How To Avoid Work at Home Scams 5 Precautions to Take

How To Avoid Work at Home Scams 5 Precautions to TakeHow To Avoid Work at Home Scams 5 Precautions to TakePeople seek out work from home opportunities for a variety of reasons such as a yearning for better work-life balance, the aspiration to reduce their carbon footprint, or the desire to be more productive by spending less time commuting and more time working. While more opportunities to work from home exist than ever before, there are challenges and pitfalls of finding a work at home job that can complicate a job search. So if you are looking for home-based work, take theseprecautions in order toguard yourself from angeschlossen job scams, and then you can focus on landing a fulfilling, legitimate job opportunityHere are 5 Tips to help you avoid work at home scams1. Protect your social security number (SSN).If someone steals your social security number (SSN), they can obtainleistungspunkt cards, apply for loans, and other activities that can damage your reputation, credit, and fin ancial security. Because of these risks, it is highly important to use it only when necessary.For tax reasons, you do need to provide your SSN to be paid by a legitimate employer. However, you may andrang into a number of scenarios when someone who does not need your SSN requests it from scammers posing as employers to legitimate employers requesting it on job applications.It is in your best interest to provide your SSN to an employer only after you have accepted a job. By that point, make sure you have collected and confirmed complete contact information for the employer including contact names, company name, website, street address, phone, and email. In addition, never send your SSN to anyone via IM, email, or an unsecured form on a website.Security expert, Robert Siciliano, CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com suggests that people even consider incorporating as a business, so that they can provide the employer with a federal employer identification number (EIN) as opposed to an SSN. Other wise, for tax purposes you will ultimately have to give out your SSN either before or after you get paid. preferably after. Mr. Siciliano also recommends that after you provide your SSN to anyone, you think about applying for a credit freeze or fraud alerts as protection from identity theft.2. Consider how you disseminate your contact information and work history.For any resume, and especially ones you use to apply for work at home job, consider the following recommendationsLimit your contact information Limit the contact information you distributionspolitik on your resume to your name, an email address, and if necessary a cell phone number. Use an email address that you setup specifically for your job search, and keep it professional (such as jane at yahoo.com vs. wackyjane at yahoo.com).Remove work history specifics Consider including company descriptions instead of including employers names (e.g., mid-sized zugreifbar advertising agency). Forego specific dates, and instead includ e the length of time you worked for an employer (2 years and 4 months instead of April 2005 August 2007). If you choose to do these things, it is worth mentioning at the bottom of your resume that specific work history information can be provided upon request.Posting your resume online Read the privacy policies of any website where you post your resume. Dont include unnecessary personal or contact information on an online resume. Keep track of everywhere you post your resume, and go back and delete your resume/account if you are no longer looking for a job.Never include unique identity information such as SSN, drivers license number, alien registration number, passport number, employer identification number, or even birth date on any resume, cover letter, or job application.Only provide this information on an as needed basis, and only after youve confirmed the company is legitimate.Employer requests for information If you ever feel pressured to provide personal or sensitive inform ation in order to apply for a work at home job, ask the employer for an explanation about why the information is being collected. If you are not satisfied with their explanation or dont receive one it could very well be a scam.3. Defend your computer.This is for anyone who uses a computer, but especially if youre using your computer to look for an online job.Most attacks on computers come from the Internet, and through the popular browsers and operating systems, but no operating system or browser is safe from attack. Malware, malicious software installed without a computer owners consent or knowledge, can have devastating results for their computer and privacy. If a keylogger, for example, is installed on your computer, it can reveal your passwords, credit card numbers, and other sensitive information by capturing and reporting back to the bad guys every keystroke made on your computer.All computer users should regularly activate an antivirus scanner and a dedicated web scanner. Af fordable products such asAVG Anti-Virus(which even offers afree version) provide crucial protection. Browsers, operating systems, and software need to be update regularly with the latest patches to protect them from the thousands of new malware released daily.Other smart ideasRegularly back up your hard drive, so that if something did happen to your computer, you wouldnt lose all of your data.Consider using an alternative browser to Internet Explorer (which is known as a more likely target for attacks), such as Firefox which offersan array of security featuresandadd-onsthat can enhance browser security.Install a firewall on your computer.4. Protect your financial information.Your financial information can be compromised online in a number of ways, but you can take steps to protect your bank accounts, credit card numbers, and other financial information. Some of this is redundant, but worth mentioning againGuard your SSN number and contact information (we cant say this enough).Defend your computer on an ongoing basis.Monitor your statements and report and suspicious activity immediately.Check yourcredit report, or enroll in a regular credit monitoring tafelgeschirr which will notify you if theres anything suspicious or irregular activity in your name.Never provide your passwords or security question answers to anyone. Ever. Not by phone, email, or IM.Dont store login information in your browser, especially if its a shared computer.Do not provide credit card or bank account information to a potential employer as part of a job application process.Before making a payment to a company- research the legitimacy of the company, read its privacy policy, andmake sure that it is a secure website.5. Consider your online behavior.For many of us, much of our professional and personal lives take place online. Email, blog, social network, and tweet with an awareness that predators and scammers do use these online tools to get information about their victims. A few guidelinesA void posting information like contact information or your resume in any publicly accessible online location.Read terms of use and privacy policies to determine how websites will handle or share private information you provide them.When in doubt, opt out.This is to help prevent websites from selling or sharing your information with other sites or companies.Never post or say anything you would not want your family, employers, prospective employers, colleagues, or neighbors to see.Use privacy settings as appropriate.Dont inadvertently reveal information on a blog or social networking profile that can be used to break into your accounts. For example, answers to common security questions such as your mothers maiden name, high schools name, pets name, favorite sports team, or the place you met your spouse could easily come up in online interactions. If they do, change your security questions.Sara Sutton, CEO of, advises, Unfortunately a lot of scammers try to prey on job-seekers, especial ly in the work at home niche. You should always exercise caution online, and while you are looking for a work at home job be particularly careful. Make use of these precautions, common sense, and persistence so that you can become one of the millions of people who successfully, and safely, work from home.Additional Resources for Protecting Yourself Against Online Identity TheftFederal Trade Commissions Identity Theft SiteIdentityTheftResourceCenterScared Safe Lifes Little Identity Theft Prevention Handbookby Todd M. Feinman, CEO, Identity FinderThe Tech Herald articlesSecurity Myths Your Should Know,Anti-Virus and other layers of protection (Part 1),Anti-Virus and other layers of protection (Part 2)Readers, how do you avoid work at home scams? Let us know in the comments section below

