~*~*~ THE RAT RACE REBELLION TELEWORK BULLETIN ~*~*~ Dear Reader, A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR With today’s Bulletin, Chris and I are delighted to announce our first public “Find Work at Home” Workshop™, coming straight to you from the training rooms of the US Department of State, US Air Force, and other non-public client venues, where until now we delivered it exclusively. (For more, see the first item below.) Today’s issue also brings 20+ jobs and projects, hand-picked by your loyal team here at the Rat Race Rebellion. Rounding out the mix are tips on how to find data entry work from home, a look at why online teaching is a growing employment niche, a nice batch of freebies, and how to tell if your creative batteries urgently need a boost. Enjoy, good luck, and be well. OUR “FIND WORK FROM HOME” WORKSHOP GOING PUBLIC FOR THE FIRST TIME -- JOIN US IN NORFOLK, VA! The US Department of State and the Armed Forces have been benefiting from our “Find Work from Home”™ Workshop for some time -- it’s by far our most popular workshop -- and now we’re bringing it to the public for the first time. Where: Tidewater Community College’s Roper Performing Arts Center, Norfolk, Va. When: Saturday, Sept. 20, 9AM-1PM. How: Exuberantly and entertainingly, but above all -- instructively! In the workshop, Chris and I will teach you: -- How to find legitimate work-at-home jobs and projects online. -- How to spot scams and ripoffs -- no matter how subtle. -- The latest work-at-home job search terms, and terms you should never use. -- Insider resume tips to land legitimate work-at-home jobs in this highly-competitive market. -- Too much more to list! Tickets are just $29.99. (Discounts available for bulk purchases.) Seating is limited, so reserve your spot today at http://workathomehamptonroads.com/! FINDING DATA ENTRY WORK FROM HOME Many people have a simple work-at-home goal -- “I want to do basic administrative work part-time, and get a reasonable check every two weeks.” They just want to supplement the family budget, or pay down some pressing bills, or get through an unemployment phase. The good news is, there is plenty of basic administrative work to be had. The bad news is, it doesn’t usually come in the form of a conventional home-based job (though our Research Team found some exceptions for our job leads in this issue), and when it does, there’s fierce competition for it. What’s the story? Much outsourceable administrative work is piling up on the desks and in the computers of small businesses -- typically with less than 10 employees. These microbusinesses, in general, are uncomfortable with the idea of sending their data overseas, don’t have the time to locate and screen overseas service providers, and are too small to be of interest to the large companies that handle overseas outsourcing. The vast majority of these microbusinesses have never been asked to outsource their work to administrative workers within their own country. Here are five suggestions to help you deal with these realities: 1. Adopt a two-pronged strategy: Apply for the home-based administrative jobs that occasionally crop up, but be proactive, too, and contact growing microbusinesses and ask them directly for work. (Microbusinesses on a growth track are the ones most likely to need your help.) 2. For jobs, check our own list of periodic hirers at http://www.ratracerebellion.com/jobs-admin.htm, and monitor our daily job postings at http://www.ratracerebellion.com/job_postings.htm . Use sites like Indeed.com and http://www.workaholics4hire.com for additional searches. 3. Polish your credentials at every opportunity, through low-cost options such as Brainbench (http://www.brainbench.com/). If you’re in the US, check your local One-Stop Career Center (find them at http://www.servicelocator.org/) or nearest Workforce Development Board for information on free or low-cost training or certifications. (If you’re a military spouse or otherwise eligible for services, check your base family center for advice and financial assistance, such as “Career Advancement Accounts.”) 4. Showcase your credentials with a basic website through GoDaddy.com or PowWeb.com, and / or a blog. (Chris and I always recommend Helium as a good place to start, but there are also TypePad.com, WordPress.com, and others.) 