~*~*~ THE RAT RACE REBELLION TELEWORK BULLETIN ~*~*~ Dear Reader, A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR IMPORTANT ALERT (REPEATED FROM LAST WEEK) – TO CONTINUE RECEIVING THE BULLETIN: Over the next 4-5 weeks, we’ll be changing the way the Bulletin is delivered. (Due to its length and hyperlinks, tightening spam filters have begun to block it, creating headaches all around.) Please read the following brief instructions carefully, so you won't have to face the Rat Race alone!!!! Starting in January, we’ll post the Bulletin online (on a private page) instead of emailing it. You’ll receive a brief email notice each week that the current issue is ready, with a link to the page. (Downloadable versions will be available as always.) These weekly notices will be sent to you through a YAHOO GROUP LIST. What happens now: 1. Shortly, you’ll receive an email invitation to JOIN the Rat Race Rebellion Yahoo group. 2. That email will come from RatRaceRebellion-owner@yahoogroups.com. Please set your email to ACCEPT A MESSAGE FROM THIS ADDRESS (or you may not get the invitation). 3. When the invitation arrives, click on the JOIN THIS GROUP link. (This will take you to the Yahoo site.) 4. At the Yahoo site, click on the JOIN THIS GROUP link again, and complete the short form (for delivery options) on the next page. 5. Click the JOIN link at the bottom of the page. That's it! (We’ll mention this again, boringly, a few more times, just to be sure everyone got it.) HOLIDAY HIATUS ALERT – No Bulletin next week, as we’ll be minding our own sermons and spending time with friends and family. We hope you can too. Happy Holidays from all of us here at the Rebellion! ANSWER QUESTIONS AT MAHALO AND GET A “TIP” Mahalo.com, the megasite specializing in visitor-generated Q&As, recently launched a feature called “Mahalo Answers” that lets questioners pay a tip for the answer they like best. How does it work? Users purchase Mahalo money, post their question, and designate a tip amount for the answer. When they choose their favorite response, the responder gets 75% of the tip, and Mahalo gets the rest. When responders have banked more than US$30, they can cash out. It seems like a good idea, I guess, for the bigger questions (“What is the meaning of life?” “If galaxies are expanding outward, where are they going to end up?” “Knock knock.” “Who’s there?”). But I’m not sure I’d pay for the smaller stuff, like, “If a rooster were sitting on top of an A-frame house, which way would his eggs roll off?” For more, go to http://www.mahalo.com/ and scroll down to “Mahalo Answers.” FROM THE R3 MAILBAG – QUESTIONS ABOUT WORKING FROM HOME, AND OTHER RAT RACE TOPICS Dear R3: I've signed up with a couple of survey companies, but it seems like every time I get ready to complete a survey, I quickly reach a point where it tells me I'm not qualified. What's up with this? R3: Survey companies are hired to gather information and feedback from people who meet certain criteria. For example, a company gathering information about laundry detergent may be looking for feedback from “women between the ages of 25 and 54, with children between the ages of 3 and 17.” Some survey companies will require your personal profile up front, and they’ll keep it on file and send you surveys that fit your profile. Others, however, will have you answer several key questions with each survey, to determine if you fit. If you don’t, you receive the “not qualified” notice (or words to that effect). MOVING BACKWARD TO MOVE FORWARD By Christine Durst Not so very long ago, nearly everyone worked from their homes – farmers, seamstresses, morticians, merchants… heck, even post offices and telephone switchboards were in someone’s front parlor. With the dawn of the assembly line and the automobile, people migrated out of their homes and their towns during the day, leaving their families, their communities, and, with commuting, a stream of pollution behind them. The saying, “Home is where the heart is” became “Home is where the clothes are.” Communities became ghost towns by day, and on weekends they filled with “get-the-heck-outta-my-way” traffic. Stress grew worse. Commuting times grew longer. Work days grew out of control. Neighborhoods grew un-neighborly. Parents grew time-starved. Children grew parent-starved. Lots of growth – not much of it positive or healthy. Now, in our knowledge economies, where the “assembly lines” are single desks in cubicles and the “products” are knowledge and data – the Internet can, in many cases, replace the