Beware of Job Hunting Scams

Looking for a job? Don’t get scammed. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), here are some things to look out for and general advice.

Promise of a Job

Most legitimate companies will not promise you a job before they see your resume.

They Ask You to Pay

Whether for certifications or training materials, most companies will not ask you to pay for these things to them. They may require certain certifications provided by the state or a degree from a university. Be skeptical anytime they ask for any money, even when they guarantee refunds.

They Sell Information

Many companies will sell information about making money online, work at home jobs, lists of potential clients, ways to get a job, etc. Most of the information they send you, if they send it to you, is useless, poorly written, and outdated. Many of the websites selling it will provide phony comments and testimonials. If you are looking for information, try to find free articles online or purchase a book from your local bookstore.

Federal Jobs

Many sites and advertisements offer information on getting a federal job such as Postal Workers. All federal jobs are available for free to the public at www.usajobs.gov.

Do Your Own Background Check

Double check these companies with your local consumer protection agency, state Attorney General or the Better Business Bureau. Also, a Google search of the company’s name and “scam” will generally show any results of people who ever voiced any claim that the company was a scam. In addition, if they list working with or clients of any legitimate companies, call those companies and ask them about where they advertise their career opportunities or their training requirements. Any time you agree to terms and conditions, make sure you read the fine print thoroughly.

If you have already been a victim of any scam, you may file a complaint with the FTC at 877-FTC-HELP or online at FTC.GOV/COMPLAINT.

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Computer Cleaning

You clean your house. The computer should get a dusting inside and out once in a while as well. In addition to swiping a duster over the hard drive and monitor and maybe spraying air into the keyboard once in a while, consider cleaning up your software as well. Some computer chores can include the following:

Internet History

You should regularly clear your internet history, cookies, and temporary files.

Files

This can be a bear of a task, but what purpose do your files serve if you can’t find them? Every so often, go through your files and delete any trash, organize what can still serve a purpose, and archive what you must keep for future reference. Some people file by date, and some file by topic. The trick is to make it easy for you to find things.

Besides documents, other files that might need organizing are audio, video, and images or photographs. To free up space on your hard drive, you may consider saving files to an external source like a USB memory stick or CD. Just make sure you store that item safely because once it’s destroyed, if you don’t have a back-up….

Software

Are you really using all the software on your computer?  Do you have any spyware type software you surely don’t even want? Are other users potentially capable of downloading and installing software? It doesn’t hurt to regularly check the computer programs installed on the computer. In your control panel, you can choose to “add or remove programs” option, and it will list the programs currently installed on your computer. You don’t want to delete anything you aren’t sure what it is, but if you see something unusual that you doubt you would need but aren’t sure, search it on the internet.

Desktop

Just as you would remove items from a regular desk to remove clutter, you can regularly do the same on your desktop.

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Another File You Should Back-Up

Everyone will tell you to back up your electronic information. In addition to backing up your electronic data, you may want to back-up your paper data electronically.

For personal use, things like your bills and bank statements can generally already be found online, but photographs, a signed copy of your will, notes that have some value to you, tax returns, health records, training records, insurance information, and so forth, might be of great benefit to keep a backup electronic copy. Some of those items can be retrieved such as your tax preparer probably keeps a copy of your returns and doctors keep a copy of your health records, but if something were to happen where you lost these files such as a fire or flood, do you really want to go on a scavenger hunt from the top of your head after a disaster like that?

For business use, keep in mind many small businesses close after a disaster. Avoid that happening to your business by planning for these things to occur and having a system in place. What documents do you keep only as a paper copy that you need to survive as a business?

After choosing which documents you feel you should keep a back-up copy, scan it in to your computer. If you don’t have a scanner, many companies offer scanning services; however, if you have a lot to scan, printers that include scanners are selling as low as $32 at Walmart’s website.

Make sure you organize the information in files that’s easy for you and your loved ones to find. In addition, don’t forget to back those up with the rest of your electronic data as well. If you keep your computer in the same location as all those files you just scanned in, more than likely your hard drive won’t survive a disaster no better than the original documents.

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De-Clutter the Book Shelf

Do you have a lot of books lying around? Are you really reading them? Are they reference material? Have you considered Kindle? Kindle is the ability to read books from an electronic hand held device that weighs less than a book. It also comes with more features than a book itself could imagine having.

