Some people like to sleep in bed alone. I prefer having Daniel there with me. Originally it took some adjusting. Getting used to, maybe. Having someone in the bed with me every night certainly wasn't usual. At first there were nights when I would barely sleep because every time he moved, I would wake. The other day I noticed that we slept a solid six hours with his arms wrapped around me and his knees curled up into the back of my knees.
I know tonight will be weird -- sleeping without Daniel. I think I'm procrastinating crawling into bed despite the fact that I'm noticeably tired.
Daniel left for Arizona today. He got a job with Aerospace Company Z in the Phoenix area. I am left behind to wrap things up before I join him out there. This summer has been an emotional roller coaster for me -- on the professional level. I lost my unemployment compensation at the beginning of the month after having had it for a mere six months. I had no idea I could lose my benefits. I assumed everyone got a maximum of 99 weeks with all the extensions that had been filed over the last few months and years.
Though congress passed the most recent unemployment extension this week, I still have no idea if I'm eligible for an extension.
As soon as I lost my unemployment benefits, I gave notice to my landlord. I have been moving out of my apartment for the duration of this month. A little at a time. I go where Daniel goes because, basically, he takes care of me. I am not proud of that fact.
I am hoping that I'll find a job once I get out to Arizona. I have friends and connections out there and because of that am somewhat optimistic that the job market will be better one state away.
Since I lost my benefits, I have been consumed with packing up my place, selling anything I can on Craigslist for cash, and hoarding as much money as possible. Little headway has been made in writing my novel. Really, there's no end in sight for me. Once I join Daniel in Arizona we will be busy settling into our apartment and I'll be busy looking for a job. Hopefully soon I'll get some reprieve. Or just a tiny amount of downtime so I can get back to editing my manuscript. A little at a time.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Thursday, June 10, 2010
New opportunities
It's pretty certain. Daniel will be working in Mesa. What's not certain is when he'll be going. We've heard it could be any time between the end of June and the end of July. Since Daniel is my only real tie to California, I'll be going with him. And crossing my fingers that the job market in Arizona is better than it is here in California.
And I have reason to believe that it is. As soon as we decided it was realistic that we would be moving to Arizona, I started applying for jobs. A week later, I got a call from an environmental engineering contracting company in Tempe. The job description was almost exactly what I was doing at Aerospace Company X.
After a short conversation with the company's HR manager, I had an in-person interview scheduled for two days later and a flight booked. My first real interview in nearly six months and it was from a company in Arizona, not California. To say I was a nervous wreck was an understatement. I was flying around preparing for the interview, ignoring the radiating back pain in the middle of my back. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to make it to the interview. After three days of increasingly worse back pain, I decided the day of my interview that I needed to go to urgent care instead of Arizona. I was diagnosed with a bladder infection and given all kinds of medication.
Luckily the HR manager I had been dealing with was very understanding (he had suffered from back pain for years). They were looking to hire right away, and the day of my scheduled interview was the last day for interviews; but he said he would keep my resume on hand and keep me in mind for future positions. (Was he just placating me or did he really mean what he said? I guess time will tell.) He also asked me to notify him of my local contact information when I arrived in Arizona.
My first real shot at a job ... and my health gets in the way. I guess it was a blessing in disguise. It would have been difficult if not next to impossible for me to get out to Arizona first. Right now we see things unraveling as Daniel going for work without me, and me staying behind for a few weeks to pack things up and coordinate the move.
I am sick of living in limbo. So is Daniel. But we don't have much choice. That's just the way things are. I'm excited to move to Arizona because cost of living will be so much cheaper. Right now I pay $1200 a month for a one-bedroom apartment in downtown Long Beach. That same amount of money could get me a 3 or 4 bedroom house in Arizona. And even if I can only find a job that would pay me $31K per year, my money will go a lot farther in Arizona then it does out here. And I feel much more optimistic about finding a job in Arizona versus California.
And I have reason to believe that it is. As soon as we decided it was realistic that we would be moving to Arizona, I started applying for jobs. A week later, I got a call from an environmental engineering contracting company in Tempe. The job description was almost exactly what I was doing at Aerospace Company X.
