~*~*~ THE RAT RACE REBELLION TELEWORK BULLETIN ~*~*~ Dear Reader, A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR This week brings news of a recruiting drive at US-based Troy Research; a frown from hirers on the use of “textspeak” in applicant communications; stock losses in readers’ retirement savings; and (as always) 20 carefully-chosen home-based jobs and projects. Good Luck, and Be Well. US-BASED TROY RESEARCH IS ADVERTISING A VARIETY OF VIRTUAL JOBS, FROM ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS TO RESEARCH ANALYSTS TO WEB MARKETERS Market research firm Troy Research is advertising 25+ jobs for independent contractors (“work from wherever you are”), some involving multiple openings. Bilingual skills too, are sought. We’ve detailed a sampling of the jobs in our leads below, but all can be found at http://www.troyresearch.com/work.html. (On that page, scroll down to “Current Contractor Opportunities Available.”) From what we hear -- but don’t forget to do your own “due diligence,” too -- people like working for Troy, but they do have rigorous hiring standards. “THX FOR THE IVIEW DUDE!” COMPANIES DISLIKE GROWING “TEXTSPEAK” FROM JOBSEEKERS College Board Essays and Term Papers Infected with It, 2 All the texting and twittering is polluting the jobseeking and college waters, say hiring managers and college officials, with abbreviations and emoticons increasingly boogeying their way across job applications and college work. Accounting giant KPMG -- not known as your average tattoo-and-spiked-hair outfit, mind you -- says things have gotten so bad that 10% of the thank-you emails its hiring managers receive contain smiley faces, hearts, or similar ephemera. (Jobseekers are also sending interview thank-yous from their mobile phones -- another no-no.) Want to stand out in a job application or college essay? Drop the twitterspeak and work on the King’s English. Sure, that’s an old-fashioned notion, but applying for jobs and writing essays are “old-fashioned” processes, and you need to approach them accordingly. (And as the venerable Chicago Tribune notes, for better or worse, “The codgers are still running things!”) Gravity, not levity, is the name of the game, and if you’re in the game, play it to win. For more on these shenanigans -- w/ my thx 4 educ8ing me on the trend -- see: -- Joan Stewart’s post and links therein at “The Publicity Hound’s Blog,” “Twitter and text-speak are poisoning the English language,” at http://tinyurl.com/4aubuc -- The Chicago Tribune’s “Text slang threatens integrity of English language” (from last year), at http://tinyurl.com/3fv66s -- For the King’s English, c, well, “The King’s English,” by HW Fowler. The 100-year-old classic is free now on the Net, at http://www.bartleby.com/116/. (Hit KPMG with a thank-you out of Fowler and they’ll never be the same!) “STOCK LOSSES TAKE HEAVY TOLL ON RETIREMENT SAVINGS” This Wednesday the Associated Press reported on the disastrous effects of the stock market on retirement savings here in the US. During research on the article, Chris and I were glad to have been able to play a role in the background, letting Bulletin readers know of media interest in this issue (via email last Tuesday) so that we could pass along your stories, too, to AP. Periodically, you may see an email from us when opportunities like this come to our attention, and we promise not to abuse your in-box. However, we also understand that many readers have concerns they would like to voice, and the media is one of the few places where people are actually heard to effect. Our email to you on Tuesday triggered a tidal wave of responses. Many readers are clearly struggling to stay above water, and our hearts go out to you. Home foreclosures, chronic age discrimination, sickness and disability with no insurance… these are only a few of the “challenges” that many people face, and shared with us. (We forwarded your responses to AP, who then decided whom to contact for follow-up.) In your responses we also saw exceptional spirit, and fight, and grit. We salute you, and admire you, for that, and we will continue to do whatever we can here to assist with free resources and job leads as the future unfolds. The AP story is on Fox News at http://tinyurl.com/3qktbx . GOT AN IDEA FOR HELPING LOTS OF PEOPLE? NEW $10M GOOGLE PROJECT INVITES APPLICATIONS Celebrating its 10th anniversary, Google just announced its “Project 10^100” (ten to the hundredth power), which will devote $10M to the best ideas “to change the world by helping as many people as possible.” Categories include