5. Attend our workshop in Norfolk! GAS PRICES BOOST DISTANCE LEARNING IN U.S. College students across the US are increasingly seeking online courses, as the price of gas eats into already-limited budgets and dissuades them from driving, the Chronicle of Higher Education reports. “Many institutions say their online summer enrollments have jumped significantly, compared with last summer's, and that fuel prices are a key factor in the increase.” If gas prices remain high -- or increase -- this bad news should spell good news for college-level teachers interested in working from home, as online course selections and enrollments increase. Gas prices may also trigger growth in online teaching in secondary schools, as the cost of school bus fuel skyrockets -- hitting school budgets already reeling from declining tax revenues tied to falling real estate values. For the Chronicle article, see http://chronicle.com/free/2008/07/3704n.htm . “EXTRAS” (AND NOT JUST LATTES) GOING UP IN GAS, SAY HALF OF U.S. WORKERS The Rat Race used to be cushioned by little extras like a latte at Starbucks, or an occasional meal at a restaurant. But those are disappearing, stolen by the Gas Monster. How do we know? Well, apart from personal experience, there are little signs like Starbucks’ recent decision to close 600 stores in the US, and a new CareerBuilder.com survey of 8,700 workers, showing that 47% are cutting back on “frills.” What are “frills”? Cable TV, vacations, movies, and “functions” where you’d be expected to bring a gift. In other words, the Rat Race is getting rattier. What can we do, besides stop watching TV, stop going on vacation, and stop getting our kids a present for their birthday? Well, we can all either become phantoms and inhabit Second Life, or fight for change. Here, we vote for number two. DON’T LET YOUR CREATIVE CORE GROW DIM As living beings, we all have a creative urge (in theory, at least). But it can be awfully tough to keep it healthy in an era that sometimes feels as if it had been designed, psychologically, by a city planner with OCD. If you don’t think we live in such times, I have a few questions for you. -- When was the last time you lay in a field, looked up, and no longer knew or cared where you were? (10-point deduction if you answered “New Year’s Eve.”) -- Within the past two years, when was the last time you read a children’s book, and forgot you were a grown-up? (20-point bonus for each instance if you’re a lawyer or accountant. 50-point bonus if you’re an elementary school principal, 75 if you’re a school board member. 200 for school superintendents.) -- How often do you draw, write stories, sculpt (in any material), improvise on a musical instrument, or act in a public performance? (N/A if you’re confined to a locked ward.) -- Do you find it increasingly difficult to think clearly, and spontaneously produce interesting conversation? (N/A for those who have been closely following the US presidential race.) -- Do your children tell you you’re losing your sense of humor? (Discount their comments by 10% for each nose ring, 60% for each eyebrow ring, 45% for a small tattoo of a butterfly or mouse in a clothed area, and 100% for a battleship, eagle, or Hannah Montana in an unclothed area.) -- Are you losing that sparkle in your eye? Granted, these are not “scientific” measuring sticks (creativity is essentially spiritual anyway), but are rather intended to alert you to the possibility that your creative roots aren’t getting watered. As every artist knows, the creative force keeps you young -- in the best sense of the word. Turn off those channels, open up that Channel, and good things will follow! TELEWORK IN GERMANY -- EMPLOYEES WANT IT, BOSSES SHRUG Two out of three Germans would like to work from home. Guess how many get to do it. One in 100. That’s the word from a survey by market research institute Forsa, done for the German Association for Information Management, Telecommunications and New Media (BITKOM). “Employees and businesses could equally benefit from telework and flexible working hours,” comments BITKOM chairman Prof. August-Wilhelm Scheer. Indeed. For more, see the article at MittlestandsWiki reporting on the survey, at http://tinyurl.com/5cqf9f . FEDERAL EMPLOYEES IN U.S. USING TELEWORK CENTERS TO CUT GAS COSTS Nothing says “Where can I telework?” like $100 gas fill-ups several times a week. So Federal workers, according to NBC News, are increasingly turning to regional telework centers to ease the pain. (Even so, only 6%-17% of Federal employees telework -- estimates vary according to source and definition -- but legislative and other pressures -- like gas prices --are steadily building