After a short conversation with the company's HR manager, I had an in-person interview scheduled for two days later and a flight booked. My first real interview in nearly six months and it was from a company in Arizona, not California. To say I was a nervous wreck was an understatement. I was flying around preparing for the interview, ignoring the radiating back pain in the middle of my back. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to make it to the interview. After three days of increasingly worse back pain, I decided the day of my interview that I needed to go to urgent care instead of Arizona. I was diagnosed with a bladder infection and given all kinds of medication.
Luckily the HR manager I had been dealing with was very understanding (he had suffered from back pain for years). They were looking to hire right away, and the day of my scheduled interview was the last day for interviews; but he said he would keep my resume on hand and keep me in mind for future positions. (Was he just placating me or did he really mean what he said? I guess time will tell.) He also asked me to notify him of my local contact information when I arrived in Arizona.
My first real shot at a job ... and my health gets in the way. I guess it was a blessing in disguise. It would have been difficult if not next to impossible for me to get out to Arizona first. Right now we see things unraveling as Daniel going for work without me, and me staying behind for a few weeks to pack things up and coordinate the move.
I am sick of living in limbo. So is Daniel. But we don't have much choice. That's just the way things are. I'm excited to move to Arizona because cost of living will be so much cheaper. Right now I pay $1200 a month for a one-bedroom apartment in downtown Long Beach. That same amount of money could get me a 3 or 4 bedroom house in Arizona. And even if I can only find a job that would pay me $31K per year, my money will go a lot farther in Arizona then it does out here. And I feel much more optimistic about finding a job in Arizona versus California.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Shifting interests
One of my favorite things to do is sit down with a stack of magazines and spend the afternoon or evening catching up on my reading.
Correction: one of my favorite things that I used to like to do was ...
Last night while Daniel was watching The Replacements for the second time that day, I sat down on the couch with my March issue of Self magazine, intent on catching up on some old reading. Then something weird happened. Impatiently I flipped through the pages, restless almost. Not because the issue was old. It's normal for me to be 3 to 6 months behind in my reading, and it's never bothered me before. Suddenly I felt slightly disinterested in what I was reading. Like the content in the magazine didn't apply to me anymore.
Why? Well, for starters, there's always a section on career/job. I have no career or job to speak of, so that content no longer applies to me. Then there are the fashion spreads. I no longer buy clothes. So to me the fashion pages just mock me. This is what's new and trendy but SORRY! You can't afford it. That's what I see when I flip through those pages. Hair and makeup? Blah. I never do anything/rarely go anywhere, which means I don't have a need to try out any new hairstyles. And even when I do leave the house (grocery shopping, to meet old coworkers for lunch), I rarely put on makeup. Maybe some mascara. But that's a big maybe. Men/relationship content: not interested. Now that I'm no longer trying to figure out a man, I don't have an interest in reading about men/relationships.
That leaves nutrition/fitness. That's about the only content that keeps my attention these days. And even then I only skim the pages for good recipes or interesting workouts.
I guess the plus side of my shifting interests is that when it comes time to renew my subscriptions, I need not bother. And that means more money in my pocket at the end of the day.
Correction: one of my favorite things that I used to like to do was ...
Last night while Daniel was watching The Replacements for the second time that day, I sat down on the couch with my March issue of Self magazine, intent on catching up on some old reading. Then something weird happened. Impatiently I flipped through the pages, restless almost. Not because the issue was old. It's normal for me to be 3 to 6 months behind in my reading, and it's never bothered me before. Suddenly I felt slightly disinterested in what I was reading. Like the content in the magazine didn't apply to me anymore.
Why? Well, for starters, there's always a section on career/job. I have no career or job to speak of, so that content no longer applies to me. Then there are the fashion spreads. I no longer buy clothes. So to me the fashion pages just mock me. This is what's new and trendy but SORRY! You can't afford it. That's what I see when I flip through those pages. Hair and makeup? Blah. I never do anything/rarely go anywhere, which means I don't have a need to try out any new hairstyles. And even when I do leave the house (grocery shopping, to meet old coworkers for lunch), I rarely put on makeup. Maybe some mascara. But that's a big maybe. Men/relationship content: not interested. Now that I'm no longer trying to figure out a man, I don't have an interest in reading about men/relationships.
