Sorting Out the Craigslist Job Scams

There are hundreds-if not thousands-of job posting websites on the internet, some that cater to specific industries/career fields and others that accommodate all fields. Craigsliststands out among the latter for being both comprehensive and (by and large) free for employers to post their position openings. “Free” can present problems for job seekers, as Craigslist has become a haven for scams and false postings. How do you quickly spot scams on Craigslist? Follow these progressive tips to learn what’s real and what’s fake.

It’s in the name: Take a look at the ad you suspect isn’t real: does it have the name of an actual business in the posting? Sometimes phony Craigslist ads do not list the name of the business in it. This is not a hard and fast rule, however, as there are times when a business (particularly small businesses) wants to maintain anonymity. Treat ads that do not contain the name of the business with suspicion and move on to the next part of your investigation.

Email and phone awareness: Does the ad contain a local phone number or a business-based email address? Again, neither are requirements for legitimate ads but their presence speaks to the ad’s authenticity. It’s not uncommon for scam ads to contain a Hotmail, Yahoo, or Gmail email address, so treat all of those with suspicion (particularly if they are a derivation of someone’s name, like “joe_schmoe@hotmail.com”). Sometimes, though a business will use one of these email providers as their business email address (such as “fergusonaccoutingspecialists@gmail.com”) so, again, no hard and fast rule here; just something of which to be aware. The final tip, though, will ensure you’re in the clear.

Get your Google on: If the ad passes the email and phone test but you still are not sure of its legitimacy, the most successful-but most time consuming-way to determine it is to copy and paste a random piece of text (I recommend seven to nine words) into Google between quotation marks. If your search produces a lot of listings across many job sites outside of your geographic area (including other cities’ Craigslist sites), it’s a sure-fire scam; stay away from it. If not, you can apply with confidence.

Be wary of Craigslist ads that do not contain a business name, phone number, or professional business email address. Examine them carefully and, when in doubt, use the Google method to protect yourself from scams, cons, and swindles.

Three Interview Prep Tips That Will Leave Them Wanting More

I rocked that interview!

Those are the words that every career services professional wants to hear after spending time coaching a student. The elation and confidence that oozed from Jamie’s (name changed) voice was enough to energize me on an otherwise humdrum Friday. He recounted the “zone” that he was in after crossing the threshold into the conference room where the interview was held and the validating nods and smiles he received from the panel of interviewers. While he has not been offered the job yet (he will hear back this week), he felt that there was nothing more he possibly could have done to better sell himself in that interview. Every candidate should feel that way.

As proud as I am of Jamie, what he did was nothing special. He just took to heart these important components of interview preparation.

Practice the right way: In my opinion, there is one right way to practice for an interview: create the same conditions you are likely to encounter in the interview itself. Jamie knew that he was going to be asked behavioral questions so he almost exclusively studied and practiced these questions when preparing. Further, he didn’t just read the questions and try to come up with a mental response for each one. He-with the help of his girlfriend-practiced in front of a mirror, with her asking him a randomly selected question he wrote on a flash card. The flash card method helped him become comfortable hearing the question and formulating a response, and practicing in front of a mirror-as awkward as it sounds-helped him better gauge his nonverbal nuances to ensure that they were not distracting or unprofessional.

Know your audience: Through careful research, Jamie came to understand what the institution where he was interviewing-a medical clinic-was about and he tailored his answers to cater to this audience. Embedded in this clinic’s mission was patient care above anything else, so after every answer he gave in the interview he emphasized how that particular scenario or strength he possessed or skill he had developed would enhance his ability to deliver outstanding care to patients. Once you determine what the core function is for the organization where you applying, exploit it: keep referring back to it in the interview. It demonstrates awareness of the organization’s mission and purpose and the ease with which you will fit into its culture.

The end is not the end: Jamie understood that the end of the interview was not really the end: he still had to impress the panel. Thus, when he was asked if he had any questions for his interviewers he did not make the mistake of asking about work-related benefits or how much time off he would receive. Instead, he impressed them further with questions like:

• What distinguishes a good candidate from an exceptional one?


• What gaps do you see between what you are looking for in a candidate and my experience?


• What are your biggest needs right now that you would hope the person you hire would quickly address?

These questions indicated his primary interest was to be an above-average candidate, showing that he was committed to the organization and not simply his own interests.

The next time that you interview, be like Jamie and feel confident through your painstaking, intentional preparation. Follow these principles to make your interviews more successful and leave them wanting more!

Step Away from the Computer

The computer and Internet have changed the way we live and conduct business. Both are powerful business tools and, undoubtedly, enable us to innovate and solve problems more quickly and efficiently. It isn’t difficult to convince most people of the value that computers and the Internet bring to the workplace. But how many are aware of the negative impact that excessive reliance on computers and the Internet can have on performance, productivity, and even health?