highways. Here at the Rebellion, we’re pushing for a movement that encourages people to take a cue from their forebears and, when possible, work from home. The benefits are significant… -- People can save on gas, tolls, car repairs, parking, lunches out, dry cleaning, child care, and other commuter-related expenses. -- Parents can get to know their children again, and vice versa. -- Neighbors can get to know neighbors again – and rely upon them, “be there” for them, share joys and sorrows and community life – just as they used to. -- Less time in traffic can mean more time for volunteering and community involvement. -- Commuter traffic will thin, pollution can ease, green can stay green. -- Stress-related health issues will lessen (and you can actually take a relaxing walk at lunchtime). One step “backward” can be a giant leap forward for our families, our neighborhoods, our societies, and our world. FRUGAL AND SIMPLE LIVING Here’s this week’s freebie roundup, from our dusty crew of freebie drovers. (Thanks, boys! Go get some beans at the chuck wagon!) Fine Print: If you see something you like, be sure to grab it fast, as free stuff goes quickly on the Web. I’m afraid we have no control over supplies, or when the vendors decide to halt their offers or fulfillment. Enjoy! 150 free packets of Just Like Sugar: https://www.justlikesugarkosheroffer.com/diabetes-xmas/index.html?rid=o10-c1&cid=23&aid=1017 Free Sample Doggy Delightz dog treats: http://www.doggydelightz.com/page1.aspx Free sample Oxyfresh toothpaste: http://www.knockoutbadbreath.com/site/1395773/page/570848 Free Breath-A-Licious Bone for dogs: http://www.breathalicious.com/freebone.html Free sample LACTAID Fast Act Dietary Supplements: https://www.suncrystals.com/vcrc/offers/nmcampaign.jhtml?id=vcrc/offers/la_freesample2.inc&oid=5018&bid=21&formType=C RAT RACE QUOTE OF THE WEEK “The further through life I drift the more obvious it becomes that I am lacking in thrift.” -- Ogden Nash 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. At-Home Webcam HR Interviewers, No Experience Necessary (“20 openings”) ||||| EurekaHire, a division of Eureka Workforce Solutions, is looking for Webcam Interviewers to interview job applicants. “The new position… will conduct live job interviews using a webcam. No previous interviewing experience is required, however, you should be comfortable interacting with job applicants using a webcam. The interviews will be recorded and used to present applicants to clients and also for training purposes.” => Learn More: http://tinyurl.com/3zf2ts <= ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ||||| 2. Alpine Access Bilingual Spanish-English Call Center Agents ||||| We received the following from virtual call center Alpine Access this week (excerpted): JOB DESCRIPTION: Customer Care Professionals (CCPs) will be responsible for delivering superior customer service in all customer interactions which include: taking inbound customer service calls for credit card services. CCPs are required to be able to relay information specific to credit card and provide resolution of general customer issues. CCPs are required to demonstrate the ability to work independently, handle escalated situations and resolve customer inquiries. Demonstrated ability to up sell and cross sell as well as ability to resolve conflict over the phone and resolve customer inquiries is required. Candidates must be fluently bilingual in English and Spanish. POSITION DUTIES: . Answers incoming customer inquiries promptly and in accordance with the established call-handling procedures and code of conduct policies. . Provides high quality customer service to internal and external customers, co workers and peers in a professional, timely, and courteous manner. . Answers inbound store and customer calls including basic inquiry, account inquiry and various customer-service related calls. . Assists customer in understanding multi-faceted financial matters related to their account. . Comply with all applicable credit laws and mandates. . CCPs are required to demonstrate the ability to work independently, handle escalated situations and resolve customer inquiries. Demonstrated ability to up sell and cross sell as well as ability to resolve conflict over the phone and resolve customer inquiries is required. . CCP's on this program will be taking calls in both English and Spanish and must be fluent in both. COMPENSATION: Training: Paid at your state's minimum wage per hour On the job training and portfolio uptraining (OJT)=(8 weeks following training): $8.00/hr Production: $9.00 per hour. TRAINING: Training is done online and on the phone and 100% attendance is required. New Employee Orientation- Is required to be completed prior to the GE training beginning. Training consists of approximately 120 hours and includes testing, homework, independent study (up to 2 hours on some days) and satisfactory completion of the final exam and nesting calls. 