Summer break is quickly approaching for high school and college students, and many of them will be searching for summer jobs.
The Better Business Bureau is warning students about job scams that could result in a loss of money and a waste of time. These could include work-at-home jobs paying high salaries for simple work and sales or pyramid schemes.
The BBB offers some tips for students when looking for summer job opportunities:
- If you are offered a job without a formal interview or job application, it is most likely a scam. Do not provide any personal or financial information, as it can lead to identity theft.
- If the employer does not provide you with the details of the job in writing, be wary. When you have details in writing, be sure to read them carefully and ask questions.
- If the employer does not have a website or contact information is missing, consider that a red flag.
- If the employer requires fees for training, background checks or drug tests, it is likely to be a scam.
- If an employer offers you a lot of money for simple work or to work at home, it is most likely too good to be true.
- If you cannot find reviews of the business anywhere on the internet, be wary as it is likely to be a scam. Check the potential employer’s BBB Business Review to see if the employer has a good rating.
If you experience or have experienced a scam, report it to your local BBB at www.bbb.org.
Many graduates in creative fields like graphic design, interior design or Web design are opting to start their own businesses. This is because recent figures show only a slight reduction in the unemployment rate, and job growth is at its lowest in six months. So, how can you make your business a success?
Bruce McCain, director of career services for The Art Institute of Tampa, a branch of Miami International University of Art & Design, and Kathleen Holland, director of career services for The Art Institute of Charleston, a branch of The Art Institute of Atlanta, share five essentials they identified as success factors in starting a business.
1. Self-assess and research. It is imperative that you are honest with yourself and truly understand what you are good at and what you enjoy doing. Doing an online personality analysis is a great way of assessing that.
2. Know your niche. A business plan is highly recommended to help identify both those industries with a need for your services and your competition. This exercise will also help identify whether there might be a smaller and important niche market where your business can focus and be profitable.
Knowing your niche will enable you to develop a consistent brand identity in every aspect of your business. The business plan also sets the goals and objectives that will guide many of your decisions.
3. To incorporate or not to incorporate. Many students in creative fields are familiar with taking on freelance work while still in school. But after graduation, it is important to formalize the business. It's a good idea to invest in some legal and accounting advice to help you make the best decision about incorporation. There are significant advantages and disadvantages to each type of business structure.
4. Develop a stream of business. New business owners often envision being successful within a short period of time. Developing and building a business from the ground up takes time, energy and hard work, but it can be very rewarding. The industry research you did for your business plan will come in handy in determining what a realistic rate of growth means for your industry and area.
5. Network, network, network. Networking may be your only means of marketing for quite some time -- it is important to get in front of as many people as possible and give them your "elevator pitch" (a quick story about your business that you can say in 90 seconds or less). When meeting each person, make sure you take his or her business card; this comes in handy when writing a "nice to meet you" note the next day.
"Yes, you should write a quick note to each person you meet. In this note, you should mention where you met them, refer to your conversation, and remind them what your business does and how it can be helpful to them," Holland says.
It takes a lot of hard work to be a creative business owner and there are no shortcuts to success. So put in the time to reap the rewards.
-- Brandpoint
The eight best-paying summer jobs for teens, according to AOL Jobs:
8. Food server - $8.81/hour (median pay)
7. Lifeguard - $9.09/hour
6. Babysitter - $9.28/hour
5. Housekeeper - $9.28/hour
4. Home health or personal care aide - $9.70/hour
3. Retail sales clerk - $10.09/hour
2. Product merchandiser - $11.11/hour
1. Pharmacy technician - $13.65/hour
-- CNN Money
Tech News
Microsoft annouced on May 3 that its Hotmail email service was now officially Outlook.com. Hotmail accounts were upgraded to be more compatible with Microsoft Office and Skydrive. Users will still be able to use their Hotmail addresses in the new Outlook system, which also has an updated calendar program and is expected to be integrated with Skype in the near future. Outlook has 400 million active accounts.
-- TheStreet.com
Spring cleaning is here, and many people take the opportunity to spruce up their homes by adding a new coat of paint. Due to health and environmental concerns, many people are wary of buying paint that contains VOCs or volatile organic compounds. VOCs are emitted gases made up of different chemicals that may have short- and long-term negative health and environmental affects. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) warns consumers to take a closer look at what is in their remodeling supplies.