That leaves nutrition/fitness. That's about the only content that keeps my attention these days. And even then I only skim the pages for good recipes or interesting workouts.
I guess the plus side of my shifting interests is that when it comes time to renew my subscriptions, I need not bother. And that means more money in my pocket at the end of the day.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
I got got got got no time
For someone who is unemployed, I feel as though I do not have enough time in the day these past few days.
I have been collaborating with a friend for the past few weeks as she's been starting up a business. I agreed to help her out with her business website - handle the writing and some aspects of social media. Since I got back from Mexico I've been working on the website here and there. As the ideas continue to start coming to me, I continue to spend more and more time honing the website. On Sunday I spent the majority of my day formatting the website, doing some writing, and setting up social media tools. I was up until 1 a.m. The beginning of this venture is going to require the most work -- us figuring out what we need to put on the web site (probably through trial and error). Once we have everything figured out, it will just be a matter of maintaining. Writing is easy for me and it's what I love to do, so this has been an exciting time for me.
That being said, I have finished my novel. I am in the process of rereading once more to make any more revisions it might need, and then I'm ready to have others peek at it and give me feedback. I'm finding as I read through the prologue and the first few chapters that I'm making more revisions than I imagined there would be. Then again, I'm not sure I'll ever be satisfied with my writing. My cousin recently published a book. He had it self-published at one of those web sites that offers publish on demand, which means his book will never be carried in a Barnes and Noble or a Borders. He mentioned to me that he got rejection letter after rejection letter, and finally he decided to self-publish. This is not a story that gives me hope.
Last week I noticed on the California Unemployment web site that Microsoft is handing out a limited number of vouchers for certification in several Microsoft Programs. The program is called Elevate America. On Monday I drove to the Career Transition Center near my house with Driver's License and Proof of Social Security in hand, ready to receive my free vouchers.
I arrived and stood in line behind 10 people before I was able to fill out a form simply to 'register' with the CTC (a requirement to receive the vouchers). Once my name was finally called, I was brought back to a row of cubicles to begin the registration process with a woman named Tala. She took one look at my social security card and told me it wasn't an approved form of identification. Despite the fact that right on the card stub was printed: this is proof of your social security number. Tala advised me to drive to the social security office five minutes away, register to get a new card, come back with my print out and my birth certificate in hand, and then she would be able to finalize the registration process. Tala mentioned that I needed to be back to the office by 11 a.m., or I would have to start the process all over again the following day.
I wanted to stab Tala in the eye.
I drove to the SS Office, which was on my way home anyway. When I arrived there twenty minutes before the office opened, there was a line of at least 40 people snaking around the side of the building all the way to the back.
I decided to forgo waiting in line. I went home feeling very defeated. On a whim I decided to sift through my rolling wicker four-drawer dresser hoping to unearth my social security card (where I used to keep it years ago. I wasn't positive I'd brought it with me to California.) Within minutes I had found my social security card. I returned to the CTC with my driver's license, SS card, passport, and birth certificate. (Just in case!)
I walked straight into Tala's cubicle, handed her my social security card, and within two minutes she had registered me. I was then passed along to a career counselor where I again needed to show my social security card. After an hour long counseling session, I was signed up to come back to the CTC from 3:30 to 5 p.m. that afternoon to listen to a presentation on the vouchers; a requirement before I could receive them.
The voucher demonstration only took an hour, and I left the CTC for the third time that day with five vouchers in my hand: Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, and Outlook.
After a bit of procrastinating I started the on-line training sessions yesterday. I didn't get very far. Apparently, I need Microsoft Office 2007 to effectively complete the training sessions. On the three computers that Daniel and I collectively share, not one of them contains Microsoft Office 2007 software. So now it looks as though I'm going to have to buy the software in order to complete the online tutorials before I can take the exams and become certified through Microsoft.
I swear this is something the CTC and the EDD website failed to mention in their advertisement for the program. I need to have all exams completed by June 6 when the vouchers expire. That means I will be dedicating the next couple of weeks to Microsoft.
And I guess whenever I have the time, I'll have to squeeze in some job searching here and there.