Community, Opportunity, Energy, Environment, Health, Education, Shelter, and "Everything Else." Google says it’s accepting applications until Oct. 20th, and will open up voting in January. For details, see http://www.project10tothe100.com/. I like the idea, and would even if Google weren’t one of our advertisers. (I told my daughter’s school and our PTA about it. Why couldn’t this be a group or class project? After all, schools often involve children in fundraising projects. Or are schools already too “commercialized”? What do you think?) With economic and global-warming meltdowns rising around us (and who knows what fresh festival just over the horizon), it seems to me the private sector should be funding initiatives that help make things better. And if the 499 other Fortune 500s matched this $10M, we’d have $5B in new solutions -- here in the US alone. Do I hear another $10M? Going once, going twice…. ARNOLD MOVES TO REIN IN CALIFORNIA SPRAWL Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed legislation this week that would use up to $12B in state-approved funds “to encourage local agencies to build homes closer to cities and along transit lines to minimize traffic. It also seeks more in-fill development near jobs,” the San Diego Union-Tribune reported. The bill also creates density-bonuses for builders, the article added. I lived in LA for awhile in the 1990s, and am still recovering. I recall one evening when it took one-half of an hour to drive three miles for a loaf of bread. (I would have bicycled, but the bathyscaphe I normally used for outdoor activities didn’t have wheels.) Sophisticated jokes aside, how in the name of lug nuts is California going to get a grip on its car culture? Even more painfully, what’s a movie without a car chase? I’ll be darned if I’m going to buy popcorn and sit in a big room with people chewing like squirrels for two hours if there are no cars to watch. Especially cars in bikinis. Goodness. Those are the best. For the article, see http://tinyurl.com/4pn8dg. “YAKITY YAK, MURMUR MURMUR” -- WANT YOUR QUIET HOME OFFICE TO SOUND BUSY WHEN YOU’RE ON THE PHONE? HERE’S JUST THE THING If you’re a home-based businessperson, are you afraid that the lack of conventional office noise in your home office will make prospective clients think you’re too small? Well, the “Thriving Office” CD may be just what you need! According to its website, “Thriving Office contains the sounds of voices, phones, computers, and much more. One 39-minute track is ‘Busy’ and the other is ‘Very Busy.’” (We tried the audio file on the site, and it does indeed sound busy!) You can get the CD for $12.95 or download the file for $5.95, at http://www.thrivingoffice.com/ . (Here, Chris and I are considering a similar product for people in cubes. It’s called “Quiet Home Office,” and features the sounds of nothing at all. The Deluxe Version, however, will include barking dogs, a passing lawn mower, two children squabbling, and the sound of the refrigerator door opening and closing.) “GOING VIRTUAL” SUSTAINS COMPANY’S EXPANSION, BOOSTS EMPLOYEE RETENTION This week’s media scans turned up a good example of a US company harnessing virtual workers for growth. Headquartered in Kansas but with workers as far away as Connecticut and Florida, All About Travel (as reported in the Kansas City Star) realized a few years ago that the local labor pool couldn’t sustain its expansion, so it decided to recruit virtually. Now, about 45% of its 70 employees work remotely, and expansion is on track. (This is a $100M company, by the way.) The firm brings its virtuals in quarterly for training, meetings, award events and social gatherings -- “We wanted to keep people plugged into the culture,” said Co-President Brent Blake, as quoted in the article -- and employee retention has grown from 75% to 95%. Blake adds that going virtual cost the company “over six figures,” but with sustained growth, “we’re getting tenfold on the investment.” Granted, this is a travel agency, with tasks and workflow that are easily virtualized, and the same arrangement wouldn’t work for companies that require local, tangible “hands-on” activity (construction firms, veterinary practices, spas, etc.). Nonetheless, a great many organizations, like this one, employ “knowledge workers,” most of whom could easily work from home much more often than their nervous supervisors permit them to today. For the article, see http://www.kansascity.com/business/story/819558.html. For All About Travel, see http://www.aatusa.com/. FROM THE R3 MAILBAG -- QUESTIONS ABOUT WORKING