100% attendance to all training classes is required. After initial 120 hours of testing, homework and independent study, there will be an additional 8 weeks of On the Job Training "OJT". OJT will consist of live calls and daily 30 minute debriefs/training sessions. CCPs are required to be within 20% of program AHT goal as well as meeting quality metrics in order to graduate from the OJT program. OJT may be extended until CCP meets acceptable metrics. CCP may be removed and not allowed to continue in OJT if the CCP is not making improvements in AHT and quality. TRAINING DATES: Training begins Jan 12 and continues through Feb 6th After graduation of the first portfolio training the CCP's will go into OJT for 2 weeks. Feb 7th-Feb 22nd. OJT will be during their scheduled production shift. The CCPs will then up-train on the 2nd portfolio training. Feb 23-March 3rd or 4th. The up-training will be Monday-Friday for 7 or 8 days, Monday-Friday. The CCP will then go back into OJT (production shifts) for 6 weeks. March 4th or 5th --à April 15th or 16th. There will be 2 training classes 7:00am-3:30pm or 1:30pm-10pm. OJT will be 2/2-2/13and portfolio uptraining will be 2/16-2/20. Completion of OJT will be 2/23-4/3. CCP's will enroll in the training class which matches the committed shift, if and when new hire paperwork and background, credit, and drug screens have been turned in and approved. => Learn More: http://www.alpineaccess.com/external/index.html <= ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ||||| 3. Courthouse Researchers ||||| These are home-based jobs that require travel to local courthouses for record retrieval. DeedCollector.com has openings in many geographical areas. Read their FAQ for details. => Learn More: https://www.deedcollector.com/faq.aspx <= ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ||||| 4. Instructional Designer I ||||| Kaplan University has an opening for an Instructional Designer I to manage media files and input content into the management system, and deal with course issues as they are reported. => Learn More: http://tinyurl.com/4v9sz5 <= ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ||||| 5. jQuery/Javascript Expert ||||| Tribble Designs, a web design firm, seeks a jQuery/javascript expert to assist with implementing interactive interface elements in web applications. => Learn More: http://www.authenticjobs.com/jobs/3158/ <= ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ||||| 6. Virtual eLearning Instructional Designer (Retail) ||||| This 100% telecommute position with Clarity Consultants requires 7+ years’ experience in training and development, including strong knowledge of adult learning principles. => Learn More: http://tinyurl.com/3nezs9 <= ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ||||| 7. Estonian and Latvian Interpreter or Translator ||||| Language Line seeks Estonian and Latvian Interpreter or Translators. “If you are a Estonian or Latvian language speaker and have excellent proficiency in English with a strong listening and comprehension skills as well as good customer service skills you can become an interpreter for Language Line Services.” “Other language speakers are welcome to apply.” => Learn More: http://tinyurl.com/9h6ef3 <= ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ~*~*~*~*~*~*~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 ~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ||||| 8. Health Professionals / Writers ||||| Information supersite About.com, owned by the NY Times, seeks Health Professionals / Writers to cover such topics as “asthma, chronic pain, colon cancer, dental care, ENT, muscular dystrophy, podiatry, schizophrenia, and urology….” => Learn More: http://www.journalismjobs.com/Job_Listing.cfm?JobID=625413 <= ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ||||| 9. Caseload Customer Support Representatives for Educate Online ||||| Educate Online seeks Caseload Customer Support Reps. “This position will report to a specific [US] regional lead within the Territory Operations Team (Northeast, MidAtlantic, MidWest , etc). This individual's main responsibility