Many of the Kindle devices come with either Wi-Fi or unlimited 3G access with no monthly fees or contracts. You can also search, share passages on Facebook or Twitter, bookmark, and link directly to a dictionary or Wikipedia. It can also read to you out loud, and it can play mp3 files while you read.

Book availability is also impressive. You can choose from over 800,000 books, most of which are under ten dollars. They also have over a million books that are out of copy right (generally your classics) available for free. Publications like newspapers, magazines, and blogs are also available for viewing in addition to games like Sudoku, Hangman, and Scrabble. Devices can hold up to 3,500 books, and pricing ranges from $100 to $200 for six inch Kindle devices.

Afraid the screen will be as difficult to read as a computer monitor?  They have focused design to make the screen look as much like the paper from a book as they can. In addition, you can change your font, the size of the font, and zoom in on text.

Some of your books are best served in a book format like a dictionary, The Bible, and those where the paper is part of the reading experience. If you have a book where you have already written a lot of notes, that’s a must save. However, many of your books might serve you better with an electronic version on Kindle and the hard copy donated to the local library.

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Computer Science: Reaching the Horizon of the Future

Probably one of the most important degrees in this day and age is computer science. Why is that? Because computer technology has been skyrocketing into the future for the past decade. It’s almost staggering to witness the amount of growth. Moreover, actually acquiring online degrees in computer science is almost its own benefit—for the ability to obtain an online degree wouldn’t have existed if it wasn’t for computer science and technology! For starters, though, here are some things to keep in mind regarding the field of computer science.

There are several different degrees you could pursue that would immediately qualify you into the field of computer science. One of them is computer engineering; another is artificial intelligence. These are all high-profile degrees that take a great deal of work to go through, but in the end can set you up for the new horizon in a field that even to this day is still growing. Just so you know, it’s not all about learning how to program or computer language studies. The fact is that field of study isn’t for everyone. You can, however, focus on a more theoretical computer science degree—one that’s not based on actual programming but rather a scientific approach to developing computers and operating systems of the future. Relate it to the relationship between chemistry and pharmaceuticals: chemists create the drugs, doctors administer them to patients. Computer theorists create the languages, computer programmers and coders actually use the languages to create such things as games and applications. As said before, it depends on what you’re interested in. There are different sub-fields to computer science, so enjoy finding yours.

This is to say that obtaining an online degree in computer science benefits the future of computers and technology on a consumer and business level. The students of today will be the pioneers of tomorrow for the next unfathomable revolutionary technology. Enjoy what is to come!

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Keeping Track of Personal and Business Information Online

Those that use the Internet on a regular basis for either business or personal reasons all have one thing in common: they must find an effective and efficient way to keep track of their information. As technology advances, there have been many programs released that help you to handle various types of data for safe storage and retrieval when needed. Keeping current on these options can help the individual or business owner immensely in daily tasks.

For the business owner wanting to keep track of expenses, billing and profits, he or she can use a popular accounting program such as QuickBooks. This type of program includes templates for W-2 forms, handles storing and keeping track of financial data they can make life much easier. For example, the program includes professional looking business templates for billing statements that can be sent to clients. There are also homeowner versions of this software available. The program works in conjunction with an online site that has even more options available for consumers to use.

Businesses and individuals can now back up their computer, personal files and even data from their mobile phone on the Internet as well. This is usually done through a subscription account with a service that allows for easy retrieval no matter where the person is if a computer has a crash. This makes it very convenient to back up a system on a daily basis. This is becoming more popular as people are using more traditional forms of data storage less and less, such as compact discs. One of the most important considerations this type of information storage is to pay attention to security. Wherever information is kept, it must be a place that has adequate security against online threats such as viruses, spyware and other online threats.

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The Changing Face of Network Computing

Network computing is used in many large businesses and industries to make sharing information and communication more efficient during the business day. One of the latest focuses on this area computers deals with changing how these networks are established, specifically in setting them up to meet the unique needs of a business. One company, Sun Microsystems, is working to alter its own software technology to meet this kind of need. Their latest release of Solaris for Intranets and a newer version, set to be released next year, is their answer to the challenge. Other computing giants are also getting into the game, working on their own versions of this type of software.

To help and administration efforts, their other program titled Solstice Enterprise Manager, allows for management of access given to various parts of the network. For example, the ability to access various applications from the business server could be limited using this software. The traditional network could be changing, as new software such as Java API’s and Windows NT Server could take over many of the functions of Sun Microsystems’ current software does. Their goal to meet the personal needs of various industries could pay off in the long run, but they will still have to adapt to meet the changes that are coming in how networks are built and run.