I have been collaborating with a friend for the past few weeks as she's been starting up a business. I agreed to help her out with her business website - handle the writing and some aspects of social media. Since I got back from Mexico I've been working on the website here and there. As the ideas continue to start coming to me, I continue to spend more and more time honing the website. On Sunday I spent the majority of my day formatting the website, doing some writing, and setting up social media tools. I was up until 1 a.m. The beginning of this venture is going to require the most work -- us figuring out what we need to put on the web site (probably through trial and error). Once we have everything figured out, it will just be a matter of maintaining. Writing is easy for me and it's what I love to do, so this has been an exciting time for me.
That being said, I have finished my novel. I am in the process of rereading once more to make any more revisions it might need, and then I'm ready to have others peek at it and give me feedback. I'm finding as I read through the prologue and the first few chapters that I'm making more revisions than I imagined there would be. Then again, I'm not sure I'll ever be satisfied with my writing. My cousin recently published a book. He had it self-published at one of those web sites that offers publish on demand, which means his book will never be carried in a Barnes and Noble or a Borders. He mentioned to me that he got rejection letter after rejection letter, and finally he decided to self-publish. This is not a story that gives me hope.
Last week I noticed on the California Unemployment web site that Microsoft is handing out a limited number of vouchers for certification in several Microsoft Programs. The program is called Elevate America. On Monday I drove to the Career Transition Center near my house with Driver's License and Proof of Social Security in hand, ready to receive my free vouchers.
I arrived and stood in line behind 10 people before I was able to fill out a form simply to 'register' with the CTC (a requirement to receive the vouchers). Once my name was finally called, I was brought back to a row of cubicles to begin the registration process with a woman named Tala. She took one look at my social security card and told me it wasn't an approved form of identification. Despite the fact that right on the card stub was printed: this is proof of your social security number. Tala advised me to drive to the social security office five minutes away, register to get a new card, come back with my print out and my birth certificate in hand, and then she would be able to finalize the registration process. Tala mentioned that I needed to be back to the office by 11 a.m., or I would have to start the process all over again the following day.
I wanted to stab Tala in the eye.
I drove to the SS Office, which was on my way home anyway. When I arrived there twenty minutes before the office opened, there was a line of at least 40 people snaking around the side of the building all the way to the back.
I decided to forgo waiting in line. I went home feeling very defeated. On a whim I decided to sift through my rolling wicker four-drawer dresser hoping to unearth my social security card (where I used to keep it years ago. I wasn't positive I'd brought it with me to California.) Within minutes I had found my social security card. I returned to the CTC with my driver's license, SS card, passport, and birth certificate. (Just in case!)
I walked straight into Tala's cubicle, handed her my social security card, and within two minutes she had registered me. I was then passed along to a career counselor where I again needed to show my social security card. After an hour long counseling session, I was signed up to come back to the CTC from 3:30 to 5 p.m. that afternoon to listen to a presentation on the vouchers; a requirement before I could receive them.
The voucher demonstration only took an hour, and I left the CTC for the third time that day with five vouchers in my hand: Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, and Outlook.
After a bit of procrastinating I started the on-line training sessions yesterday. I didn't get very far. Apparently, I need Microsoft Office 2007 to effectively complete the training sessions. On the three computers that Daniel and I collectively share, not one of them contains Microsoft Office 2007 software. So now it looks as though I'm going to have to buy the software in order to complete the online tutorials before I can take the exams and become certified through Microsoft.
I swear this is something the CTC and the EDD website failed to mention in their advertisement for the program. I need to have all exams completed by June 6 when the vouchers expire. That means I will be dedicating the next couple of weeks to Microsoft.
And I guess whenever I have the time, I'll have to squeeze in some job searching here and there.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Career and life alternatives
I fear Daniel might be having something of an existential crisis. Last night when he came home from work he told me that he wanted to disappear. He wanted to get rid of his house, boat, truck, cell phone, credit cards, etc. He wanted to find a home in a remote area of Colorado or Arizona and relocate. Now, he said all this after having downed half of a pint bottle of Jack Daniels. Still, his eyes pleaded with me when he spoke.
I'm done with all this, he said.
