MySpace

Just created a MySpace thats in the works.

3 Scams to Avoid in an Online Job Search

I posted my thoughts on employer fraud a few months ago. I got this interesting e mail from Monster.

"If it looks too good to be true, it probably is." Whether you are searching for a new job through Monster or other websites, keep in mind that the same technological innovations that help in your job search may be used by cyber-criminals looking to lure job seekers into questionable job "opportunities."



Know What to Avoid


Some employment scams appear as job postings or classifieds while others may target victims with an offer through an unsolicited email. Below are the most common scams you may see:


Money-Laundering Scams


Money launderers often create job descriptions that offer commissions or pay high daily salaries to process checks on behalf of foreign nationals. They are recruiting local citizens to "process payments" or "transfer funds," because as foreign nationals, they can't do it themselves. Their communications often contain broken grammar but may include well-written prose copied from legitimate employers' postings. The image below is an example of a money laundering scam hidden behind what appears to be an offer of employment.


Reshipping Scams


Reshipping, or postal forwarding, scams typically require job seekers to receive stolen goods in their own homes-- frequently consumer electronics -- and then forward the packages, often to another country. Those who fall for reshipping scams may be liable for shipping charges and even the cost of goods purchased online with stolen credit cards.
Pre-pay/Work at Home Scams


Although there are genuine jobs working at home, many "offers" are not valid forms of employment and may have the simple goal of obtaining an initial monetary investment from the victim. Using claims such as 'be your own boss' and 'make money quickly', Work at Home scams will not guarantee regular salaried employment and almost always require an "up-front" investment of money for products or instructions before explaining how the plan works.
Protect Yourself


What seems like a lucrative job offer could cost you your savings and more. Learn to identify the signals of an employment scam to protect yourself. When conducting a job search:


Look for signals in a job posting or email offer, which could serve as an indicator that what is being presented as employment is not legitimate.


Don't get involved with an employer that can't make its business model perfectly clear to you or one that's willing to hire you without even a phone interview. Do your own research on any employer that makes you feel at all uneasy.


" Never put your national ID number, credit card number, bank account number or any type of sensitive personal identification data in your resume. You should never share any personal information with a prospective employer, even if they suggest that it is for a "routine background check," until you are confident that the employer and employment opportunity is legitimate.
Do not engage in any transaction in which you are requested to transfer or exchange currency or funds to a prospective employer. Remain alert for the Work at Home employers who require you to make an up-front investment.


Be cautious when dealing with individuals/companies from outside your own country.


If you think you have been a victim of fraud, immediately report the fraud to your local police and contact Monster, so steps can be taken to ensure your safety. For more information on how to conduct a safe job search, visit Monster's Security Centre. You can also check out the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

Finito!!!!!

Thats right! All done my Christmas shopping and guess what....all paid for in CASH! Not debit, but cash. Here's a few links to check out  for a "Debt Free Christmas"

About.com

Financialhighway.com

ehow.com

Slimming Down

We've never had elaborate Christmas. And my parents never went into debt over Christmas too. Over the past few years I've always had "debt free" Christmas's. Nothing put on the credit card, everything paid with cash.

People are still losing their jobs and many still don't have work or make enough to survive. I read in my local newspaper recently about two factories closing in my city. A comment form a worker who lost his job was "It won't be a fancy Christmas"

Do we need a fancy Christmas? A friend from the gym said to me last year, he went to his kids in August and said, "Name me 5 things you got for Christmas last year" The kids couldn't remember 1. A friend last year said the kids got one gift, and that was it. The nieces and nephews got the things they needed. Groceries, gift certificates to clothing stores money for school supplies.

I watched an episode of "Little House on the Prairie" Christmas gifts were "mittens" and "pennies" a far cry from what is given today. What amazed me is how the kids reacted to get that "penny" it was like getting gold!

If you are able to "You Tube" The Little House" Christmas episodes, and I think there are 3, they are worth a look. Christmas to me isn't about the price tag. Its about the thought, the friendships and realising how blessed I really am....now ask me how blessed I am after I brave the stores tomorrow! LOL.

