So many people have
asked me about this job opportunity that I just had to write
about it. Don't worry; this is a quick, yet informative lesson.
I found that analyzing
these types of job offers line-by-line can help the
telecommuting job hunter to actually see the scams for what
they are. Follow me dear students, as we dissect this job
offer:
We are an international
offshore company established in [usually an offshore location
like - Cyprus, Malaysia- I've seen this statement with a least
15 different locations attached] in 1997 and work within international
trading business. We deal in offshore banking and finance, insurance
and international trading of high profitable goods, shipping
and connecting corporations on the world market.
YOU HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED
TO FILL OUR REMOTE SECRETARIAL POSITION!
Notice that this potential
employer did not ask for a resume from the job applicant.
Notice also that the employer did not ask for references
or interviews before offering this job. Answer this question
for me, "What employer does not ask for a resume and other
evidence of reliability to make sure you (the potential employee)
are a "serious" applicant?
Please, be serious
in accepting this job, because we are only hiring serious
homeworkers. We offer you a REAL job that you can do at home
and increase your income. You can work part-time or full-time.
For full-time home typist position, US $3,500 or more each
month is very possible. Experience is not necessary but you
must know how to type.
They are offering
an entry-level typist position, requiring no experience
for $21.88 an hour! How did I get to this amount? There are
40 hours in a work week (if you work full-time). There are
usually 4 weeks within a month (average). That's a total of
160 hours per month worked (full-time). The company is offering
$3,500 per month in pay. Take $3,500 and divided it by 160
which equals $21.88 an hour!
3,500 160 = $21.88
I have yet to encounter
an entry-level typist position in that salary range. Check
it out and do a comparison.
We are only interested
in SERIOUS homeworkers to work for us. For that reason we
must ask for a one-time deposit of US $100. This is NO FEE.
It is a DEPOSIT that will be refunded to you when you have
earned your first US $100. This is necessary to protect both
you and us from unserious job seekers. This is a limited time
offer and will be valid for the next (y) days.
Why would they accept
you for a position and then ask you for money? Has an employer
ever said to you, "You've got the job, now give me $50?" Isn't
it kind of generally understood that you don't have
any money and that's why you are seeking gainful employment?
And on the subject
of "serious applicants," what's up with the $100 deposit?
Tell me truthfully,
if you went on a job interview and the employer asked for
a $100 deposit as a "good faith" gesture that you really want
to work for them, would you dish out the money?
As for the seriousness
of my application, I would think I was "serious" when I've
taken the time to submit a resume, wait for the employer's
response, attend an interview, allow the employer to test
and grade my skills, provide references and sign contracts
of employment. Yeah, I think if I go through all that, I'm
pretty serious, don't you?
Because of long
time for clearing (minimum 15 days) and high bank charges,
we DO NOT accept money order or personal cheques. We accept
BANK DRAFT, BANK-to-BANK Transfer, and Western Union.
So what happens if
the job doesn't pan out? Do they keep the $100? What if you
don't like the job? Will the company volunteer to give you
the money back? What if they refuse to give you your money
back? Will you go to Cypress or Singapore or Malaysia to get
your $100 back? Remember, there is no "International Better
Business Bureau," so if they stiff you out of $100; you're
out of luck.
Talking about checks,
what's up with this banking charge stuff? Why can't they accept
checks? Could it be because you can stop payment on
checks? That checks and money orders can be traced? And if
your new employer were really an offshore banking company,
wouldn't they be able to accept checks from all over the world
at minimum or no cost?
Why would employers
making loads of money in offshore banking, finance and insurance
need your measly $100 to insure themselves?
Hmmm. Sounding kind
of suspicious isn't it?
Please, whenever you
are looking for a telecommuting job, please, please, please
pretend you are walking into a "regular" commuting office.
What happens when you walk into a "brick and mortar" human
resources department? A few things:
1. They ask you for
your resume;
2. No one talks about
money, except you because you are asking about salary;
3. You are interviewed,
asked to provide references of your character and perhaps
samples of your previous work.
4. If they decide
to hire you, they ask you to sign an employment contract,
tax forms and other agreements.
5. The employer then
goes over your starting date, your probationary period and
when to expect your first paycheck.
Note, in the above
scenario, that money goes from the employer to you,
not the other way around. No one pays to work -- not in the
United States, not in Japan, not in Singapore, not in Cypress
or any other country. Remember that.
Happy Hunting!
Copyright 2001 Rosalind
Mays. All Rights Reserved.
Rosalind Mays may
be contacted at http://telejobs.cjb.net
Rozmw@aol.com. Click
here to view more of their articles.
Rosalind Mays, best-selling author of The Real Deal
on Telecommuting
, and works at home
as an Internet Researcher. She hopes her advice and report (which
compiles all the information she found while searching for her
current job) will shorten other job seeker's time in finding
legitimate work at home opportunities. Visit http://telecommuting.cjb.net
for a free list of telecommuting jobs compiled monthly. Go to:
http://www.siennapublishing.com to learn more about her books.
She may be reached via e-mail RozMW@aol.com.