Sorry, that’s not a direct offer from Consumerist: we don’t have daughters, or $500. A 36-year-old Southern California woman who has spent the last decade and a half as her mother’s caregiver after a car crash is looking for a job now that her mother is well enough to live alone. Her mother has put up a $500 reward to anyone who is able to get her a job. [More]
job search
An App For Job Searchers Who Won't Take The Hint
By 1.20.12
You know how it is when you’re applying for jobs. You send out an application, then wait. And wait. Then send off a desperate-sounding follow-up email that receives no response. And wait some more. [More]
Job Search Credit Check Scammers Still Roaming The Internet
By 8.18.10
Molly writes that her brother has been looking for employment for a long time, and finally received a tentative job offer for a job in a warehouse. It’s underemployment, but it’s employment, right? The problem is that the agency doing the hiring seems kind of shady to Molly. They want to verify that her brother is a U.S. citizen by having him use a “free” credit score service, and e-mailing them the score. Molly’s right: it’s a scam. [More]
Help! AFLAC's Recruiters Won't Stop Stalking Me
By 6.23.10
Elliot has a unique problem in this recession. He tells Consumerist that recruiters claiming to represent the insurance company AFLAC have been calling, emailing, and otherwise harassing him and other people he knows who are looking for work. He doesn’t want to work for AFLAC. How can he make them stop calling? [More]
If You're Looking For A Job, That Facebook Profile Can Only Hurt You
By 4.6.10
CNN manufactured a trend story about young professionals hiding their Facebook statuses so snooping prospective employees can’t find anything to eliminate them from job consideration. The story is based on a Microsoft survey that finds hiring managers use the site to dig for dirt on applicants. [More]
You're Ugly! You're Hired!
By 9.9.09
We love this column from Marty Nemko over at Kiplinger because it’s sort of a go-get-’em morale booster to the ugly—only instead of boosting morale, it just gets more depressing as it goes on. But funny depressing. And after all the weird advice on watching your weight and avoiding hairpieces and wearing moderate makeup, Nemko makes an interesting case for why “ugly” people are better hires.
Take A Coffee Break Before Your Next Job Interview
By 7.28.09
Sure, we all know that it’s as disastrous to arrive late for a job interview as it is to submit your resume written in crayon. But have you ever thought about what happens if you arrive early? According to resume consultant Adam Sterling, arriving early disrupts your interviewers’ schedules and creates tension.
Looking For A Job? The Foreign Service Is Hiring
By 12.22.08
The New York Times reports that the freeze on Foreign Service hiring has been lifted, so if you’re willing to endure being moved to a new (occasionally dangerous) country every 2 to 3 years…
This Company Wants Money Before They'll Hire Me, Is It A Scam?
By 11.6.08
Reader Alexis wants to know if it’s standard practice to pay for your own “background check” in order to be hired for a job. She received an email after responding to a legit-sounding seasonal employment ad on craigslist. In the email, the “Head of Recruitment,” asks for money in order to perform a background check and to “demonstrate that you are serious about this position and that what you have submitted so far is correct.”
10 Lies You Really Shouldn't Try On Your Next Resume
By 7.30.08
Hey lazy! Are you still looking for a job? Maybe you’re thinking about “embellishing” your work history a little more, then. However, according to CareerBuilder you should be careful, because “49 percent of hiring managers reported they caught a candidate lying on their resume,” usually about things like responsibilities and skills. If you feel lucky, go for it, but there are certain Really Big Lies you probably shouldn’t try.