Printing.

I think the age of computers is making us all crappy spellers and even printers! I'm the first to admit my spelling is BAD! Last night while a friend was working on my web page, I was going over some old date books and noticed how neat my printing was, I looked in my recent date books and diary and noticed how sloppy my printing and writing has become, but, I've been doing less and less of it over the years! I read a few years ago that their are actual courses in handwriting and it may become a lost art. I definitely think spelling will be!

On a side note: My friend Sean has been working on my web page and its turning out fantastic so far. Shika Rebecca .Also I'm keeping on my diet.

??????

Bet that title got your attention....I don't know how many job ads and even a "Farmville" ad had this typo. "?" I've seen several ads with a question mark instead of an apostrophe, its easy to spot ands its apparent no one is using spell check any more. The word will look similar to this.."it?s" or "how?s" Anyone else notice that?

Still Around.....

I know I keep saying that but yes I am still around!!!! Been a bit busy with my personal life and working in a non related media job from 3-11...but I have a job and it pays the bills so I'm not complaining. Last year this time I wasn't working and no matter what type of job you have you always feel better when working!

On a side note, I have dropped 10 pounds!

Your say In Sports Hacked...

UGGG! Sorry to everyone to people who tried to access http://www.yoursayinsports.ca/ and received a bug. I contacted my site provider Names Pro who did an excellent job! Here's what happened.

Hi Shika,



Thank you for your inquiry.


According to our records, the home page of your website (index.htm) was being edited on 2010/10/01 at 20:53 EST. The change was performed via FTP from the IP address ********* (located in the country Latvia) using the FTP user ********. In other words, it is highly possible that the password of the FTP user ******* has been obtained by someone you have not authorized to.


We have already loaded a backup of the file index.htm created prior to 2010/10/01 we have kept on your behalf. This version of the file does not contain the virus.

So My friend if you have a website BEWARE!!! Have proper anti viruses on your computer...lesson learnt!

Great Local Talent

Shot a gig for Sarah Halabecki today at the Station Coffee House. Its great to shoot gigs and see great local talent!

Every now and then we can get depressed and second guess ourselves. Things that happen in our past shapes who we are today. A year ago September 2 a major event happened in my life that devastated me and this month has really effected me with personal issues. I stumbled across this video today about a young woman who's deaf and mute and wanted to play the violin. Funny how a simple commercial can touch your very soul and make you realise "you can shine" no matter who you are or what you do.

Employer Fraud

Fraud seems to be everywhere lately. You hear about people involved in credit card fraud, debit card fraud, but have you heard of employer fraud? I’m not even sure if it’s a term yet. I’ve been working full time now for 4 months but I’ve noticed a growing trend with what employers think they can get away with and take advantage of potential employees. I ran across something a few months back with a potential job advertised on a local job site as a web page updater. I was able to get an interview immediately but when I got there the interviewee was rude and insulting towards some work I had done with a personal webpage and some photography work I showed. After I left I began to wonder if there was even a job and if he was just priming for information for his personal web page. About a week ago the same employer posted a similar job on the same job bank and a close friend of mine went for the interview. They waited an hour, the person forgot they even booked them an interview and then gave someone an interview that had arrived AFTER my friend. When that person came out of their interview the employer said there was no job because several people he had talked to said it would be expensive therefore no interview would be necessary. In my opinion this is a case of fraudulently using a job posting service to lure people who are looking for jobs to prime them information and use it as free consultation. It’s a shame really. My advice if you have a trade or skill? If you sense there is no job in the interview, leave, I’m sure you’ll be hearing and seeing more of this in the future.

I'm honestly still around

Yes really I am...I'm suffereing from Writers Block....or Blog.. LOL. But yes I am working on a couple blogs.

Cheers

Yes I'm Still Alive

I do have a few things to say and I'll get around to posting. lol. Some exciting news, http://www.shikarebecca.com/ is in the works, I met someone at my current place of employment who will be helping me with it so I'll keep you posted.