Many people are opting for paint that has low VOCs or VOC-free. What they are not aware of is that if they add colorant to these paints many times they are adding the VOCs back in unknowingly. It is important to use both paint and colorant that are labeled VOC-free.
The Better Business Bureau and Environmental Protection Agency offer ways to minimize VOCs while remodeling:
- Minimize the use of VOCs inside the house. If doing work inside the house, use low VOCs or VOC-free paint. The lower the contact with these products, the better.
- Opt for "exterior-grade" pressed wood products. "Exterior-grade" wood emits lower amounts due to the use of phenol-formaldehyde resins as opposed to urea-formaldehyde resin.
- Provide plenty of ventilation during the painting process. It is important to have an area for the fumes to escape while painting. Even after the process is complete, the fumes still hang in the air.
For more consumer tips you can trust, visit www.bbb.org.
The economy is starting to turn around, but competition for open jobs remains fierce. For job hunters, the mental and financial stresses mount every day they remain unemployed. To keep job-search momentum high and attitudes positive, it's important to follow a few simple steps from the experts.
"Hunting for a job can quickly start to feel like a never-ending journey," says employment expert Chasity Trzop, Regional Director of Career Services at Brown Mackie College - Louisville. "As America emerges from the Great Recession, early signs of job growth are appearing, but there is still unprecedented competition when it comes to finding employment."
If you're looking for a job, follow Trzop's top seven rules for job searching and you'll put yourself on the fast track to employment:
Rule No. 1: Get offline and score some face time
"When I talk with graduates who are discouraged, the first question I ask is, 'What are you doing?' Many times they're on the computer applying online as a primary form of job searching," says Trzop. While the computer can be instrumental, a good job search utilizes additional tactics. In addition to passive job search tactics, such as doing online applications where there is heavy competition, also incorporate activities such as face-to-face informational interviews.
Rule No. 2: Treat job searching like a job
While working with graduates, Trzop reminds them that searching for a job is a job in itself, and should be treated as such. A good rule of thumb is to do 10 things each day in support of your job search. "Five of those things can be done online, like finding and applying for jobs, and writing emails to strengthen your career network. The other five things should be personal contact with people who may be able to help," says Trzop.
Rule No. 3: Join professional associations and network
Students at Brown Mackie College - Louisville learn the importance of building professional networks, and the same holds true for any job hunter. The affiliations are indispensable when searching for employment. Attending association functions or business open houses puts you in front of people who may be hiring. "No one knows how wonderful you are if you're hiding behind your computer," Trzop says.
Rule No. 4: Volunteer or apprentice without pay
Volunteering to work without pay may sound like the antithesis of job searching, but in reality it's a great way to make connections and prove your worth. "Offer your service to someone in the field you want to enter. Ask if you can shadow him or her for a few days," Trzop recommends. "Who wouldn't want free labor? If he or she says no, you move on to the next opportunity." Trzop has seen graduates and students be so effective while volunteering that companies have created positions for them.
Rule No. 5: Volunteer for community service
While unemployed it's easy for days to flow into weeks to flow into months. Stop the snowball effect and make productive use of your time every day. "Volunteer for any type of community service that interests you," Trzop says. It provides numerous benefits. It gets you out of the house and introduces you to new people. "You never know when you'll meet someone who may be hiring. The experience also looks great on a resume, and can fill gaps in employment," she says.
Rule No. 6: Use the phone to your best advantage
Trzop tells graduates to keep in touch. For example, after meeting people in your industry of interest, call them to solidify the relationship. Ask for information on which companies may be hiring. These ongoing relationships will serve you well throughout your career, but especially while job searching.
Rule No. 7: Use social websites to your advantage
"More and more people are turning to social networks like Facebook and LinkedIn in their searches for employment," says Trzop. "The websites make it easy to connect with others who share your interests." Make sure you keep your profiles and conversations professional, and stay up-to-date on industry happenings, so conversations reflect your intelligence and enthusiasm for your career.