to push that number up.) The GSA operates the 14 centers, with several located more than 75 miles from Washington. Given the traffic around here (second worst in the US, right behind LA-LA Land), the men and women using those centers must actually be getting to know their families again. “Mommy, who is that strange man sitting at our dinner table?” “That’s your Daddy, dear.” “Oh.” “Except I’m not your Mommy. I’m the paid third-party caregiver.” Dark humor aside, one can’t help but sympathize with these families. They moved to the outlying areas for cheaper home prices, and now they’ve got two mortgages to pay -- one to the bank, one to the gas station. (A commuter driving an SUV 75 miles each way to work in DC -- which many here do -- pays roughly $1,000 per month for gas.) Some experts say rising gas prices spell “the death of the American suburb,” though I’m not so sure. If we all move to the cities, the suburbs will become cheap, and we’ll all move back out again -- just like we did in the beginning. (Or will today’s McMansion become tomorrow’s “low-income multi-family dwelling,” with the middle class staying close to the city -- as a recent CNN piece speculated?) (Maybe rising gas prices WILL spell the rebirth of an American rail system. But I think cars the size of bedpans is more likely. What do you think? Write me at mhaaren@staffcentrix.com.) For the NBC piece on the telework centers, see http://tinyurl.com/6ntvw9 . For a map of the centers, and more detail, see http://tinyurl.com/6of6pm . For the CNN piece on suburbs in trouble, see http://tinyurl.com/6yo768 . “SEEN ON THE NET” -- INTERESTING SITES OF THE WEEK Chris and I are on the Net till our eyeballs plop out, and we come across all manner of sites. Here are a few of the more intriguing we’ve seen lately. -- http://www.threadless.com/ Showcased recently in INC magazine, this site carries a vast selection of T-shirts with original artwork. (I bought several on sale for $10, and have been very happy with them.) Caution, some designs a little “edgier” than others. The site is also a useful storefront and community for graphic artists. -- http://www.mygallons.com/ This US site lets you “lock in” gasoline at today’s prices, for purchase at tomorrow’s potentially higher rates. (Of course, only works if prices go up. Fees apply.) -- http://www.sweemo.com/ At this UK-based site you can “buy, swap, or sell experiences.” (Examples: For £1,000 you can have a “driving adventure” with a Ferrari in Barcelona. For £100 you can star in an online soap opera.) Interesting concept, though I can see where regulating content might be a challenge… (A tip o’ the hat to Springwise.com for the latter two.) FROM THE R3 MAILBAG -- QUESTIONS ABOUT WORKING FROM HOME, AND OTHER RAT RACE TOPICS DEAR R3: My husband has been a Title Examiner for years, and loves it. Are there any home-based jobs out there for his line of work? R3: We haven’t yet seen this kind of work in our research. However, that’s not a Judge Judy Final Judgment that none is out there. I’d suggest trying very targeted Google searches, using quoted word-and-phrase combinations. For example: "title examiner" + "work from home" "title examiner" + "work at home" "title examiner" + telecommute This should help get you started (get you both started, that is; don’t take all the fun for yourself!). Your husband should also know industry-specific terms to fine-tune the search phrases. FRUGAL AND SIMPLE LIVING Voila a small herd of freebies for this week, brought to you by our intrepid freebie wranglers. (US-only, alas, unless otherwise noted.) If you see something you like, snatch it off the table right away, as free stuff usually disappears quickly on the Net. Enjoy! -- Free Airborne effervescent vitamins: http://www.airbornehealth.com/promotions_seasonal.php -- Free Pantene shampoo and conditioner: https://pantenece.safeprocessing.com/ -- Free Seductive Goddess perfume: http://tinyurl.com/5zvl2l -- Free Murad Resurgence skin care: http://www.oprah.com/ads/murad/murad_sweeps.jsp -- Free Purex laundry detergent: http://www.dialpromos.com/PurexSample/EntryForm.aspx RAT RACE QUOTE OF THE WEEK “Writing’s hard work and it’s boring, but I like it.” -- VS Pritchett 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! All positions are paid unless otherwise noted. The amount of compensation is included in the summary when given in the underlying lead. 