Heres How to Create a Job-Search Companies List to Land Your Dream Job

Heres How to Create a Job-Search Companies List to Land Yur Dream JobHeres How to Create a Job-Search Companies List to Land Your Dream JobCreate a Dream Job List of Companies to Kickstart Your Job SearchDont know how to start your job search? Create a list of companies to narrow your focus.Even if youre not a list person, a list of ideal companies youd like to work for may be just what you need to kickstart your job search. Creating this job-search list can help you stay organized and focused while navigating towards a new job.Your next professional opportunity can feel both exciting and terrifying. You know there are hundreds of great positions out there, with dozens in your field. However, many openings arent advertised. How do you connect with the right companies and find the perfect opportunity for you?Why make a job-search company list?First of all, you have two basic choices in selecting your approach. The first option is reaching out to many companies at a surface level. This approach works well if you have no idea what industry, geographic area, or title you want in other words, you will know it when you see it. Or, you can select a few companies and go deep with your networking. This is more appropriate if you have a clear idea of where you want to focus your search.Think of it as if youre digging a hole. You can make it two inches deep and 50 feet wide (broad and shallow), or you can go six inches wide and 10 feet deep (narrow and deep). If you are considering a narrow and deep approach (i.e. a highly focused search) you had better be sure you are digging in the right place, or you will find yourself starting over from scratch somewhere else.The reason for defining your approach upfront is the fact that you have limited available time. Whether you have the good luck of searching for a job while gainfully employed or the good luck of being able to focus all of your time and efforts on your job search, you only have 24 hours a day. You must eat, sleep , and exercise at some point, too. spielblttchen your approach first to use your time wisely.Once you have settled on your course, here are 10 tips to help you create the perfect company list for your job search.1. Look at the competitors of your current companyIf you want to minimize your learning curve and be immediately productive in your next position, looking at competing companies is a good place to start. By keeping your industry and technical knowledge current, not only do you bring a new batch of best practices to the new job, but it could award an immediate pay bump. If you are not sure who the competitors are, a simple Google search will help.On that note, do check your employment contract for non-compete clauses or mandatory cooling-off periods that may apply. You may not be allowed to transition directly from where you are today to working for a competitor without waiting between six and 12 months or even longer.2. Look at vendors and clientsAre you interested in stayin g in the same general industry but would like to gain a different perspective? Consider positions with vendors and clients of your current company. An example would be someone who works as an environmental advisor at a boutique consulting firm and wishes to transition into a full-time recycling program coordinator role with a local municipality. Your new employer is likely to value your experience and insights, and the learning curve will be shorter than if you had changed industries completely.Yet, remember to check your contract and industry rules For example, public accounting or audit professionals are not allowed to work at their former publicly traded client companies without a cooling off period.3. Best of listsCompanies work hard to land on those lists, and a lot of analysis goes into evaluating their efforts in a variety of areas to create unterstellung meaningful rankings. Depending on what is important to you about your next job opportunity, consider these lists below whe n creating your own company list.Fortunes 100 Best Companies to Work ForBusiness Insiders 50 Best Companies to Work For in AmericaMilitary Times Best Employers for VeteransWorking Mothers 100 Best Companies for Working ParentsAny of these lists, and many others, can be narrowed down by your geographic area.4. List companies that make products or deliver services that you loveGet behind a product or a service you love by joining the company to help make it even better This can be a fantastic