And I'm also experimenting with the new look....cheers!

Saying hi....

Title says it all my friends! Hello! LOL

Life can be short

Here is a press release I recieved from Al Craig

The Mohawk College community and its women’s volleyball team have been devastated by the news that star player Rachel VanHartingsveldt died in an automobile accident near her hometown of Newcastle Ontario, Monday, May 3.



The 21 year old VanHartingsveldt, a 4th year Child and Youth Worker student from Durham Christian High School, played the ‘Power’ position for the Mountaineers. She was a two-time Ontario Colleges Athletic Association Tournament All-Star in both 2007-08 and 2009-10 and a member of three OCAA bronze medal winning Mohawk teams, in 2006-07, 2007-08 and 2009-10. Rachel was also a two time Second Team OCAA League All-Star in 2008-09 and 2009-10.


Visitation will be held on Thursday May 6, 2010, at Maranatha Christian Reformed Church, at 2805 King St. East (corner of Haines and King) in Bowmanville, from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm.


Funeral service and interment will be Friday May 7, 2010 at Maranatha Christian Reformed Church at 11:00 am, with a luncheon to follow.

Life can be short....make everyday count.

Spring!

About time! I hate winter! Although we can't complain about this past winter...but YES SPRING! Oh amd Happy Easter!

Snowballs!

Here it is, almost the end of February and we had a NICE dumping of snow! I saw the funniest thing yesterday…I was driving along and a group of kids were walking along. Three boys were in front followed by three girls. They were around 10. They were all tromping along talking about whatever ten year olds talk about and one lady picked up some snow, rolled it together and then pelted one of the young boys in the head. I know immature of me to laugh, but sometimes watching kids in their innocence can make your day.

Farmville!

I'm addicted! have you ever played it? I have never been one for on line games but this game on Facebook totally has me addicted! LOL. I've built up a farm, pet animals, heck I've even drawn diagrams on how I was going to arrange my farm and I'm sad to say I spent 3 hours on it one night LOL.

Tic Toc

I remember my grade six teacher teaching me a very valuable lesson about time. I remember the class was overly rambunctious that day and she quietly got up and walked up to the blackboard and wrote down the date and simply said “Time”. We all thought she was going to give us a time out….she then just read the date out loud and said, “There will never be the same day or the same moment, remember that, you can never get it back, so always use your time wisely”


I remembered that. I always try to make the most out of my time. I’ve always been taught to be respectful of people’s time. If you say you are going to be at a certain place at a certain time, you show up early. If you can’t make it, call. Going to be late, call.

Over the past few years, I’ve noticed how people have taken advantage of people’s time.

Because I value my time, I’ve set certain standards.

Interviews: if the interviewee shows up late or is unprepared or gives a bad interview on their part, I won’t accept the job, in some cases I cut the interview short. In my opinion they are wasting my time as an individual and will waste my time as an employee.

Networking contacts: I’ve had a couple e mails and phone calls about some projects I do. I take the time to respond to their phone call or e mail and I hear nothing back, I don’t follow up or recommend them to anyone.

Sounds a bit harsh, but to me how someone values my time speaks a lot for people. My teacher was right, you will never have that moment back so respect it, whether it is yours or some else’s.

Winter

I hate winter...Cold? It's for the polar bears, seals and penguins! Last time I checked I was neither! I don't have fur, flippers or a beak! Since I have been off the night shift, I have enjoyed being inside at 4pm and staying in during the winter! LOL. Although, our winter here hasn't been that bad, so I suppose I shouldn't complain, I'm just dreading February and some possible snow storms!


I noticed a lot of kids sliding down any hill with any snow, and a huge brown mark left behind! LOL.

As a kid I loved to make snow angels, and go ice skating. When you were a kid you'd wear leotards, and when you pulled your skates off, your leotard would be all stretched out and you'd shove it all in your boot...ahhh to be a kid again huh? lol. Now, you wouldn't catch me on skates or any snow bank! How things change when you grow up.