will be to ensure that all their students and their parents (or responsible party) in their assigned caseload, start and complete the tasks necessary and complete their programs in a timely manner.” => Learn More: http://hodes.jobhost.org/viewjob.php?id=443641 <= ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ||||| 10. Grant Writer ||||| The Center for Independent Media has posted an opening for a part-time freelance grant writer. Minimum 3-5 years’ experience in grant-proposal writing. => Learn More: http://www.journalismjobs.com/Job_Listing.cfm?JobID=1005780 <= ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ||||| 11. Freelance Medical Writer ||||| New York-based Icon Nicholson, LLC, seeks a freelance medical writer with experience writing in the HIV field. => Learn More: http://jobview.monster.com/GetJob.aspx?JobID=77530864& <= ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ||||| 12. Sports Journalists ||||| Information supersite About.com, owned by the NY Times, seeks part-time Sports Journalists. “As a Sports Guide, you would create original content that covers topics like how to get started in the sport, tutorials on techniques, how to find a good coach/instructor, and equipment reviews. You’ll also be responsible for a blog that showcases your unique writing style, a discussion forum where you act as community leader, and a bio page that highlights your professional and personal expertise.” => Learn More: http://www.journalismjobs.com/Job_Listing.cfm?JobID=625412 <= ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ||||| 13. Vietnamese Bilingual Telephone Interpreters – Translators (“No experience necessary”) ||||| Language Line seeks part- and full-time Vietnamese Bilingual Telephone Interpreters – Translators. “If you are a Vietnamese speaker and have excellent proficiency in English with a strong listening and comprehension skills as well as good customer service skills you can become an interpreter for Language Line Services.” => Learn More: http://tinyurl.com/9m6jgo <= ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ||||| 14. Freelancers, Various ||||| Demand Studios is looking for freelancers with a variety of backgrounds. “Hundreds of assignments are available, and new assignments are added weekly.” => Learn More: http://www.demandstudios.com/ <= ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ||||| 15. Medical Transcriptionists ||||| SoftScript is seeking medical transcriptionists with a minimum of 3 years’ experience. CMT preferred but not required. => Learn More: http://www.mtjobs.com/job_detail.cfm?RowID=16890 <= ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ||||| 16. Webmaster / Graphic Arts Trainee (French hirer; ad is in French) ||||| CFAIRPLAY is advertising for a Webmaster / Graphic Arts trainee for website development, newsletters, and other responsibilities. => Learn More: http://tinyurl.com/8zl8er <= ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ||||| 17. Bilingual Polish Telephone Interpreters – Translators (“No experience necessary”) ||||| Language Line seeks part- and full-time Bilingual Polish Telephone Interpreters – Translators. “If you are a Polish speaker and have excellent proficiency in English with a strong listening and comprehension skills as well as good customer service skills you can become an interpreter for Language Line Services.” => Learn More: http://tinyurl.com/8486zk <= ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ||||| 18. Freelance Writers ||||| In the Fray Magazine is looking for freelance writers to cover the topic of "imprisonment" (literal or metaphoric). => Learn More: http://journalism.berkeley.edu/jobs/details.php?cat=free&ID=7177 <= ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ||||| 19. Medical Transcriptionists ||||| HDS seeks full-time independent-contractor MTs with at least 2 years’ experience. “Openings for all shifts.” => Learn More: http://www.mtjobs.com/job_detail.cfm?RowID=16895 <= ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ||||| 20. Tier 1 Support Technician - 20+ Positions ||||| Volt Placement has posted an ad for 20+ Tier 1 Support Technicians to work for their client, "a trusted provider of online computer support," located in Billerica, Mass. This is an estimated 6-month contract position, through Volt Technical Resources. => Learn More: http://jobs.volt.com/jobcart/job_details.cfm?JobID=236176 <= ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ******************************* 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.