FROM HOME, AND OTHER RAT RACE TOPICS DEAR R3: I often find links to employers on the Internet, but sometimes when I click on the links I go to a page that’s inactive, or that “can’t be found.” Is there some way to get to the “active” pages on these websites? R3: Since website owners often change or update their sites -- adding pages, or reorganizing site layouts or features -- a link may quickly go “stale.” However, you can often get to the website’s home page for reorientation by “cutting” the hyperlink from right to left until you reach the root URL -- .com, .org, etc. For example, let’s say the following link takes you to a “dead” page: http://www.greatsiteforagreatjob.com/jobforyou.htm Proceeding from right to left in the link, delete the characters until you reach the first “/” or the “m” of .com. Then press “enter.” If the site is still active, this will take you to the home page, where you can resume your research. FAVE JUNK EMAIL OF THE WEEK Like most people who fritter away their lives on the Internet, I get lots of spam. Just to share, here are the Top Four from this week, which stood out for their well-crafted approach. Subject: “Hie sweety! Remember me?” Sender: Ezra Subject: “You have new mail from Olga” Sender: Gonzalo Parrish Subject: “Buy gun for manliness image” Sender: Chauncey Fauntleroy Subject: “Russian lady seeks husband” Sender: Esmeralda Gomez Thank you all, wherever you are, for writing me. FRUGAL AND SIMPLE LIVING Our Freebie Drovers have brought in some fresh giveaways for the week -- Hope you like ‘em! (US-only unless otherwise indicated.) Free "Dinner Made Easy" Recipe and Coupon Book from General Mills: http://freecoupons.dinnermadeeasy.com/DinnerMadeEasy/Default.aspx?source=393 Free Life’s Abundance Pet Food Sample (US and CAN): http://www.healthyanimaldiet.net/pet-food-samples/ Free Snore MD Samples: http://www.snoremd.com/requestsamples.htm Free Ice/Hot Pack: http://www.backbraces.com/forms/surveyform.html Free Schick Quattro Titanium Shaver: http://www.schicksamples.com/ Free Kids Meal at Participating Bob Evans Restaurants (expires 10/15/08): http://tinyurl.com/4fzg3y Free Cascade All-in-One ActionPac for Dishwashers: http://instoresnow.walmart.com/enhancedrendercontent_ektid49156.aspx Free Sample of Eucerin Redness Relief: http://www.eucerinus.com/septRRnewsletter/ RAT RACE QUOTE OF THE WEEK No quote today. With the politicians clamoring to serve us, there’s too much quoting already. 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. Administrative Assistants, Admin / HR (“Work from wherever you are”) ||||| US-based market research firm Troy Research seeks Administrative Assistants for independent-contractor work. “[W]ill be responsible for handling all administrative type duties for the Director of Administration including compiling spreadsheets and reports and other duties as assigned. Success will be measured using the following metrics: consistency in completing assigned tasks accurately while also meeting deadlines and ability to self manage and support department director with little follow up.” Desired qualifications include 2 years’ administrative support experience. Must have high-speed Internet. To access the lead, go to the page linked below and scroll down to “Current Contractor Opportunities Available.” => Learn More: http://www.troyresearch.com/work.html <= ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ||||| 2. Spam Raters (“Location: N/A”) ||||| International firm Lionbridge Technologies, which provides translation and localization services, is looking for part-time Spam Raters to rate websites. Requirements include at least 3 years’ experience on the Internet. => Learn More: http://tinyurl.com/4oq9ce <= ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ||||| 3. Mkt. Analyst / Segmentation Editors; Varied Languages (“Location: N/A”) ||||| International firm Lionbridge Technologies, which provides translation and localization services, seeks Market Analyst / Segmentation Editors in multiple languages, including US and Australian English, Mexico-based Spanish, Spain-based Spanish, and others. “The position involves labeling Websites based on given criteria. The successful candidate will work within a Web-based application comparing user search engine queries and advertiser keywords with Website landing pages. The editor must judge the relevancy and relationship between the query, keyword, ad snippets on the page and the page itself.” Must be fluent in English and the second language (if any), and “have 2-3 years experience working in documentation, editing, writing