As a contractor, Daniel is always lining up jobs while he's currently working. He's already got his next gig lined up. In Arizona. His current contract ends within the next two to four months, and then off he goes to Arizona. The idea is that I would go with him. I mean, it's not like I have a job keeping me here. In fact, maybe the job market is better in Arizona.
His lofty goal is to own a home somewhere out in the middle of nowhere. A home on a lot of acres where we could have dogs and cats and chickens and horses. This home would be our home base. Then we would travel where the work takes him and return to home base in between jobs. I can write anywhere. And for some reason should my writing not take off, I'd have to find something else to do as we traveled from city to city like nomads.
I rather like the idea. I'd love to see new cities and new states. Meet new people. Sometimes I think I'd miss Long Beach. Or California in general. But who am I kidding? My rent eats up 3/4 of what I make on unemployment. Traffic is atrocious. I have few friends here. And someday the state could fall into the ocean.
I'm done with all this, he said.
As a contractor, Daniel is always lining up jobs while he's currently working. He's already got his next gig lined up. In Arizona. His current contract ends within the next two to four months, and then off he goes to Arizona. The idea is that I would go with him. I mean, it's not like I have a job keeping me here. In fact, maybe the job market is better in Arizona.
His lofty goal is to own a home somewhere out in the middle of nowhere. A home on a lot of acres where we could have dogs and cats and chickens and horses. This home would be our home base. Then we would travel where the work takes him and return to home base in between jobs. I can write anywhere. And for some reason should my writing not take off, I'd have to find something else to do as we traveled from city to city like nomads.
I rather like the idea. I'd love to see new cities and new states. Meet new people. Sometimes I think I'd miss Long Beach. Or California in general. But who am I kidding? My rent eats up 3/4 of what I make on unemployment. Traffic is atrocious. I have few friends here. And someday the state could fall into the ocean.
Careerkiller.com
Months ago my mom advised me to join Careerbuilder.com in an effort to make my job search easier. She swore that two of her friends, whom had been layed off, had found jobs using Careerbuilder.com. So along with my regular job searches on Monster.com and various company websites, I began browsing my mom's suggestion. Soon after I began browsing, the web site encouraged me to post my resume and create a profile on their web site for easier access to employers searching for employees.
Since I've joined, I have realized two things: 1) no employers search for employees on that web site 2) the only companies that use that web site that want to hire me, actually try to track me down, don't exist. They are scams.
I get no less than two scam emails per day via Careerbuilder.com. (Thank you very much Careerbuilder.com! As if never getting called back for any job that I apply for isn't enough to make me feel worthless, you have now added insult to injury by making me comb through all the fraudulent companies that solicit my services.)
The emails look something like this:
Interestingly, here is what I find when I Google Career Network Inc...
And:
And when I Google Amplitude Group:
**********************************************************************************
It's a bit disheartening when the only people calling and emailing me regarding my resume are phishermen and women.
Since I've joined, I have realized two things: 1) no employers search for employees on that web site 2) the only companies that use that web site that want to hire me, actually try to track me down, don't exist. They are scams.
I get no less than two scam emails per day via Careerbuilder.com. (Thank you very much Careerbuilder.com! As if never getting called back for any job that I apply for isn't enough to make me feel worthless, you have now added insult to injury by making me comb through all the fraudulent companies that solicit my services.)
The emails look something like this:
Hi Idiot,Another example is one of the many work from home dream jobs that seem perfect for me:
Your online resume indicates that you may be interested in a vacant Clerical Assistant position. It offers $15-20 per hour together with benefits. We will be training this motivated individual to support the Manager for our Engineering firm. Your previous work experience exhibits that you will perform well in this position.
By following the link below, you can view more details and the application for this position:
Clerical Assistant
We are one of the most voluminous thresholds to employment options on the Internet, with thousands of resumes being posted to the Career Network job board each day. You can enhance your job search by making use of our vast database of open positions and easy-to-use layout.
Thank you for your time and interest.
Best Regards,
Cheryl Smith
Human Resources Coordinator
Career Network, Inc., P.O. Box 618305, Orlando, FL 32861-8305
Dear Unemployed Loser,And finally there are the insurance companies that seem to be voraciously hiring agents because I get emails from them daily:
We've found your resume and would like to offer you a Payment Processing Agent position.