way to connect with a potential employer by channeling your passion. If you are an avid player of World of Warcraft, why not connect with Blizzard Entertainment? If you are an outdoorsman and cannot imagine your life without your GoPro, reach out to the manufacturerIf the company you love is located on a different coast, do not despair. As long as you are open to relocating, pursuing a long-distance job search will be easier than expected.Related5 Tips for Conducting a Long-Distance Job Search5. Brush up on past leads from trade shows, conferences, and other industry eventsIt may be difficult to see this for yourself, but through the virtue of being in a particular industry, you have created a professional network. Whether you have diligently saved every business card and cocktail napkin with someones name and number or not, start where you are. List the names of all professionals you have honigwein through trade shows and conferences, along with the companies they represent. Are there any possibilities on your job-search list that look intriguing? Connecting through LinkedIn would be the perfect next step.6. Check out LinkedInLinkedIn offers great functionality for finding company options. Start by exploring the profiles of professionals similar to you. Where have they worked? Take a look at the section titled People also viewed for more ideas, as well.Of course, LinkedIn is also a good place to simply search the companies you are interested in. It may also help you expand your list to include other companies you may not have thought of.7. Keep your eyes openYou are surrounded by businesses of all shapes and sizes everywhere you go. Some of those may be obvious to spot, with their company name on the side of the building. Others, however, may be more difficult to identify. My advice is to keep your eyes open when you are visiting an office building for an interview. Building directories can be a good place to start jot down any company names that look intriguing and look them up. It is an unconventional way to come up with company possibilities, but it might just work.8. Check the newsLocal stories of companies breaking ground for new buildings, receiving a grant for research, funding a scholarship, or planning an IPO can all serve as conversation starters. Following a companys page on LinkedIn can definitely keep you in the loop of whats happening, but also consider signing up for a company newsletter, dialing in for a quarterly analyst call if you r target company is publicly traded, and following industry blogs for updates and developments. You can also sign up for Google Alerts that will send you an email every time a company youre following is mentioned in the news.9. Use online job posting boards (the right way)Here is a trick to making the online job boards work for you.Look for postings from local companies (not necessarily for your specific position), notice trends, and whatever you do, do not to apply through the job board Your goal is to use this as an undercover recon mission to spot companies that are hiring. Once you have the intel, use your network (and LinkedIn) to find a connection before you apply.10. Remember your personal networkWe often discount the value of our personal networks after all, it is too easy to fall into thinking that we dont know anyone important. However, everyone you are connected to is in turn connected to hundreds of people you may or may not know. If you are looking for an administrativ e assistant position, it is entirely possible that your hairdresser (or your friend from that rock climbing meetup group you joined) knows someone who is looking for a superstar administrator. Always ask the worst that can happen is that there are no new opportunities this round. Here are some more ideas on expanding your personal network.Remember that making a job-search list is only the first step to creating your job-search plan. Compile information, dont eliminate options too soon, and look for trends. What makes a company or an opportunity look attractive to you? What have you learned about things you want and dont want from your next job?Keep track of it all, make a plan, and you will network your way into an interview and a fresh new role in no timeClick on the following link for more job-search advice.Want to update your resume for your dream job? Try our free resume review.Recommended ReadingHow to Build a Company List of Top Employers for Your Job SearchTop Reads Our Best Career Advice of 2017What to Do When Your New Job Isnt Your Dream Job