with Web-based ad content.” => Learn More: http://tinyurl.com/4rzfcd <= ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ||||| 4. Administrative Assistants, Movie Operations (“Work from wherever you are”) ||||| US-based market research firm Troy Research seeks part-time Administrative Assistants, Movie Operations for independent-contractor work. Commitment is approximately 15 hrs. per month. “Primarily, this individual will be responsible for handling all administrative type duties for the Director of Movie Operations including filing, expense reimbursement, office organization, compiling spreadsheets and reports, and other duties as assigned.” Desired qualifications include 2 years’ administrative support experience. Must have high-speed Internet. To access the lead, go to the page linked below and scroll down to “Current Contractor Opportunities Available.” => Learn More: http://www.troyresearch.com/work.html <= ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ||||| 5. Google Quality Rater - Chinese Language (US or CAN) ||||| Google continues to seek temporary, part-time Quality Raters - Chinese Language to evaluate web pages. Requirements include strong ability to read and write English, and [i]n depth, up-to-date familiarity with Chinese web culture and media (please indicate on your resume if you are familiar with Traditional or Simplified Chinese).” => Learn More: http://www.google.com/support/jobs/bin/answer.py?answer=53796 <= ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ||||| 6. Freelance Designer (“Anywhere”) ||||| Webficient.com is looking for a freelance “on demand” Designer, to begin with help on its website. “Our budget for the redesign is $3000. We have resources who can implement the XHTML/CSS but if you want the whole enchilada, even better! We've already started work on a new IA and copy.” => Learn More: http://www.authenticjobs.com/jobs/2929/ <= ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ||||| 7. Bloggers (US-oriented) ||||| Blog network uCrave.com seeks freelance Bloggers to cover the following areas: - gadgets / tech - mens lifestyle / design / mens fashion - movies - music => Learn More: http://jobs.problogger.net/view/1680 <= ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ~*~*~*~*~*~*~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 ~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ||||| 8. Medical Transcriptionists (US) ||||| US-based Meridian Healthcare Solutions seeks full-time employee MTs with at least 4 years’ experience. “Flexible hours, excellent benefits, hourly paid training.” Pays 9 cents - 10 cents per line, DOE. => Learn More: http://www.mtjobs.com/job_detail.cfm?RowID=16513 <= ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ||||| 9. Google Quality Raters - Spanish Language; “Any Spanish-speaking culture” (US or CAN) ||||| Google continues to seek part-time, temporary Quality Raters to evaluate websites. Requirements include Bachelor’s or equivalent, and strong English-language skills. “(Perfect English is not necessary. However, you must be able to read and write English well enough to use software with an English interface, understand fairly complicated instructions written in English)” => Learn More: http://www.google.com/support/jobs/bin/answer.py?answer=61505 <= ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ||||| 10. Medical Transcriptionists (US) ||||| US-based Terra Nova Transcription seeks full-time employee MTs with at least 3 years’ experience. “Many types of transcription.” => Learn More: http://www.mtjobs.com/job_detail.cfm?RowID=16521 <= ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ||||| 11. Custom Research Coordinator (“Work from wherever you are”) ||||| US-based market research firm Troy Research seeks a Custom Research Coordinator (independent contractor). Primary responsibilities include “[f]lawless execution of market research surveys and projects for TroyResearch custom research clients (including some travel to assist in execution of on-site projects).” Requirements include “[m]inimum 3 years experience in client service or similar communication environment within market research field.” To access the lead, go to the page linked below and scroll down to “Current Contractor Opportunities Available.” => Learn More: http://www.troyresearch.com/work.html <= ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ||||| 12. Appointment Setters (US company) ||||| US-based Fanfare Media Works is looking for Appointment Setters, “30+ hrs a week.” “Must have previous phone experience.” => Learn