This is Jeremy May and I represent Amplitude Group Inc. After carefully reviewing your resume I'm glad to inform you that your skills meet our basic requirements.
Our company is a well known worldwide. We offer our customers Information Technology ser-vices through outsourcing best candidates from all around the world.
Working schedule is a really flexible and can be made convenient to both you and us.
NOTE: Internet and e-mail are required.
There is no participation or any other fees. The company covers all fees in connection with the hire process.
It's possible to work from home and keep in touch using the INTERNET & phone.
After the first 20 days we evaluate whether an employee is ready to work with us permanently. Supervisor can recommend Contract termination after the Probationary Period is over.
The salary for the first 30 days is $2,300 + 8% commission for every completed transaction. Working with a number of permanent customers your end-result could amount to $4500/month. After the Probationary Period monthly wage will be raised to up to $3,000 plus 8% commission. NOTE: After your Probationary Period is over you may ask for additional hours or a full-time employment.
If you are interested in knowing more about this Payment Processing Agent position please fill in a form below with your updated contact information and send it to: may.amplitude.hr@gmail.com
We will contact you within next 48 hours after reviewing your form.
------------------------------------------------FORM-------------------------------------
Full name ______________________
Residence country _____________________
Contact phone ______________________
Availability time _______________________
------------------------------------------------FORM-------------------------------------
We've found your resume at www.careerbuilder.com. This letter confirms that your resume has been duly processed and you meet our basic requirements for the Payment Processing Agent position.
Sincerely yours,
Jeremy May
Amplitude Group Inc.
Hopeless,*********************************************************************************
Our Human Resource Department has kept the resume you posted a while back on file. If you are still looking for a new job we are still interested in speaking with you. If you are not currently looking to change jobs, we would like to keep in touch with you periodically. We believe you are a great candidate for joining a leading company of a recession proof industry. Perhaps at some point in the future you will be interested in seeing what we can offer you.
Farmers is the fastest growing multi-line insurance company in California and is currently filling positions in your area. If you are accepted, Farmers will financially assist you for 2+ years. Farmers will also provide you with proven training and tools so you can successfully manage your agency.
If you are unhappy with your current situation or are looking for a career rather than a job; this is your answer. Below are the average annual incomes for those who manage Farmers agencies (the position you will be applying for).
Average Annual Income
1st YEAR ---- $75,000
3rd YEAR ---- $150,000
5th YEAR ---- $250,000
Hopeless, please apply quickly to ensure the location nearest you is still filling positions. When applying be sure to only apply to the location that is nearest to you as multiple applications will not be considered. To apply now, simply click HERE (or any of the "Apply Now" buttons in this email) and fill out the short online application. After you fill out the online application, a Farmers representative will respond with information about an in-person appointment.
Click here to forward this email to additional candidates that may be interested.
Human Resouces Department
Interestingly, here is what I find when I Google Career Network Inc...
Indiana Company Agrees to Settle Charges of Misrepresenting Availability of U.S. Postal Service and Government Jobs(http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2001/11/careernetwork.shtm)
Career Network, Inc. (CNI), based in Crown Point, Indiana, and its principals, Walter Turulis and Kathleen Key, are permanently banned from promoting or selling any employment good or service as part of settlements with the Federal Trade Commission. In addition, the settlement with CNI and Turulis requires them to pay a $25,000 judgment. In April 2001, Kathleen Key entered into a settlement with the FTC that also required her to pay $25,000.
The case against CNI was filed in January 2001 as part of Project "Stamp Out Job Fraud," a joint effort between the FTC and the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to stop the fraudulent sale of employment services. According to the FTC's complaint, the defendants misrepresented: that postal or government conservation positions were locally and currently available; that consumers were likely to obtain postal or government conservation positions using their materials; and their refund policy. The court issued a temporary restraining order against the defendants, froze their assets, and appointed a receiver over CNI.