10 more of the most offensive things said at work

10 more of the most offensive things said at work10 more of the most offensive things said at workMaybe you didnt intend to be offensive, but there are some phrases people often say in the workplace that, point blank,areoffensive. From phrases deeply rooted in racism,sexism, homophobia and other prejudices, tomicroaggressionsthat seem harmless from the surface, we have to be careful about how we communicate - especially in the workplace.To give you some insight, here are 10 offensive phrases people commonly throw around at the amtsstube - and what you can say instead.1. The Peanut Gallery We bet you didnt know that the peanut gallery, which you might call your snooping coworkers who are throwing in their unsolicited two cents into an A-B conversation, actually has racist roots. The phrase dates back to Vaudeville-era theaters it refers to the section of seats in the house where people of color were forced to sit.What to Say InsteadNosey-Pokes2. Howd You End up in This Field?Asking a woman especially how she ended up in a field could come off like youve made the assumption she doesnt belong there. Women already feel unwelcome in a large majority of industries, especially male-dominated industries like STEM.What to Say InsteadInstead of asking how a woman ended up in the field, ask them about their experiences that lead them there and congratulate them for theirhard work.3. Youre Such a SpazSure, this might seem like a harmless and even playful jab, but the word spaz is just as offensive as calling someone the R-word. It derives from its association with cerebral palsy, a disease once referred to as spastic paralysis. Some people find the word spastic to be the second most offensive word to describe people with disabilities, according to a BBC study.What to Say InsteadKlutz4. Youre Like a SuperheroSure, this might seem like a compliment. But when you say it to a working mother who is expected to be like a superhero to make ends meet, its short-sighted. Working women are often forced to bear the brunt of childcare, elderly care and even irrelevant help around the office, all while working full-time jobs. They wouldnt have to be like superheroes if society started accepting an equal teilen of household labor and paid women fairly for equal work.What to Say InsteadJust dont say anything. Lend a helping hand and, if youre in a position to do so, give the woman equal pay.5. You HooligansAgain, calling coworkers a group of hooligans might seem playful, but the word hooligans was actually used in the 19th century to describe Irish immigrants struggling to fit in in London. The cartoons depicting hooligans were racists and painted harsh stereotypes of urban immigrants as buffoons.What to Say InsteadKnobs6. Youre Being Oversensitive.While you might think youre helping someone better understand a situation by letting them know that you feel theyre being oversensitive, youre actually making them feel as though their feelings are invalid. Everyone i s entitled to feel how they feel, and some of us are just more sensitive than others. Thats notlage a weakness in fact, many would argue that its a strength.What to Say InsteadI understand youre hurt/frustrated/overwhelmed by this situation. What can I do to help?7. No Can Do No can do is just a thing we sometimes say, but the broken English cropped up in the mid-1800s. During that time, Westerners were largely racist against the East and used this kind of broken English to mock Chinese Pidgin English. Using it today might seem silly, but its origin certainly is not.What to Say InsteadI cant do that.8. Our General Rule of Thumb How many times have you called something a general rule of thumb at work? Did you know that its believed to have derived from a 1600s English law that allowed men to beat their wives with sticks? Legend has it the stick had to be no wider than the mans thumb in thickness.What to Say InsteadThe Rule9. Thats Crazy TalkWeve all called someone crazy at some poi nt, especially for talking about a situation in a certain way - we like to call it crazy talk. But referring to your boss or coworker or client as crazy is a dig at those of us who really do suffer from mental illnesses. And because mental illness isnt taken as seriously as it should already, this insult derails the progress for increased awareness, treatment and overall help.What to Say InsteadWhy dont you look at this way instead?10. You Look Exhausted.Maybe youre just trying to sympathize with someone who really does look tired. But you dont know whats going on in their life, so you dont know what could be making them look so exhausted. Calling them out for it, especially without knowing the underlying causes, is rude. And it can be hurtful for someone whos putting on a brave face and trying their best tonotlook exhausted.A version of this post previously appeared on Fairygodboss, the largest career community that helps women get the inside scoop on pay, corporate culture, benef its, and work flexibility. Founded in 2015, Fairygodboss offers company ratings, job listings, discussion boards, and career advice.

7 Steps to Consider Before You Start Consulting

7 Steps to Consider Before You Start Consulting7 Steps to Consider Before You Start ConsultingConsulting work can be a lifeline when youre unemployed it can also derail your job search and extend your unemployment.Any out-of-work executive is likely to hear the siren song of consulting. You can lend your years of expertise to a business part time and temporarily. It can be a paycheck when you really need it, a foot in the door and a way to stay busy.On the downside, it can also be a distraction from the job search and ultimately extend your unemployment.Cheri Paulson, senior vice president of Keystone Associates, a Boston career management and transition firm, recommended clients who have just lost their jobs wait before they accept any consulting work. Give your job search some time, she said. You cant land a job if your search is piecemeal. Once your search is proceeding well - when your resume is complete and you are regularly meeting with people and you know where to search for jobs - you can consider consulting.She offers her clients the following checklist of seven items to use when considering whether or not to take a consulting job? Does it still give me time to be flexible in my job search?? Would I learn anything new that I can use to showcase my skills and experience?? Does the firm have cachet in the marketplace? Would it give me brand recognition by affiliating with the project?? Am I going to be around great people with whom to network?? Is it geographically reasonable? If it requires you to be on the road more than a few days every week, your job search will falter.? Is the compensation worth your time?? Can you protect your client list? Be sure that you are not being asked to give away your clients. Those clients are something you may need to get you to your next job, Paulson said.If you do take a consulting role, you should still be in job-search mode, Paulson said. Your goal should be to get in front of three to five people a week. Determine how many meetings, how many phone calls and how many events you will need to go to for the consulting position.Can you do some of that work during the day so you can fulfill your job-search goals? People like to feel needed and have a purpose, and they feel good when they are doing a project. But dont get so absorbed that you stop your search.

