “How to Spot and Avoid Work-at-Home Scams,” and we’re glad so many readers could attend. We had some great questions, and promised to answer any remaining queries here in the Bulletin. In our next edition we’ll have an extended “Rat Race Rebellion Mailbag” that includes those issues, along with other popular queries we receive from our readers and Website visitors. CONVERGYS SEEKS 2,000 HOME-BASED CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENTS FOR 2009 The “homeshoring” movement (home-based customer service agents) is feeling the recession too, but Chris and I are still seeing recruiting drives. Convergys, for example, recently announced the expansion of its home-based agent model to more states in the US, and wants to hire up to 2,000 agents for ’09. For details, see lead no. 1 below. To compare Convergys (wages, employee vs. independent contractor status, etc.) to 70+ additional homeshoring employers, see our chart at http://www.ratracerebellion.com/CS_Comparison.html. VIRTUAL CALL CENTER LIVEOPS SEEKS LIFE AND HEALTH INSURANCE AGENTS LiveOps, one of the US leaders in the homeshoring movement with approximately 20,000 agents, is looking for licensed life and health insurance agents to take incoming calls from prospective customers. (“This is not cold calling,” the company emphasizes.) Pays per talk minute. For more, see lead no. 4 below. “LAWYERS GO HOME-BASED, NUDGED BY RECESSION” When I worked as a Wall Street lawyer (I’m “rehabilitated” now, Chris says, since I don’t practice any more), I took the subway in from Brooklyn. (I was an Associate, saving money to buy a co-op. Which I never bought; I quit the Rat Race to become a writer in Paris. But that’s another story.) On days when I rode the decrepit Lexington Avenue trains it was like something out of a Seinfeld episode: July, no A/C, greasy air, windows open, deafening noise in tunnels, train breaks down, lights go out… incomprehensible voice blats on the intercom. Silence. A few wisecracks here and there. Lights go on, your nose is in the armpit of some stranger…. Oy! Nobody worked from home. I worked for a great firm, but (this being Wall Street) everybody was expected to come in at some point on weekends. It would have been wonderful to have been able to telework from time to time… Anyway, we talk here occasionally about the lawyers oh-so-gradually starting to work from home (nothing happens quickly in the law, except the combustion of money when you’re in litigation), and now it seems that the recession is helping more attorneys take a fresh look at things. The aged brick-and-mortar model is expensive, of course (for clients, too, who are paying the rent), and “going virtual” is so much cheaper. We don’t expect a mass migration of lawyers to home offices anytime soon, recession or no, but for hope, see the recent Washington Post piece, “Recession Sends Lawyers Home,” at http://tinyurl.com/bultrs. WANTED: CONVERSATIONAL ENGLISH INSTRUCTORS, NO TEACHING EXPERIENCE NEC. Language-learning firm Idapted contacted us this morning to let us know they’re recruiting for English Instructors. No teaching experience is required. “If you are a native English speaker, speak clearly, have an open mind and [are] interested in other cultures, you can be part of the team.” For more, see lead no. 6 below. STAPLES OFFERS FREE COMPUTER TUNE-UPS THROUGH APRIL 4 If your computer has been sludgy lately, or it’s been awhile since the last oil change, you might want to stop by one of Staples 1,500 (US) stores for a free tune-up. (We haven’t tried it ourselves, but it sounds good.) According to Staples’ press release, the service includes * Cleaning out system clutter and eliminating unnecessary files * Optimizing platform Windows performance * Organizing files on hard drives by defragmenting files * Suggesting low-cost ways to upgrade disk storage and memory * Identifying security vulnerabilities such as outdated virus definitions, the absence of firewall software, and lack of e-mail filters For details, see http://tinyurl.com/dx7tc5. MOST INANE SPAM SUBJECT LINE OF THE WEEK “Just in time for Christmas! Quality replica watches!” FRUGAL AND SIMPLE LIVING Herewith this issue’s freebies and cheapies, with our thanks to readers who sent in their picks, too! Very much appreciated! (Dull fine print: If you see something you like, be sure to grab it fast, as free stuff goes quickly on the Net. Alas, we have no control over supplies, or when the vendors decide to halt their offers or fulfillment, so please don’t blame us hapless innocent winsome Rats here.) Enjoy! Free sample Dove Heat Defense Therapy: http://www.dove.us/#/haircare/free_sample.aspx/?source=DOVE_s Free sample Nature Made Calcium Liquid Softgels: http://www.lsgmulti.naturemade.com/naturemade/calcium.aspx Free sippy cup from Juicy Juice: http://www.juicyjuice.com/Login/Register.aspx Free Arby's RoastBurger with purchase of small drink (EXP 3/14!): http://www.arbys.com/arbyscoupon/?cid=bn_msn300x250030909 Free SnoreStop Kit: http://www.greenpharmaceuticals.com/promotions/ For more freebies, see http://www.ratracerebellion.com/freebies.htm. RAT RACE QUOTE OF THE WEEK “Justice is open to all, like the Ritz Hotel.” -- Sir James Matthew 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. Convergys Seeks Home-Based Customer Service Agents, Targets Nine Additional States Convergys, which reportedly employs 1,500 home-based agents in the US and many more in brick-and-mortar call centers, seeks up to 2,000 home-based agents in ’09, according to a recent article in the Colorado Springs Gazette. The company reportedly expanded recruiting recently to the following nine states: Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. For