The settlements, which required the court's approval, permanently ban the defendants from promoting or selling any employment good or service; engaging in telemarketing; or assisting others in selling employment goods or services or telemarketing in the future. In addition, the settlements prohibit the defendants, in connection with the advertising, promoting, offering for sale or sale of any item, product, good, service, investment opportunity, business opportunity, partnership interest, trust interest or other beneficial interest, from misrepresenting:
That employment positions are available in particular geographic areas;
That consumers who purchase any employment good or service will be able to obtain employment positions;
The salaries and qualifications for any employment position;
The terms of and conditions of refund policies; and
Any material fact regarding any item, product, good, or service sold, or offered for sale.
The settlements also prohibit the defendants from:
Failing to disclose in a clear and conspicuous manner, prior to charging a consumer for any good or service, all material terms, conditions, and limitations of any refund policy;
Violating any provision of the Telemarketing Sales Rule, or assisting others who violate its provisions; and selling their customer lists.
The settlement with CNI and Turulis requires them to pay a $25,000 monetary judgment. The earlier settlement with Kathleen Key also required her to pay a $25,000 monetary judgment. Both settlements contain a "right to reopen" clause that would require the defendants to pay $2 million if it is determined that they made material misrepresentations or omissions in their financial statements. Finally, the settlements contain various recordkeeping and reporting requirements designed to assist the FTC in monitoring the defendants' compliance with their terms.
The Commission votes to authorize the staff to file both proposed stipulated final orders for permanent injunction were 5-0. The settlement with Kathleen Key was entered by the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Indiana, Hammond Division, on April 12, 2001. The CNI/Turulis settlement was filed on October 15, 2001, and entered by the court on October 17.
The FTC reminds those seeking any government job:
Information about job vacancies with government agencies is available for free;
Government agencies never charge an application fee, nor do they guarantee that an applicant will be hired; and
It is deceptive for anyone to guarantee applicants a high score on any required Postal or civil service exam.
In addition, as part of its Consumer Education Campaign, the FTC offers the following Tip-offs to Rip-offs:
Classified ads or oral sales pitches that imply an affiliation with the federal government, guarantee high test scores or jobs, or state that "no experience is necessary."
Ads that offer information about "hidden" or unadvertised federal jobs.
Ads that refer to a toll-free number. Often, in these cases, an operator encourages you to buy a "valuable" booklet containing job listings, practice test questions, and tips for entrance exams.
Consumers can find more information about federal and postal job scams, work-at-home schemes and consumers' credit rights at the FTC's "Making a Buck" Web site, at www.ftc.gov/makingabuck . In addition, the FTC Consumer Alert, " Federal and Postal Job Scams: Tip-Offs to Rip-Offs ," gives consumers the information they need to spot and avoid job scams.
If consumers have concerns about a company's advertisements for employment services, they should contact the FTC's Consumer Response Center, toll-free, at 1-877-FTC-HELP; or visit the FTC's web site at www.ftc.gov. Information about employment opportunities with the federal government is available from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management web site at www.usajobs.opm.gov. In addition, the USPS has published the Test Orientation Guide for Major Entrance Examinations, which is available from the USPS web site at www.usps.com at no charge. This document provides sample exercises and other information to help interested individuals do their best on the major USPS entrance examinations. It also provides accurate information about the USPS selection process and employment requirements, contrary to much of the materials provided by companies engaged in the deceptive marketing of employment services.
NOTE: The Stipulated Final Orders for Permanent Injunction are for settlement purposes only and do not constitute an admission by the defendants of a law violation. The Stipulated Final Orders have the force of law when signed by the judge.
Copies of the settlements, previous documents relating to this case, and a Consumer Alert about Federal and Postal job scams, are available from the FTC's web site at http://www.ftc.gov and also from the FTC's Consumer Response Center, Room 130, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580. The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop and avoid them. To file a complaint, or to get free information on any of 150 consumer topics, call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357), or use the complaint form at https://www.ftc.gov/ftc/complaint.htm. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.
And:
Report: Career Network Inc(http://www.ripoffreport.com/employment-services/career-network-inc/careernetworkjobs-com-career-n-w5668.htm)
Reported By: (Cedar Rapids Iowa)
careernetworkjobs.com/Career Network Inc Emailed me with a job saying I met initial employment requirements for list Payroll job and to login to the site to complete the application process Orlando Florida
*Consumer Comment... ABC Employment Services
Career Network Inc
P.O. Box 618305
Orlando Florida 32861-8305
U.S.A.