Mining Equipment Becomes More Sustainable and Efficient

Mining Equipment Becomes More Sustainable and Efficient Mining Equipment Becomes More Sustainable and Efficient Mining Equipment Becomes More Sustainable and Efficient More than 100 years of history making mining equipment are presented at the fascinating Bucyrus Museum and Visitor Centers newly renovated Heritage Building in South Milwaukee, WI. Among the museums massive displays and interactive simulators are the shovels that dug the Panama Canal, dredging equipment, and The Big Muskie, the worlds largest dragline, a tool used for surface excavating. Bucyrus International, Inc. was recently acquired by Caterpillar, Inc., whose predecessor companies were formed in the early 1920s and whose tractors and trucks were side by side with Bucyrus at the Panama Canal and many other historical earth-moving projects. The global mining divisions impressive three-story center is worth visiting to get a first-hand look at the scale and history of the company and industry. Artifacts like “The Big Huskie” are now on display at the museum. An optimistic view of the future of mining is also presented, highlighting recent engineering accomplishments that are making mining equipment more efficient and sustainable. John Disharoon, sustainable development director for Caterpillar, Inc. Global Mining, explained more about some of the most important innovations that can be found in CATs mining products, which now number in the hundreds. Harvesting Less Waste The mining industry has developed more efficient ways to create less waste at the mine site, so more mining material is moved per ton for the energy expended to remove it. Harvesting technologies do so with less waste and even less degradation, hauling only material thats useful to the end customer. In coal mines, for example, the latest underground mining technologies hone in on the coal with laser pinpoint accuracy, so only the pure sections are removed from the ground, not rocks, dirt, or gravel. Customers are able to consume directly from the face of the mine rather than crushing and loading excess material out to a mill to be cleaned later, Disharoon says. Improving Efficiency Below Ground and On the Surface Recent efficiency advancements in underground mining go beyond the concerns of removing more material in less time, for less money, and with less energy, and address how it is done. Shovels that dug the Panama Canal (like the steam shovel shown above) are also now on dispaly. Underground, CAT has produced the worlds first hybrid underground mining vehicle that improves underground air quality. When combined with ventilation requirements, pollution is dissipated more efficiently during operations. To withstand the tremendous strains involved in moving up to 400 tons of oil sands, patented gearing and heat-treating technologies allow modular mechanical drive mining trucks to operate efficiently, even in sloppy underfoot conditions. Surface-mining equipment, including rope shovels, hauling trucks and loaders working on the top of the earth, now use electric drive, powered by electricity from the grid or a diesel generator. They are the most efficient in the world according to Disharoon, loading and hauling more payload than ever before from the amount of diesel fuel burned. Increasing operational efficiency by keeping environmental factors under control on the top side also has improved mining. Using technologies such as auxiliary trucks, motor graders, and road compactors to maintain the hauling roads keeps the roads clean and minimizes dust and rocks, eliminating split tires and downtime. More Sustainable Use of Methane The combined CAT-Bucyrus company now has the broad ability to approach more sustainable mining practices using their expertise in power systems such as diesel and natural-gas engines and turbines. Mining customers can make better use of the methane and natural gas that occurs in coal mining. Instead of burning or flaring it up, or venting it to the atmosphere, it is piped, cleaned, and run through natural-gas generators located on-site at the mine. The electricity created there is used to power auxiliary machines in the mine. The visitors center in South Milwaukee is a great place to see some of these innovations and learn more about the company and its history. Ground has just been broken for a new state-of-the-art visitors center at CAT headquarters in Peoria, IL, and is expected to open at the end of 2012. It promises to have more simluators, movies, and displays, including some that will rotate between the two locations. Either are excellent opportunities for learning, seeing, and experiencing more about these exciting new improvements. Debbie Sniderman holds an MENG from Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. She is an independent writer and regular contributor to Mechanical Engineering. Customers are able to consume directly from the face of the mine rather than crushing and loading excess material out to a mill to be cleaned later.John Disharoon, Sustainable development director, Caterpillar, Inc.