details, including an interview with Scott Van Stratten, the home agent program's senior director, see http://tinyurl.com/ag4zwz. For Convergys’ website, go to the link below. For more: http://www.convergysworkathome.com/ 2. Medical Transcriptionists iMedX, Inc. is looking for experienced MTs to work as independent contractors using ChartScript software. For more: http://www.mtjobs.com/job_detail.cfm?RowID=17197 3. Case Manager (Bilingual English/Chinese) AmeriChoice seeks a Case Manager to work telephonically within a multi-disciplinary team of physicians, RNs, social workers and other professionals. For more: http://tinyurl.com/bw5myb 4. LiveOps seeks Life and Health Insurance Agents LiveOps is recruiting licensed Life and Health Insurance Agents (as independent contractors) to take calls from prospective customers. Pays 30 cents per talk minute. “Inquirers are interested in life insurance and are ready to buy. Your job is to help them identify products that best meet their needs.” For more: http://www.liveops.com/glp/licensed-insurance-agents/index.html 5. GNPD Mystery Shoppers Mintel regularly needs Mystery Shoppers in the following locations: “Mexico (Monterrey), Canada (Winnipeg, Quebec, Calgary, Edmonton), US (Houston, Midland, Peoria, Cedar Rapids, Colorado Springs, Boise).” These are not full-time positions. For more: http://www.mintel.com/careers-emea-apac-opportunities (Scroll down on page.) 6. Idapted seeks Conversational English Instructors Language-services firm Idapted wrote us today to mention their vacancies for English Instructors. “[We are] looking for people genuinely interested in meeting and helping people around the globe, intrinsically driven by teaching (prior experience is a plus but not necessary), able to use MS Windows and have good typing skills. For more: http://www.idapted.com/opportunities/overview.html 7. Health Sciences Online Instructor Kaplan University seeks a Health Sciences Online Instructor with professional experience in one or more of the following areas: Anatomy, Physiology, Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Medical Coding and Insurance Billing, Medical Office Management, Nutrition, or Biochemistry. For more: http://tinyurl.com/and7o5 8. Tier 1 Support Technician - Bilingual with Spanish a plus Volt Workforce Solutions has posted an ad for 20+ work-from-home Tier 1 Support Technicians. Must have "three years minimum of Desktop or Call Center Support for all of the standard Windows-based systems." For more: http://tinyurl.com/cpe7qu ~*~*~*~*~*~*~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, click here: http://www.helium.com/?ad=680&placement=HAP002 ~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~*~ 9. Customer Support Technician WalkingSpree.com is looking for a Customer Support Technician to identify, research, and resolve customer issues using the WalkingSpree program. For more: http://www.walkingspree.com/jobs 10. Freelance Filmmakers to Produce Online Videos Demand Studios seeks freelance, independent Filmmakers and Videographers to produce short, made-for-Internet videos. For more: http://tinyurl.com/bwaktc 11. Communications Contractors BzzAgent.com is looking for independent contractors with excellent writing and language comprehension skills to write "brief, informal responses to consumer-generated marketing reports." (Learn about BzzAgent at bzzagent.com.) To apply: Send details of your experience in a cover letter and Word-formatted or PDF resume to comdevjobs@bzzagent.com 12. Music Gadgets Blogger MusicGadgets.net is looking for a Blogger who knows the music world, especially "musical instruments, synths and stuff like that." For more: http://jobs.problogger.net/view/2096 13. Direct Marketing Blogger (Ghost Writer) Blueliner seeks an experienced Blogger “to write about direct-marketing topics including: email marketing, direct mail, podcasting, and search marketing." For more: http://jobs.problogger.net/view/2097 14. Science Online Instructor Kaplan University has posted an opening for a Science Online Instructor to teach a wholly-online science course. For more: http://tinyurl.com/b83wry 15. GNPD Mystery Shoppers (Europe & South Africa) Mintel regularly needs Mystery Shoppers in the following locations: “Russia (Moscow and St Petersburg), Norway (Oslo), South Africa (Cape Town).” This is not a full time role. For more: http://www.mintel.com/careers-emea-apac-opportunities (Scroll down on page.) 16. Composition Online Instructor Kaplan University is looking for a Composition Online Instructor. Requires Master's or doctorate in English, Composition, Rhetoric, or Creative Writing. For more: http://tinyurl.com/cxon9e 17. Economics Online Instructor Kaplan University seeks an Economics Online Instructor with a Master's in Economics or Business. Must have at least 18 graduate credit hours in Economics. For more: http://tinyurl.com/blkjdu 18. Medical Writer i3 Innovus seeks a Medical Writer to "support the production of research manuscripts, abstracts, posters, PowerPoint slide presentations, white papers, value dossiers, and reports." For more: https://uhg.taleo.net/careersection/10000/jobdetail.ftl?lang=en&job=1231276&src=JB-14888 19. Mathematics Item Editor WestEd is looking for a Mathematics Item Editor with a degree in mathematics or a related field. (Be sure to check technology requirements before applying.) For more: http://www.wested.org/cs/we/view/hr_pos/2863?x-t=we.record.view 20. Web Designer Bandzoogle.com seeks a Web Designer "to create amazing websites ranging from corporate to rock n' roll." For more: http://www.authenticjobs.com/jobs/3391/ ******************************* 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.