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. Assistant, Human Assets (“Anywhere in US; 0-3 years’ experience”) ||||| US-based nonprofit Teach for America, which recruits recent college grads to teach in low-income schools, seeks a full-time Assistant, Human Assets. “The assistant’s overall responsibility is to provide administrative support for the chief people officer of human assets and to provide overall support for the human assets team. The assistant will be responsible for duties ranging from scheduling and coordinating travel to budgeting to managing special projects. The assistant will report directly to the chief people officer, human assets.” Must have Bachelor’s and “0-3 years’ work experience.” “Previous administrative experience preferred, but not required.” Salary plus “comprehensive benefits package.” => Learn More: http://tinyurl.com/6g9946 <= ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ||||| 2. Google Quality Raters (US or CAN) ||||| Google continues to seek part-time, temporary Quality Raters to evaluate search results and perform related tasks. Requirements include Bachelor’s or equivalent, solid web-research skills, and “[s]trong ability to read and write in the English language.” => Learn More: http://www.google.com/support/jobs/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=54183 <= ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ||||| 3. Assistant, Human Assets, External Talent Recruitment (US; “0-3 years experience”) ||||| US-based nonprofit Teach for America, which recruits recent college grads to teach in low-income schools, seeks a full-time Assistant, Human Assets, External Talent Recruitment. “[T]he external talent recruitment team is responsible for sourcing competitive candidates from a variety of sectors to fill approximately 350 positions this year at all levels of the organization. The assistant’s overall responsibility is to provide administrative support to the managing director, external talent recruitment and to provide overall support for the external talent recruitment team.” Must have Bachelor’s degree. “Previous administrative experience preferred, but not required.” Salary plus “comprehensive benefits package.” => Learn More: http://tinyurl.com/5ffyqk <= ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ||||| 4. E-Sales & Reservations (incoming calls) for U-Haul (US; 3 wks.’ training in Phoenix, AZ) ||||| U-Haul seeks part-time E-Sales and Reservations Agents for incoming customer calls. “Applicants should have good verbal skills, computer and internet knowledge, a clear speaking voice and general knowledge of United States geography.” “Please note: This position requires you to train the first 3 weeks at our Central Phoenix location.” => Learn More: http://jobs.uhaul.com/job_detail.aspx?aval_job_id=33193&mode= <= ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ||||| 5. Website Editor for Teach for America (“Anywhere in US”) ||||| US-based nonprofit Teach for America, which recruits recent college grads to teach in low-income schools, seeks a full-time Website Editor. “The website editor for Teach For America will serve as the primary editor of www.tfanet.org, a private, password-protected resource for corps members, alumni and staff. This position is responsible for the accuracy and integrity of content and information flow of TFANet, and works closely with key stakeholders to create on-target copy.” Requirements include “5+ years experience with web-specific writing and editing experience.” Position is salaried, with “comprehensive benefits package.” => Learn More: http://tinyurl.com/6lkptd <= ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ||||| 6. Data Reporting Analyst for Fortune 50 Subsidiary (Probably US-only) ||||| US-based UnitedHealthcare seeks a full-time Data Reporting Analyst. “Primary Responsibilities: * Provide data analytics support for the migration of provider demographics and contracts from the legacy claim processing system of an acquired company or alliance to NDB. * Be familiar with the legacy system and mapping its data fields to the appropriate NDB data fields. * Use this knowledge, a suite of reconciliation reports will be written.” Requirements include 5 year’s experience in health care industry and “[i]n-depth knowledge of UnitedHealthcare claims processing systems (UNET, COSMOS, RIMS, NICE, Iliad, Facets, NDB, etc.).” => Learn More: http://tinyurl.com/657hcj <= ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ||||| 7. Freelance Writers / Remote Guides for Mahalo.com ||||| Search engine Mahalo seeks Writers / Remote Guides