6 Tips for Acing a Phone Interview - FlexJobs

6 Tips for Acing a Phone Interview - FlexJobs6 Tips for Acing a Phone Interview -120planned accordingly, so try practicing with a friend over the phone. For a phone interview, youll want to demonstrate your ability to interact well over the phone without body language or other social cues to go by. Here are 6 tips for acing your phone interview.6 Tips for Acing a Phone InterviewPick a quiet spot to have the interview, and remove any distractions. Turn off your computer, put away random objects on your desk, etc. The less stuff you have around you to draw your focus, the more focused youll be on the interviewer and crafting eloquent responses.Surround yourself with the necessities. The only things you need are a copy of your resume, a list of talking points and answers to common interview questions, a list of important info about the company and your interviewer, and a phone.Smile and use your voice to convey enthusiasm. Think about popular radio personalities, especially the morning show ones. Their voices convey every mood they are feeling, from excitement to grasplatz to happiness to sleepiness. Some people need to stand up and pace, others use their hands, but whatever you need to do, make your personality shine through the phone. Smiling is an easy trick because it instantly conveys positivity over the phone.Dont be afraid of pauses or short silences, and speak slowly. Most people become fast talkers when theyre nervous, so its important to pace yourself, breath, and go slowly. Youve probably heard this tip for public speaking Speak much more slowly than you normally would. It may sound too slow to you, but because youre anxiety is speeding you up, its probably going to come out sounding normal on the other end.Try to relax. The more relaxed you are, the better the interview will go Be conversational, ask the interviewer if youve answered their question, and be prepared to ask them questions as well.Ask them about the next steps. At the end of the phone int erview, you might be so excited to get off the phone that you forget to figure out what happens next. Ask the interviewer what their next steps are, and when you might hear from them. And, dont forget to ask if theres anything else you can send them. Thats the final step in acing a phone interview.Readers, what are you tips for acing a phone interview? Share them below

Modeling Tips for Successful Underwater Photo Shoots

Modeling Tips for Successful Underwater Photo ShootsModeling Tips for Successful Underwater Photo ShootsHave you noticed the latest underwater photo shoot craze? Everyone from fashion lines to brides and grooms are trying it, and the results are pretty great The shots range from looking spooky to whimsical depending on the lighting, clothing, and poses used. Underwater photo shoots are becoming increasingly popular for designers who make long, flowing dresses because the water works wonders on emphasizing the fabric details. If youre a fashion model, you should be prepared to be asked to do one of these shoots (who doesnt want to be a mermaid for a day?) Here are some tips to help make koranvers you nail it Safety Is Your Priority Doing anything underwater comes with certain risks, and underwater modeling is no exception. If youre asked to do an underwater shoot, make sure you ask if there will be a person at the shoot whose sole responsibility will be your safety. This person wi ll be there to pull you up when you need to be (remember that youre likely wearing weights) and to make sure youre getting enough oxygen. A lot of models will try to push themselves when they really need to take a break, and a good safety person will keep their eye out for signs youre getting light-headed or in distress. Practice Breathing Techniques Being underwater for any amount of time can be a stressful experience if youre not prepared for it. Many of us have a natural reflex to scrunch our face up underwater while we hold our breath. As you can imagine, this does not make for very good photos. Before you go underwater, take very deep, slow breaths to make sure youre getting as much oxygen to your brain and other organs as possible. These deep breaths will also help calm the nervous system that will make you look more peaceful, natural, and relaxed underwater. Be Well-Rested and Well-Fed Being in water all day will leave you feeling utterly exhausted if you arent physic ally prepared for it. Before an underwater photo shoot, models must make sure theyve had a solid nights rest and have had a healthy meal that will help keep their energy up. If youre very tired, this will translate to your photos. Underwater photo shoots tend to take much longer than land shoots, so you will also need to be prepared for a longer workday. You will be going up and down and in and out of the water all day, so if you have an empty stomach, you could quickly become light-headed and unable to finish the job Bring Eye Drops Do you remember having red, dry eyes as a kid after spending all day in the pool? This can happen to models doing underwater shoots very quickly, especially considering you will often have to keep your eyes open when youre below the surface. Bring eye drops with you to use between takes to help keep your eyes moisturized and you wont have to fight dry, itchy eyes for days after Move Slowly Quick movements have a place in some types of modeling, but underwater modeling looks best with slow, fluid movements. If youre making quick movements underwater, not only will you be tiring yourself out quickly, you risk looking unnatural or even as though youre struggling to breathe. Your body will move and float naturally, but keeping your limbs, fingers, and toes elongated will help prevent you from making jerky movements. Underwater models often try dancer poses because these look especially elegant underwater. Just as people have a tendency to scrunch their faces underwater, they often do the saatkorn with their fingers and toes. By keeping your focus on elongating your limbs and moving slowly, your photos will not only look better but will help you stay calm and focused underwater as well.