Review the points below and consider how you use these tools at work. You may want to make some changes that could serve you better, professionally and personally.

Communication: There is no question that today’s workers manage the majority of their communication through email. Many workers are using less verbal communication in the workplace, and their proficiency and comfort in exercising this important skill is negatively affected. Computer time has limited the need for face-to-face interaction, which can hinder the development of necessary social skills for establishing and maintaining strong business relationships.

Productivity: Sure, computers and the Internet have created efficiencies in the workplace. But can we assume they drive productivity as well? In many cases, the answer is yes. However, you should be aware of how they can also impede productivity. To discern when computer and Internet time have stopped being productive, ask yourself the following questions:

Are you wasting time responding to unnecessary emails or interrupting productive tasks to answer incoming email?
During job-related Internet research are you clicking mindlessly through cyberspace?
Are you using the computer to check Facebook and Twitter or to shop and perform other non-work activities?
Is Internet surfing, whether work-related or not, a means for procrastinating on tasks that require your attention?

Health: Excessive computer time can actually have negative effects on your health. In fact, several indicators and medical reports support this claim. For example, workers who report significant time at the computer are experiencing eye strain, back pain, headaches, carpal tunnel, fatigue, and weight gain. If this sounds like you, consider maintaining good posture and using frequent breaks to stretch and take short walks. Some employers are willing to invest in ergonomic office furniture—even onsite yoga and chair massages—to help employees who are experiencing physical strain on the job.

Awareness is the key. So next time you’re “working” at the computer, ask yourself if your productively working, procrastinating, or playing? The answer may save your job—and improve your health.

Strategies to Help Offset Diminishing Job and Income Security

With company downsizing and employee layoffs still looming at many companies, there’s no time like the present to act on strategies that can help prop up your current or future job and income security. To explore these CBS MoneyWatch.com strategies, click here.

Phone Interviews Growing in Popularity and Complexity

Companies and recruiters are turning to phone interviews and asking in-depth questions to identify the best candidates from the large pool of qualified candidates who are responding to their job postings. What may have typically in the past been a brief phone interview with general questions has become an hour-long interview. Plus, potential candidates are expected to speak in detail about their work history, including providing specific project examples and statistics that demonstrate their strengths and successes.

To read more about phone interviewing and find tips that will help you prepare, click here.

Job Searching Tips for Older Workers

“At least one in four older Americans are either postponing their retirement or seeking to return to the workforce, while 4 in 10 employers have designed programs to encourage late-career workers to stay past their traditional retirement age,” according to Art Koff, founder of RetiredBrains.com, a job and information source for retirees and those planning their retirement. Job searching later in life can be a difficult task, but Art offers these 6 helpful suggestions that can assist seniors with their employment search.

• Register with temp firms in your local area. Many temporary jobs turn out to be permanent.
  
• Try to get an interview with an employer you are not interested in working for to practice your interviewing skills. You don't want to go to your first interview in a long time with the employer you are really interested in working for and make easily correctable mistakes.
  
• Consider having your resume re-written or updated by an expert as the resume you used years ago is no longer appropriate.
  
• Put your resume up on those job boards that connect job seekers with employers seeking to hire them.
  
• Look for temporary or project assignments as they are much more available than full-time jobs.
  
• When applying for a job, tell the employer you are willing to work on a project or on a temporary basis. This often gives you a leg up on workers who are often unable to accept this kind of employment. Temporary employment can often lead to full-time work.

Work-At-Home Jobs

Thanks to the Internet, there are numerous legitimate work-at-home opportunities available for job seekers. There also are many work-at-home job scams. Be wary of paying large fees in advance for training, job details, books, manuals, training materials, or supplies. If it sounds too good, it generally is not legitimate. If you are promised large sums of money for working relatively few hours, look elsewhere. Consider these ten interesting stay-at-home career opportunities listed by Bankrate.com.

• Virtual assistant
• Medical transcriptionist
• Translator
• Web developer/designer
• Call center representative
• Tech support specialist
• Travel agent
• Teacher
• Writer/editor
• Franchise owner

Fastest Growing Technology Companies in the U.S.

Even though there are an abundant number of high tech companies located in Silicon Valley, many others are scattered throughout the country. Career Transitions can help you identify technology specific job opportunities in your location. Use your CAREER TARGETS coupled with the Job Type and Location searches in the FIND JOBS section to zero in on hight tech jobs in your area.

Click here to view the Forbes list of the 25 fastest growing technology companies, including Illumina, Google, iRobot Corp., and Vasco Data Security International.