to help build search result pages. “Familiarity with online research, journalism, and wiki markup language are all definite pluses.” Pays $10 per hour. => Learn More: http://www.mediabistro.com/joblistings/jobview.asp?joid=78836&page=1 <= ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ~*~*~*~*~*~*~Advertisement~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ||||| 8. Freelance Web 2.0 Programmer for Earth.org (“Work from your preferred location”) ||||| Earth.org seeks “a passionate Web 2.0 programmer (20 to 40 hours/week), who will play a central role in the technical development of Earth.org.” Requirements include at least 2 years’ experience “in the LAMP environment” and “a strong grasp of the English language.” => Learn More: http://www.idealist.org/if/i/en/av/Job/291475-0 <= ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ||||| 9. Recruitment Coordinator, Data, for Teaching Nonprofit (US; “0-2 years of experience”) ||||| US-based nonprofit Teach for America, which recruits recent college grads to teach in low-income schools, seeks a full-time Recruitment Coordinator, Data. “The RCD will be responsible for analyzing data and generating data reports to assist with management decision-making both during recruitment campaigns and as the team plans future recruitment campaigns. The RCD will be trained to use two database systems, and will leverage that training and hands-on experience to play a role in the infrastructure team’s work in user training and support, and database development and maintenance.” Must have Bachelor’s degree. “0 to 2 years of work experience.” Salary plus “comprehensive benefits package.” => Learn More: http://tinyurl.com/56w45u <= ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ||||| 10. Process Engineer / Junior Project Manager (“US citizen”; occasional travel to NYC area) ||||| US-based IT firm Binary Tree seeks a full-time Process Engineer / Junior Project Manager. “Qualified candidates should have strong business and systems analysis background,” and solid understanding of software development life cycle. => Learn More: http://jobview.monster.com/GetJob.aspx?JobID=71534670 <= ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ||||| 11. Ghost Writers for Blog on Online Business ||||| Writing Café is looking for Ghost Writers for articles on online business. “Topics include problogging, online marketing, ecommerce, ebay, affiliate marketing, web hosting, and freelancing.” “Pays $40-$50 per post.” => Learn More: http://jobs.problogger.net/view/1478 <= ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ||||| 12. Senior Manager for Business Analysis and Member Services for Nonprofit (US) ||||| US-based Fair Factories Clearinghouse, which works to prevent sweatshop conditions in factories internationally, is looking for a Manager for Business Analysis and Member Services (“Senior Manager”). “The Senior Manager… acts as a liaison among FFC’s user community to train and support FFC Software users. The Senior Manager oversees the delivery of all aspects of FFC services to members, by overseeing help desk support, solving everyday problems, enabling their use of the technology, streamlining their internal and member software processes and deeply engaging our members to develop lasting, trusted relationships.” Bachelor’s in related area required. “Should have 3 plus years business analysis experience, preferably with at least one year in a Web-based application development environment.” => Learn More: http://www.idealist.org/if/i/en/av/Job/297967-192 <= ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ||||| 13. Software Tools Automation Specialist ||||| US-based WorkForce Software is looking for a full-time Software Tools Automation Specialist. “This position can be located in one of our two offices in Livonia, MI or Lake Tahoe, NV- or can be a telecommuting position.” Requirements include “[o]ne of these: PHP, Perl, Python, Ruby, Haskell, LISP, Eiffel” and “[a]t least 3 years of experience with best practices in designing tools/applications for user-friendliness, maintainability and reusability.” => Learn More: http://tinyurl.com/5c8bux <= ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ||||| 14. “Stay at Home Moms” and “Stay at Home Dads” Experts (Work from anywhere) ||||| Information supersite About.com, owned by the NY Times, continues to advertise for a part-time Expert (“Guide”) on Stay at Home Moms and another on Stay at Home Dads. “The Stay at Home Moms Guide will be a mom, ideally