Things to Consider Before You Become a Sales Manager

Things to Consider Before You Become a Sales Manager Things to Consider Before You Become a Sales Manager If youre thinking about transitioning into the management side of sales, it might be a wise choice. Glassdoor has pinpointed sales management as the 10th best job in the country based on potential earnings and job availability.   The two main paths to sales management are to move from a sales position to sales manager, or to shift from another type of management job over to sales management. The type of job youre coming from will likely determine your biggest challenges as a sales manager. From Salesperson to Sales Manager This transition can be rough, especially if youre taking charge of your old teammates. Youll have to set some boundaries to make it clear that youre no longer “one of the gang and this can be tricky and difficult. Start by meeting with each member of your team one-on-one. Go over what you think their responsibilities are. This includes giving everyone very specific goals. But make it clear that youre ready to listen to any comments or concerns they have â€" you want to defuse any resentments as quickly as possible before they become major issues. If you move into a sales manager role in a different organization, you wont have the same awkwardness with your sales team but you might still find the transition jarring. Again, youll have to keep reminding yourself that youre now the leader. Youre not one of the pack, so behave act accordingly. On the other hand, dont overcompensate by treating your salespeople like lesser creatures. Its best to hit a happy medium where you act as an authority figure but one that your salespeople respect rather than fear. From General Manager to Sales Manager You might be disconcerted by how quickly your salespeople see through your management tactics if youre a newcomer to sales. Salespeople are professional persuaders, and most will be well aware of it when theyre being manipulated. Often the best approach is the straightforward one give your salespeople their goals, let them know youre there to help, and keep a close eye on them so you can reward top performers and step in when others are struggling. Heres a hint: Salespeople are highly rewards-motivated. They tend to be very competitive, and fostering that feeling can encourage them to produce. But you could end up with salespeople who hate each other if you overuse this approach. Always strive to keep the competition at a friendly level or youll turn your sales team into Glengarry Glen Ross. Is the Job Right for You? This job is a somewhat unique blend that requires people skills on two levels with your team and with their potential customers so if you dont consider yourself to be a people person, it might not be for you. But if you are, youll find that it can be a risky but highly rewarding career choice â€" rewarding in both money and personal achievement whatever trajectory you take into the position. If that sounds like a good combination to you, go for it. If not, a sales manager position probably isnt your cup of tea.

Basic Rules That Every Actor Should Know

Basic Rules That Every Actor Should Know Basic Rules That Every Actor Should Know There are thousands of aspiring actors in Los Angeles alone, each hoping for one big break that will launch their career. Only a few will ever make it as actors, and even fewer will perform beyond a B movie role or television appearance. So, what can you do to increase your chances for success? Realize that you have limited control over certain things, such as how you look in real life and how you sound, but there are steps you can take that can increase your chances of getting a part. Learn Your Craft Just like any art form, acting is a craft that can be improved continuously. Take acting classes, learn from other actors and mentors, and hone your craft. Many top-tier actors work with acting coaches to learn and refine their techniques. Never Be Late It might seem obvious, but promptness is crucial. Tardiness is a weakness that no director will tolerate because there are plenty of actors who will arrive hours early. Casting sessions typically last just a few minutes, and they are scheduled at odd times such as 7:25 a.m. or 6:50 a.m. on purpose to determine your reliability. Be early or don’t bother showing up. Patience weighs thin at a casting session, and few actions will hurt your chances more than being late. Memorize Your Lines If you fail to learn your lines, you will not be hired. Spend time preparing your lines and your delivery. If you are well prepared, you will be less nervous and better able to perform. Do Not Rewrite Lines Never add your own words to what is written in the script. There’s no better way to offend a writer than to ad lib or to come up with your own lines. Your job as an actor is to deliver the written lines convincingly. If you think your own dialogue might be better, then become a writer. Listen You must demonstrate that you can take direction. Listen to what you are being told. Sometimes the casting director, writer, or director will give you some direction prior or during the audition, or during the audition for a particular line. Listen to what you are told and take the time you need to process it. If you are not sure what the director means, repeat the instructions back to the director for confirmation. During an audition, more often than not, a director will be happy to give you a few minutes to incorporate the new direction into the lines. Submit an Accurate Headshot Your headshot should portray your true appearance. If you have gained weight, cut your hair, or are a few years older, get a new headshot. Your old headshot will not be the one getting the job if your current appearance represents someone other than who the casting committee was expecting. Commit Actors who genuinely commit to a reading are fun to watch. They literally transform themselves into the character. By committing fully to the reading, you will dissolve any nervousness and play the part with genuine passion. Make No Excuses Life happens. Perhaps you couldn’t learn your lines because you lost your power. You were an hour late because you were stuck in traffic, or you had to take your dog to the emergency vet. Attribute these annoyances to some of lifes inevitabilities and dont attempt to give excuses. No one cares because there are so many others who are waiting to take your place. Dont punish yourself, but prepare well in advance of the deadline and have a contingency plan in place to avoid being late. The life of an actor is not as easy as it may seem. There are often long periods of financial insecurity, fierce competition, and rejection that make the overall process that much more difficult. Still, knowing the most basic elements and adhering to simple rules will give you the best chance for success.