-- Brandpoint
The List
States with the highest unemployment rates, as of March 2013:
1. Nevada: 9.7 percent
2. Illinois: 9.5 percent
3. Mississippi: 9.4 percent
4. California: 9.4 percent
5. North Carolina: 9.2 percent
6. Rhode Island: 9.1 percent
7. New Jersey: 9 percent
8. Indiana: 8.7 percent
9. Michigan: 8.5 percent
10. District of Columbia: 8.5 percent
-- CNN Money
Tech News
Yahoo has announced a new app for iPhones, iPods and iPads that utilizes the company's recent acquisition, Summly. Summly's technology allows it to turn long news stories into short summaries. Yahoo CEO Marissa Meyer showcased Summly's abilities during a report of Yahoo's first-quarter earnings. Meyer fed Summly her 2,000-word script. Summly then generated a 140-word summary, which accurately highlighted the main points and tone of Meyer's speech. The app is currently available in the U.S.
-- TheStreet.com
Charity scammers strike after tragedies, and at least one poorly conceived charity scam has already emerged in the wake of the explosions at the finish line of the Boston Marathon. The Better Business Bureau is alerting consumers of the possibility of phony charity solicitations, supposedly on behalf of the families of victims of the Boston Marathon tragedy.
"Tragedies often inspire people to give," said Steve J. Bernas, president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau serving Chicago and Northern Illinois. "Unfortunately, tragedies also inspire scammers to take advantage of people's generosity. Give wisely by checking on the organization before donating and make sure that your gift is being used for its intended purpose by a trustworthy charity."
The BBB recommends asking the following questions before choosing to donate to a specific charity:
Is this a charity I can trust?
Look at the appeal carefully; some charities have similar sounding names. Don't be fooled by names that look impressive or that closely resemble the name of a well-known organization. Check with your appropriate state government authorities (this is usually a division of the state's office of the attorney general) to verify the charity is registered to solicit in your state. Also, visit the website of the BBB Wise Giving Alliance (www.bbb.org/charity) to find out whether a national charity meets the 20 BBB charity standards that address charity governance, finances, fund raising, donor privacy, and other accountability issues.
How will the charity use my donation?
Ask questions about how your donation will be used. Beware of appeals that bring tears to your eyes but tell you little about what the charity is doing about the problem it describes so well. For example, if the charity says it's helping the homeless, do they explain how (shelter, food, medical care) and where this is taking place?
Watch out for statements such as "all proceeds will go to the charity."
This can mean that only the money left after expenses, such as the cost of written materials and fund raising efforts, will go to the charity. These expenses can sometimes be high, so check carefully.
Is my donation tax deductible?
If you want to take a charitable deduction for federal income tax purposes, make sure the organization is tax exempt as a charity under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. A charity appeal will usually include a reference to this. To verify a charity's tax status, access an IRS database of organizations by viewing Publication 78 on the IRS website at www.irs.gov. Consult your tax advisor for details.
Can the charity actually use what I'm donating?
All charities welcome the receipt of monetary donations, but some also solicit in-kind donations such as clothing, food, and toys. If you're planning to donate items to a worthy cause, make sure you know the in-kind contributions your charity prefers. For example, a food bank may prefer food items that are not perishable such as canned goods, and a toy drive may be seeking new and not used toys.
Am I feeling pressured to give?
Don't succumb to pressure to give money on the spot, either immediately over the phone via credit card or by allowing a "runner" to pick up a contribution. Take the time to research the charity fully; the charity that needs your money today will welcome it just as much tomorrow.
The BBB is asking anyone who receives a suspicious charitable solicitation to report it to BBB Report a Scam.
If you're heading out into the workforce for the first time, there's plenty of prep work to do. An employer's first impression of you could very well be your resume.
Christine Pacheco, director of career services at The Art Institute of Colorado, and Kristin Frank, director of career services at The Art Institute of Phoenix, share the top dos you should include to get noticed and get your foot in the door - and the don'ts that could get your resume tossed in the trash.
First, the dos:
- Do look at the job description and then tailor your resume to the specific needs of the job, advises Frank. Your skills need to match what the employer is looking for. Pacheco stresses the importance of key words that should be included in your resume. "Your resume could be scanned electronically and if key industry words and words from the job description are not in it, it will get tossed before it ever gets to a human being," she says. That means you should be tweaking your resume for each job.
- Do ensure you've completed at least one internship to include on your resume, even if your program of study did not require it. Explain how you contributed to the organization and how you made yourself stand out. Make sure to stress the professional skills you honed during that time. If you've done freelance and contract work in your field, create a 'freelance/contract work" section and list all your clients.