More: http://tinyurl.com/4x3f5u <= ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ||||| 13. Freelance Video Journalists Worldwide for the Wall Street Journal ||||| WSJ continues to seek freelance Video Journalists worldwide. “You'll be assigned to work alongside some of the industry's best print journalists, helping illustrate their stories via Web video. Assignments will only be made to excellent storytellers with solid news judgment and a proven track record in video journalism.” => Learn More: http://cj.careers.adicio.com/careers/jobsearch/detail?jobId=13329663 <= ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ||||| 14. Bookkeeper (“Work from wherever you are”) ||||| US-based market research firm Troy Research is looking for an independent-contractor Bookkeeper. “Primarily, this individual will be responsible for handling various bookkeeping duties including processing mail, expense management/approval, interfacing with the accountant and other bookkeepers, compiling spreadsheets and reports and other duties as assigned.” Desired qualifications include 2 years’ experience. To access the lead, go to the page linked below and scroll down to “Current Contractor Opportunities Available.” => Learn More: http://www.troyresearch.com/work.html <= ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ||||| 15. Freelance Graphic Designer w/AutoCAD Experience (US company) ||||| US-based Winston Retail Solutions seeks a freelance Graphic Designer with “[p]roficient knowledge and skill in using AutoCad (2000+) for both 2-D & 3-D drawing.” Pays $80-$95 per hour. => Learn More: http://tinyurl.com/3utwxr <= ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ||||| 16. Instructional Designer (“Mostly virtual with possible travel to Houston, TX.”) ||||| US-based placement firm Clarity Consultants is advertising for a short-term Instructional Designer with a Master’s in Instructional Technology (preferred) and at least 5 years’ experience. “Qualified ID’s will have worked in the news, media industries as writers and/or editors. Experience with the financial (stock market, financial analysis) industry a plus.” => Learn More: http://tinyurl.com/3f68k5 <= ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ||||| 17. Truecomp Contractor ||||| Canidium.com, a sales consultancy, is advertising for a Truecomp Contractor. “Must have completed an assignment, working with Truecomp software. We are in need of Report developers, Integrators and comp. analysts. We have many remote projects, as well as international.” Pays $60-$75 per hour. => Learn More: http://www.devbistro.com/jobs/81357 <= ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ||||| 18. Technical Support Specialist II (“Anywhere in the US”) ||||| US-based IT outsourcing firm Getronics is advertising for Technical Specialists II (employee status), with at least 3 years’ tech-troubleshooting experience. “This is a great opportunity for an A+ Certified technician to work from home in a challenging technical support role. This person will provide technical support via phone to field service representatives and technicians in diagnosing, troubleshooting, repairing and debugging moderate to complex hardware, software or networking equipment problems at client sites.” => Learn More: https://getronics.hrdpt.com/cgi-bin/a/highlightjob.cgi?jobid=38545 <= ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ||||| 19. Senior Copywriter (“Just do smart work, wherever you are”) ||||| US-based Emerge Partners seeks a Senior Copywriter “to take an anchor position in an semi-virtual agency with DM roots and Interactive opportunities.” “You’re channel-agnostic: As comfortable with direct mail as you are with e-mails and websites. Have experience in telephony or mobile communications? Even better.” => Learn More: http://www.creativehotlist.com/index.asp?linkTarget=fullJob.asp&jobID=126582 <= ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ||||| 20. Freelance Designer ||||| A small NY-based design firm seeks a freelance Designer (print and web), preferably with 5 years’ experience. “The position is part-time freelance to begin, 20 hours a week, and you'll be working from your own home or office. Timing can be somewhat flexible, but count on working the same days each week. If we work well together, the position may convert to 30 or 40 hours/week.” => Learn More: http://www.creativehotlist.com/index.asp?linkTarget=fullJob.asp&jobID=126547 <= ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ******************************* 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.