Top 10 Job Scam Warning Signs

Top 10 Job Scam Warning Signs Top 10 Job Scam Warning Signs Have you ever wondered if a job is real or a scam? Sometimes, it can be hard to tell the difference.  Here are some tip-offs to help you identify fake job offers and avoid job scams. Internet fraud is rampant, and scammers prey on job seekers. Your best defense is to do your research and report internet job scams. Review these tips, so you can identify and avoid a variety of different types of scams designed to get your personal information and your money. Top 10 Internet Job Scam Warning Signs Too Good to be True Good jobs are hard to find. Like your mom always said, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Here are some tip-offs that the ‘job’ is fake. You didn’t contact them; they contacted you: They say that they found your resume online. They either offer you a job right away or say they want to interview you. Sometimes the scammers will try to entice you by saying that you made the cut and they are interviewing the finalists for the job.The pay is great: Here are two examples: Healthcare Admin Assistant: “This is a work from home job. Work hours is from 9am-4pm Monday-Friday You will earn $45 per hour for this position, you are also expected online at Yahoo Messenger during working hours. We also offer flexible hours....” Here’s a note from a reader about an  Operations Officer scam: “I have never had anyone offer me a job working 20 hours a week, for $72,800 annually, without an interview or two or three. They dont really say what you will be doing or where...The company address is in Spain.” You get the job right away. After a quick phone or Instant Message interview, the ‘interviewer’ immediately contacts you to offer you the job.Tip: Scammers troll job boards looking for victims. To reduce the chance, you’ll get scammed, use job sites that have privacy policies and only allow verified employers to view the listings. Vague Job Requirements and Job Description Scammers try to make their emails sound believable by listing job requirements. Usually, these requirements are so ridiculously simple that almost everyone qualifies: Must be 18 years old, Must be a citizen, Must have access to the internet. (You wouldn’t be reading their email if you didn’t have internet access, right?) The job requirements don’t mention years of education or experience. As a rule of thumb, if it’s a real job, the requirements will be quite specific. Job scam emails usually don’t include clear job descriptions, either. Many job seekers say that when they ask for  a job description  or list of job duties, they get the brush-off. The interviewer either ignores the questions or says something like “Don’t worry, we’ll train you.” Unprofessional Emails Some emails from scammers are well-written, but many aren’t. Real companies hire professionals who can write well. If the email contains spelling, capitalization, punctuation or grammatical mistakes, be on your guard. Here’s an example submitted by a reader: “The Human resources have just reviewed your resume due to the one you posted on www.allstarjobs.com.You are now scheduled for an interview with the hiring manager of the company.Her name is Mrs. Ann Jernigan; you are required to set up a yahoo mail account(mail.yahoo.com) and a yahoo instant messenger.” In this example, the mistakes include: Capitalization errors ‘Human resources’ should be ‘Human Resources’, and ‘yahoo’ should be ‘Yahoo’Punctuation errors Commas, periods, and parentheses should be followed by a spaceGrammatical errors “Human resources have reviewed” should be “Human Resources has reviewed...” Online Interviews via Messaging Services Many attempted scams say that the interview will take place online using an instant messaging service. The scammers often include instructions for setting up and contacting the hiring manager and may ask for confidential information. Tip: If you’re applying for an online job and you’re told that the interview will take place online via instant message, research the company and its representatives before you agree to an interview. And if you agree to be interviewed, ask detailed questions about the job during the interview. Don’t give out confidential information such as your bank account, credit card or Social Security numbers. Don’t be fooled just because the interview questions sound real. Emails Don’t Include Contact Information If the email doesn’t include the company’s address and phone, it’s a good bet that it’s a scam. And it’s a good bet that it’s a scam if the interviewer makes an excuse for using a personal email address by saying the company’s servers are down, or the company is experiencing too many problems with spam,  or the company hasn’t yet set up its email system. Some scam emails will look like they come from real companies. One reader reported that “The scammer’s email address was jobssenergy-world.com. The real company email is jobssenergyworld.com” Tip: Look at the email address carefully, then copy/paste it into the search box. You can also type in the word ‘scam’ after the email address to see if someone else has reported the company. Search Results Don’t Add Up? Before agreeing to an interview, do your research. If it’s a real company, you should be able to find information about the company by doing an online search. Finding information does not guarantee that the company is legit, but if you can’t find anything, you can bet it’s a scam. One reader got a scam job offer from Fijax.com: “Firstly their email is very unprofessional; there is no signature at the end. When I checked for the company on Google, I found nothing, not even a website!” Some scammers pretend to represent real companies. One of our readers reported that she received a job offer from ‘Proctor and Gambel’, but the real company is named ‘Procter Gamble.’ Another reader says that he was offered a job by someone who claimed to represent Gloprofessionals, but when he did his research, he found out it was a scam: “ALWAYS contact the REAL company or business and ask if this employee exists, that is how I found out this employee was a fraud.” Tip: Sophisticated scammers sometimes set up nice-looking websites but looks can be deceiving. Try this: go to the Domain White Pages and type the company’s web address into the “domain or IP address” box and click the “go” button. The results will tell you the date when the website was created. If the website is less than a year old, be on your guard.Tip: When searching for information about the company, search for both the company’s name and the email address. Also, copy/paste paragraphs from the email into the search box. Scammers may change the company name but re-use the other parts of the email, and it’s possible you’ll find an identical email posted online. You’re Asked to Provide Confidential Information? Some scammers ask for your bank account information to set up direct deposit or transfer money to your account, or ask you to open a new bank account and provide the information to them: Other scammers will tell you to go to a website and fill out a credit report form or provide confidential information so they can “put you on the company insurance.” Identity theft scams try to get you to provide your Social Security number and birth date and other personal information. Tip: Before entering personal information online, check to make sure the website is secure by looking at the web address bar. The address should be https:// not http:// Sending Money or Valuables, Using Your Personal Bank Account Some of my readers tell me that they’ve received checks that look like real cashiers checks. They are instructed to deposit the check, keep some of the money for themselves and send the rest of the money to someone else via Western Union or Money Gram. Then, a few days or weeks later, they get a call from the bank saying the check is fake. They have lost the money they sent. Here’s an example from a reader: “Once you receive the check, First of all, I want you to head right away to your bank and get the check cashed. Deduct your first-week pay which is $500, and Deduct extra $100 for the Money Gram sending fee and proceed to the nearest Money Gram outlet around you to make payment to my wife travel agent.” Some scammers ask to use your personal bank account to transfer money from one account to another account. It is called money laundering, and it’s against the law. Other scams ask you to receive and forward packages from your home. These packages might contain stolen goods or illegal substances. They Want You to Pay for Something? Legitimate companies don’t ask for money. If you’re told that you need to purchase software or pay for services, beware. Here are three examples. Buy this software: “They were offering $15 hr for training and $24.75 to start. I was so excited to work from home and actually be paid a decent wage. The interview went well, and I was told I have the job. YAY! Then I was told that they were going to send me a brand new HP laptop for work, but I needed to pay for the software for it. I thought not a problem; Ive had to upgrade in the past for jobs. Well here is the RED FLAG! We need you to send $312 Western Union for software costs...”Pay for a credit report: “The job will require you to work in a high financial environment, so it is our corporate policy that we perform financial verification check on all employees to ensure applicant registration info. Its corporate policy that we have applicants sent through our link, so we are compliant with the U.S employment standards act... Fill out the form and indicate that you want the free report.” Here’s what a reader had to say about this scam: “...These companies are using t he internet to first get a job seeking people to use their site and then be told they need a credit check to apply for a job thru their site, then that company charges an unauthorized fee on your credit card which you used to pay a $1.00 and one time fee for the credit check. Preying on those who can least afford it! Shame on you!” Pay to have your resume reviewed: “You have a lot of strong, relevant experience and are an excellent candidate although it would be best to improve your resume before doing anything with it. I can refer you to a resume writing expert that can improve your resume to the standard we are looking for, and I believe he charges around $150 or so...” Your “Gut” Says It’s a Scam? Researching the company is your best defense, but some scammers are very clever. If you start to feel that things aren’t right, trust your intuition. Ask questions and pay close attention to the answers. Slow the process down and don’t be pressured into making a commitment or giving out personal information. Do more research. If it turns out to be a scam, report it to the authorities.