The company is working to keep its edge in this area, and has chosen to target four main areas of business with its newest releases. These include areas like embedded Java and real time systems, network computer systems and public internet appliances. By zeroing in on embedded systems, they hope to stay ahead of the pack. This will be a challenge as Java and Microsoft continue to find new ways to do traditional networking more efficiently. The company has also decided to work closely with Intel in these areas.

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The Best Resources Compiled Online

The Internet has created the perfect platform for research of all types, and has made it easier than ever to compile information into usable resources that are available to the general public. Though there are services that require a fee to access them, a majority are free and open to anyone. The user has to be careful about what type of resource they are using to get information from, but at the same time can find many that are reputable, well written and with solid references.

Libraries and universities have been able to digitize and put their materials online for students and the public to access. This creates a boon to researchers who no longer have to travel to get what they need. You can directly view the documents on your home computer, or can request a copy by mail. There may be a fee to download an item, depending on what you are working with. Some of these institutions have private collections of letters, journals or artwork that have been digitized for online access as well.

Museums and research centers have now added journals, online collections and documents to the web. You can take a virtual tour of a facility, watch historical films and peruse documents easily. Military museums have a plethora of online information in the form of manuals, unit history and war documents and footage that are a historian’s dream to navigate through. The government and its various agencies have made it easier to access information online. You can see what bill is currently before Congress, historical documents of the Senate and House and access numerous data through the National Park Service, United States Bureau of Labor Statistics and many others. With this incredible organization and accessibility available online, anyone can find the resources they need with the click of a mouse.

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Document Creation by Computer

Creating various documents has become a breeze with the availability of resources available with various software and those posted on various websites. Writers, for example, are now using Google Docs more and more to create their work, especially journalists. This wonderful resource allows you to enter in a word document, save it online and then email it to someone for review. Once finished, the editor can then send it right back within minutes to the creator. This has given some challenge to more traditional programs.

Microsoft Word is still the standby for most word documents. It is full of wonderful features that allow the individual to spell check and format easily. Paperwork for businesses is also a snap as various templates are packaged within one resource. You can track inventory, fill in W-2′s and even create your own personalized documents with ease. Office stationery can be done from a template, which includes a number of font types and set-ups to give you plenty of choices to pick from. You can even add your own logo to the top.

Microsoft Excel makes it efficient to create various spreadsheets for tracking expenses and contact information. You can even take rows of data and convert easily into various graphs for presentations. As the computer handles document creation more and more, many companies are choosing to go paperless when sending out billing statements and employee pay sheets. This has helped to reduce expenses with printers, paper and ink cartridges.

Portable media allows the individual to take boxes of documents or templates easily on the go. There are currently devices that can hold an entire library in one portable package. This ability to create various documents through the computer has done a great deal to increase business efficiency and cut costs. There are some that still like to keep a paper hard copy in reserve, but the trend is toward paperless document creation and storage by computer.

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The Future Needs of Information Technology Careers

Those in the information technology field are continually having to adapt to the fast pace of technology within their field. Their job also becomes increasingly important as more and more companies are depending on the web as a primary vehicle for their business. These various industries must have solid tech support and well-trained professionals in order to establish networks and manage the storage of various types of information. This is why those who are trained in a broad range of areas and that are highly self-motivated will have the greatest number of opportunities and to be successful.

One of the primary challenges for information technology professionals is to keep current on changes in software and hardware technology. Education is a continual aspect of the job, and the technician must continually keep pursuing certifications and be up to date on the latest trends and market needs of their clients. This can be as simple as a certification in a basic software program to pursuing higher education, depending on the individual’s job goals. The individual may also have to attend seminars and other trainings in order to be current in the field.

When looking at education, the information technology professional has to consider whether or not they want to work in administration. Most management positions in the field require an advanced degree, usually at the master’s degree level. Many, though, prefer to stay in the role of a technician or software engineer, working directly with clients. Regardless of which avenue the individual takes, education is a vital part of a successful future in this career. Being a jack of all trades in information technology can be extremely valuable, especially when the individual has schooling in other areas. Some of the most beneficial areas can be business and accounting, which helps to create a strong knowledge base when working with a particular type of industry.

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