Frequently
Asked Questions
How
long have you been in business?
We launched our
virtual-careers training company, Staffcentrix, in 1999, and have been
working
with such clients as the US State Department and US Armed Forces for
several
years. We launched the Rat Race Rebellion website in February 2007.
To learn more about
us, check our bio pages (linked beneath our photograph), and our media
page. You can
also of course Google our names (in quotes), Staffcentrix, Rat Race
Rebellion,
etc.
We also founded the
International Virtual Assistants Association in 1999, and transferred
it to its
members, as planned, shortly afterward. (Chris is credited with having
founded
the Virtual Assistant industry in 1995.)
Are
all of the job leads on your site screened?
Yes.
We screen each job lead we list on the Rat
Race Rebellion web site. We do not screen Google Ads, however, as
Google itself
determines those.
Do
you guarantee that your screened job leads are legitimate?
While
job
listings posted to this site have been screened by
our staff, and we believe in good faith that all listings are
legitimate, we
cannot guarantee the legitimacy of
all listings (if we did, we would have to charge visitors an insurance
premium), and we can make no representations or accept any
responsibility
regarding prospective employers themselves.
Inevitably,
with the vast number of “help wanted” ads
that we screen, and the “camouflage” that
inappropriate opportunities may
sometimes wear, an illegitimate or inappropriate item may occasionally
“slip
below our radar” and make its way onto the site.
As
in any job search, it remains incumbent upon the individual to qualify
prospective employers. Nor, as we hope you’ll understand, can
we be responsible
for the outcome of negotiations between employers and the users of this
site.
Do
you have resources to help me screen job leads on my own?
Yes!
We
continue to develop articles, videos and other
resources to help people screen job leads on their own. Start with our
article
on " Spotting
Scams," as it covers many of the basics. Then, view our 10-minute
video that shows some of the steps we take when investigating
various
companies and work at home job offers.
Check back regularly for new materials that we’ll post in
prominent places on the site.
We also encourage you to visit the forums at such sites as WorkPlaceLikeHome.com
and WAHM.com,
where you’ll
find on-going dialogues regarding hirers, jobs, and scams. (Above all
else, remember
that you should never pay for a job!)
I’ve
seen ads (not “screened job leads,” but ads) on
lots
of sites, including yours, that say I can have work if I just send
money. Is it
safe to assume they are okay?
No.
We
strongly advise job seekers against making any type
of payment for a job -- even if such a payment is referred to as a
"registration" or "membership fee."
That said, there are times when a legitimate company may request a fee.
Click
here for more on " when
fees are legitimate."
Is
there ever a time when paying for work is acceptable?
Payment
for
the privilege of working is rarely acceptable,
in our view. However, there are a few exceptions, when fees may be
justifiable.
For example, when you apply for a position as a home-based call center
agent, some
hirers will require a background and/or credit check (usually around
$30 or less),
which the applicant must pay for.
Also, with regard to home-based craft assembly work (although many of
these are
scams, we have found a few legitimate companies), the crafter will
almost
always be asked to pay for materials or a start-up kit.
I've
applied for so many jobs and
am not hearing back from anyone. What am I doing wrong?
It's
important
to remember that there’s a lot of competition
for legitimate home-based work, so it may take awhile to land the job
or
project you want. Also, many employers have done away with the
"formalities" of acknowledging receipt of an application, and no
longer notify all applicants when a position has been filled.
You can improve your chances by making sure you have a
standout resume – one that focuses on what you can do for the
company.
You should also highlight your ability to work
independently, your familiarity with virtual communications tools
(e.g.,
instant messenger, Skype, GoToMyPC, or others), and, where
appropriate,
your
home-based work experience.
If you don’t have a blog, consider starting one, to show
your understanding of online communications, and to demonstrate your
expertise in
your specialty or niche. We recommend Helium
as an excellent
place to begin. (It’s free, as well.)
Also, be sure to follow instructions exactly. If the job lead requests
a resume
in the body of an email, DO NOT attach your resume – paste
your resume in text
format into an email (more on that below), and send it directly to the
party or
email address specified in the lead.
If the job lead specifies a written reply (online application form,
resume,
etc.), DO NOT phone the company to express an interest or request
additional
information. Human Resources personnel list this among their chief
complaints,
and smaller hirers may resent the interruption even more.
Failure to follow directions at the time of application is also often
viewed as
an inability or unwillingness to follow directions in general
– not a trait
most employers are seeking.
I
have great skills and
experience and would really like to work from home. Can you help me
find a job that's right for me?
Due
to our ongoing commitment to provide
everyone who uses our site with the best possible resources, we are
regrettably
unable to provide individual assistance to jobseekers.
However,
we screen and upload fresh home-based job leads to our site almost
every day, with over
4,000 leads uploaded since February 2007, and an
additional 700+ screened
links to ongoing hirers of home-based workers (under "WAH Job Leads /
Hirers by Field," on the left of every page). We hope you’ll
find
something there that suits your background and goals.
If
you’re interested in working from home as a freelancer, you
may want to have
a look at our popular manual, " The 2-Second Commute."
It’s based on the highly
successful 15-hour Virtual Assistant / Virtual Professional training
programs
we developed for the US Armed Forces and Department of State. It may be
available at your local library, and is also carried at Amazon.
How
do I post a job opening on
your site?
If
you have a legitimate home-based job opening and would
like to post it to our site, please use our job
submission form. (There is no charge.)
How
can I place an
advertisement on your site?
We
offer a wide variety of advertising options.
Please visit our advertising information page to
review your advertising
options and place your ad.
I
am a Military Spouse who would like to attend training, but I don't see
my base on the list. What should I do?
Unfortunately,
the base is not listed because no
one there has attended our Train-the-Trainer certification program. If
you
would like the MSVA Program to be available at your base, please
contact your base
family center’s employment resource professional to express
your interest, and
ask him or her to contact Chris directly at cdurst (AT)
staffcentrix.com for more information about obtaining program
facilitation
materials at no charge.
In the interim, you may wish to get a head start by reading our manual
for
Virtual Assistants, " The 2-Second Commute," which is
based in large part on
our 15-hour MSVA training program. You may find a copy at your base
library,
and it's also available at Amazon.
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