Category: Employment Services
Submitted: Thursday, June 26, 2008
Last posting: Thursday, April 01, 2010
While creating user accounts in search of a job I created a user account yesterday (6/25/08) at careernetworkjobs.com more commonly referred to as Career Network Inc. I found this supposed employment site when I googled for online employment and it came up with the likes of Careerbuilder.com, Monster Jobs etc.
This morning I received the following response (to a payroll position I completed an online application for by submitting a resume):
----------------------------------
From: careers@careernetworkjobs.com [mailto:careers@careernetworkjobs.com]
Sent: Thursday, June 26, 2008 10:06 AM
To: lorieasmith@mchsi.com
Subject: Regarding your application for the Payroll Clerk - $33K Base position.
A recent review of our records indicated that you have applied for the Payroll Clerk - $33K Base position with Career Network Jobs . After reviewing your application we have determined that you meet our initial employment requirements.
If you are still interested in the position please visit our website at: http://career-networkjobs.com/careers2.aspx?email=lorieasmith@mchsi.com&id=careernetworkjobs2nds06262008&jb=400194
When you open the application page you will be asked for a login id. Please use the following login to access the site:
Username: lorieasmith@mchsi.com
Password: smith
After you have logged into the site you will be asked to review and verify the information that we currently have on record. We may require additional information from you in order to more rapidly make a final hiring decision. After a final review of your completed application we will contact you directly.
Regards,
Samantha Murray Human Resources
Career Network, Inc.
P.O. Box 618305
Orlando, Florida 32861-8305
-------------------------------
When I tried to login to the site (http://www.careernetworkjobs.com/) I kept receiving this error:
'Invalid Login
The combination of username and password that you entered is invalid.'
This was when I got suspicious and googled the company and found NO REAL COMPANY information existed for them and that there were many SCAM ALERTS describing this bogus company whom displayed similiar but not alwys the same business name.
Tada here I am on ripoffreport.com feeling like sucker now that someone has my RESUME containing my work history, cell phone, email address and physical address. Thank GOD we don't put any other crucially life damaging information in resumes. But now I know I have to watch for scams with my personal and contact info floating around the world wide web.
THIS SUCKS!
Lorie
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
U.S.A.
And when I Google Amplitude Group:
Report: Amplitude Group Inc(http://www.ripoffreport.com/home-based-business/amplitude-group-inc/amplitude-group-inc-amplitude-cbe27.htm)
Reported By: Thad (Lodi California)
United States of America
Amplitude Group Inc AMPLITUDE-GROUP.COM Money Mule Recruiters Internet
...
Amplitude Group Inc
Internet
United States of America
Phone: 718-509-9829
Web Address: AMPLITUDE-GROUPMAIN.TW
Category: Home based business
Submitted: Tuesday, May 04, 2010
Posted: Tuesday, May 04, 2010
They recruit people to launder money through their bank account.
**********************************************************************************
It's a bit disheartening when the only people calling and emailing me regarding my resume are phishermen and women.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Recharged, refreshed, rejuvenated
After six days of relaxation (unfortunately including one night of vomiting) in Mexico, Daniel and I returned to Los Angeles this past Friday night feeling relaxed and happy. Perhaps all I needed to get out of my unemployment funk was a little vacation? I returned with a new vigor for job hunting and more motivation and energy than I've had in a while. A side effect of the renewed energy is a noticeable increase in confidence toward my professional abilities and a positive outlook toward my professional future.
I'm not exactly sure what spurred my recent attitude change. The relaxing massage we received at the resort spa? Bonding with Daniel this past week? Meeting new, inspirational friends while traveling? Turning off my phone/having no contact with anyone for an entire week? Talking about all the changes Daniel and I want to make in our lives to improve ourselves?
Whatever the cause, I spent yesterday working on my novel and applied to no less than 10 jobs today while publishing an on-line resume profile with CareerBuilder.com. I will be working on a writing project for my friend's business within the next couple of weeks.
For the first time in a while, I'm finally feeling OK again.
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