- Do list your membership and participation in professional organizations, and if you haven't joined a professional organization for your field, do so immediately. "It's important to show a genuine interest in your industry," explains Frank. Make sure to also list any professional certifications you've earned while still in school.-
- Do utilize your college's career services department. Advisors can assist you in formatting and tailoring your resume and may be able to provide you with job leads. They can also help you prepare for the actual interview.
- Do list your work-related and non-work-related accomplishments. Make sure the non-work accomplishments still showcase your benefit to a potential employer. For instance, if you planned your sorority or fraternity annual philanthropy, focus on the leadership skills you utilized and the organization the event benefitted. If you've completed a marathon, list that as well. It showcases your ability to stick with a project and follow through. It could also wind up being a pretty interesting topic of conversation during the interview. Just be prepared to discuss your skills and accomplishments, when asked.
Which brings us to the don'ts:
- Don't embellish. Because you will be asked about your marathon or how you increased your company's ROI during your three-month internship, make sure everything you put on paper is true. If not, it could come back to bite you.
- Don't send before you proofread. "We still see typos and missing names, email addresses or phone numbers," says Pacheco. Few things annoy hiring managers more than that kind of easily avoided carelessness. It tells an employer that you do not have attention to detail and that you complete sloppy work. In an era with spell-check, most of this can be easily avoided.
- Don't use that "cute" email address you created in college. A hiring manager will be hard-pressed to take "partygirl@email.com" or "lovetheladies@email.com" seriously, warns Frank.
- Don't include irrelevant info on your resume. A philanthropic event you organized for your fraternity is a plus, the spring break trip you spearheaded may not impress, nor will your award for most parties attended in a semester. Make sure the information you include showcases your responsible side. Your future employer does not want to imagine you calling in sick because you stayed out too late the night before.
- Don't go on and on. "I've seen executive-level resumes that stuck to a page or two," says Pacheco. Make sure your resume is clear and to the point.
-- Brandpoint
The List
The 10 highest-priced beers sold at MLB stadiums:
10. San Francisco Giants: $6.75 for one small draft beer
9. St. Louis Cardinals: $6.75
8. Atlanta Braves: $7.25
7. Chicago Cubs: $7.25
6. Boston Red Sox: $7.25
5. Toronto Blue Jays: $7.34
4. Minnesota Twins: $7.50
3. Philadelphia Phillies: $7.75
2. Miami Marlins: $8.00
1. Washington Nationals: $8.25
-- TheStreet.com
Tech News
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Microsoft is developing a smartwatch, citing an unnamed source. Micorsoft would be competing with other smartwatch makers like Apple, Samsung anad Google. Microsoft has not commented on the rumors. In 2004, Microsft developed a product called SPOT, a watch that used radio signals to send a receive instant messages, news headlines and weather forecasts. Production was stopped in 2008 and the product was cancelled last year. Microsoft researcher Bill Buxton spoke about the 37-year history of the smartwatch at the company's TechFest last month, lending credibility to the reports.
-- CNN.com
Scammers have a new technique called "bluebugging" to gain access to sensitive information stored in cellphones. Through special software the scammer intercepts the Bluetooth signal to hack into the cellphone and gain access to contacts, photos, text messages and call history. Scammers have the most success "bluebugging" while in busy areas, and the new trend is to set up pay-per-minute numbers on the hacked phone to rack up charges.
"As technology becomes more advanced, scammers evolve to find new ways to access personal information through technology," said Steve J. Bernas, president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau serving Chicago and Northern Illinois. "It is important to understand how scammers access this information to protect against it."
The BBB offers tips to protect against "bluebugging":
Passwords. Always use a minimum of eight characters in your PIN. The longer your code, the more difficult it is to crack.
Sign-off. Switch your Bluetooth into "not discoverable" mode when you aren't using it. If you make a call from your car, be sure to switch it off when you get out.
Be wary of unknown requests. Don't accept pairing requests from unknown parties. If you happen to pair your phone with a hacker's computer, then all your data is at risk.
Stay updated. Make sure you download and install regular security updates. Keeping your phone updated is an important way to protect it.
For more information, visit www.bbb.org.