with very young children at home, who has decided to leave the outside work force and stay home or one who has not worked outside the home.” (The requirements for the Stay at Home Dads position are similar.) Guides earn a minimum of $725 per month in the first two years, with additional fees based on the popularity of their pages. => Learn More: http://beaguide.about.com/applynow.htm <= ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ||||| 15. Country Relations Manager, Australia (Australia) ||||| A new international initiative, “Teach for All,” being created as a separate organization within US-based nonprofit Teach for America (see link below for details), seeks a Country Relations Manager, Australia. “We are seeking a Country Relations Manager in Australia who will manage our engagement with and support of Teach For Australia through its pre-launch, launch and ongoing phases of development, and will act as our day-to-day liaison with Teach For Australia. This position provides an exceptional opportunity for an individual with superior leadership, analytical, communication and interpersonal skills to serve as a key contributor on an extremely important initiative and help shape both Teach For Australia’s future as well as the global organization’s long-term strategy. This individual will be based in Australia and report to the vice president of the country relations team.” “Prior Teach For America / Teach First experience, either as a participant or a staff member, required.” Salary plus “comprehensive benefits package.” => Learn More: http://tinyurl.com/6yqr8e <= ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ||||| 16. U-Haul Hotline Agents (US; “Limited geographic areas”) ||||| U-Haul seeks part-time Hotline Agents. “As a tele-commuting Hotline Agent, you will answer incoming calls in your own home from Customers in need of emergency road service. After gathering detailed information, you will dispatch calls to the appropriate shop or service providers who will assist the Customer.” Paid training. Pays $7 per hour. => Learn More: http://tinyurl.com/6l8moy <= ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ||||| 17. Medical Transcriptionists (US) ||||| US-based Superscript seeks independent-contractor MTs with at least 2 years’ experience. “Several IC positions open. Surgery clinic, neurological, and urology. Also taking resumes for all specialties as we continue to get busier every day.” => Learn More: http://www.mtjobs.com/job_detail.cfm?RowID=15971 <= ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ||||| 18. Flash Artists ||||| US-based design firm Logan seeks Flash Artists. “Looking for all levels of experience.” => Learn More: http://www.krop.com/jobs/82jq8/ <= ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ||||| 19. Vocational Rehabilitation Consultant I (US) ||||| US-based insurer MetLife seeks a full-time Vocational Rehabilitation Consultant I. Responsibilities include (quoted from lead): -- Determines appropriate return-to-work potential and employment options consistent with long-term disability insurance claimant's education, transferable skills, interests, and residual functional capacity levels. -- Develops and facilities return-to-work and rehabilitation plans. -- Supports claim operations by providing vocational rehabilitation assessment and case management services, thereby impacting lengths of disability and facilitating timely returns to work. Must have a strong background in evaluations. => Learn More: http://tinyurl.com/6ykggn <= ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ||||| 20. Medical Transcriptionists (US) ||||| US-based Preferred Transcriptions seeks full- and part-time independent-contractor MTs with at least 3 years’ experience in "Oncology, Pulmonary, Urology, Neurology." Pays 8 cents per line. => Learn More: http://www.mtjobs.com/job_detail.cfm?RowID=15955 <= ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ||||| 21. Copywriter for New Classified Ads Site (“Work anywhere your keyboard is”) ||||| New classified-ads-by-cell phone-site Upingme seeks a Copywriter to describe their service. “We need you to describe something that is by its nature simple, but which can be described in either a complicated way or a simple way, depending on the insight and skill of the describer.” => Learn More: http://gigs.37signals.com/gigs/4023 <= ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ******************************* 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.