Adventures in Craigslist
Every once in a while, especially with the current economic climate, I will browse through Craigslist’s job postings to see what they have to offer. Of course there are plenty of scams out there, but I saw a few postings recently that were legitimate data entry positions. So I saw this one yesterday and decided to tentatively email my resume. What’s the worst that could happen, right?
It was vague enough that I, at least, wanted to ask!
You can imagine my surprise when I found an email awaiting me this morning, stating the following:
Hello Applicant,
This is an Admin assistant/data entry position . We have reviewed your resume/cover letter and you seem qualified for the position.You need to undergo an online job briefing, it is now required for you to have me [name removed] added to your Yahoo Messenger contact list for an online interview/job briefing.
If you don’t have a yahoo messenger ID ,create one now at (www.messenger.yahoo.com) and IM me .My yahoo ID is ([e-mail address removed]) .I will be online ASAP and Instant message me whenever you are ready.Feel free to email me back if you have questions.
Regards
Human Resources
I swear that I stared at the email for a good 10-15 minutes. My gut instinct said the same thing that it said when I initially emailed, “This is interesting but this can’t be for real.” First of all, I want to point out the major grammatical flaws and errors and the complete unprofessionalism in which the email is written with. I will readily admit that I am not the best or most perfect grammar model, but I also do not work HR for a yet unnamed company. I wanted to know more. I wanted to ask questions. So I created a new Yahoo ID and added him.
This is the conversation that ensued:
Stacy (11/29/2011 11:48:16 AM): Hello. This is Stacy [lastname]. You emailed me back this morning regarding the online interview/job briefing.
johnncindy3 (11/29/2011 11:48:41 AM): Yes, how are you doing?
Stacy (11/29/2011 11:48:47 AM): I'm doing well. How are you doing?
johnncindy3 (11/29/2011 11:48:53 AM): i am good too
johnncindy3 (11/29/2011 11:49:01 AM): What is your Full name, current location ,can you work from home for us and Tell us a little about yourself?
Stacy (11/29/2011 11:51:14 AM): My name is Stacy [lastname]. I currently live in [current location], Texas. I can work from home easily, pending more information about the job itself. I am 25 years old, currently pursuing my bachelor's degree in Information Technology. I'm very familiar with computers. They have been a hobby of mine since I was 13. I feel confident that I could perform whatever tasks you put in front of me.
johnncindy3 (11/29/2011 11:53:35 AM): Okay good
johnncindy3 (11/29/2011 11:53:45 AM): Are you currently employed or on another job,Why do you want this job and What is your typing speed?
Stacy (11/29/2011 11:56:00 AM): I am currently employed by a freelancing company, [company I work for]. I prefer jobs which allow me flexibility and allow me to be able to be around for my 6-year-old son as he grows and develops. I enjoy being able to work from home and also attend school conferences, fall festivals or any other things his kindergarten teacher asks of the parents. The last time my typing speed was tested, approximately six months ago, the speed was 113 word-per-minute.
johnncindy3 (11/29/2011 11:57:08 AM): good
johnncindy3 (11/29/2011 11:57:26 AM): Describe your work ethics and give me two professional references,How many hours can you work per day and Do you have any check printing or payroll skills?
Stacy (11/29/2011 11:57:54 AM): Before I am able to do that, may I inquire about the job first?
johnncindy3 (11/29/2011 12:02:52 PM): Your duties if hired includes; typing documents, data entry, using accounting and data entry softwares, and word processing to organize data, print and file documents needed in hard copies, run errands, process files using copier and fax machines, follow instructions which will be provided to you via IM or email in handling tasks assigned to you.This is a work from home office job, work hours are from 9AM -5:30PM, we also offer part time,startup pay is $16/hour with flexible time.
Stacy (11/29/2011 12:04:39 PM): What is the name of the company that I would be working for? What kind of data will I, if hired, be working with? Will there be any training involved?
johnncindy3 (11/29/2011 12:06:23 PM): Ernst and Young company
johnncindy3 (11/29/2011 12:06:34 PM): numeric and alpha datas
Stacy (11/29/2011 12:07:29 PM): Which Ernst and Young location would I be working for?
johnncindy3 (11/29/2011 12:09:40 PM): www.ey.com
Stacy (11/29/2011 12:11:35 PM): Do you have additional information about telecommuting with Ernst & Young available on the website?
name removed] (11/29/2011 12:15:03 PM): no
Stacy (11/29/2011 12:16:24 PM): Where could I go to find more information about telecommuting opportunities with Ernst & Young? I have been scouring the website and I am just not seeing a place that says that they offer telecommuting or work from home opportunities. I am sure you understand my concern with the prevelance of the internet being a great place for people to throw scams out left and right. I want to make sure that this is a valid, honest job.
Stacy (11/29/2011 12:33:08 PM): Hello?
BUZZ!!! (I buzzed him)
Stacy (11/29/2011 4:29:57 PM): Hello, John. I believe you may have forgotten about me. I still had some questions about telecommuting. Thanks!
BUZZ!!! (He buzzed me)
Stacy (11/29/2011 4:41:39 PM): Yes?
As of posting this (November 29 at 5:00pm), he still has not returned any of my messages. I am quite amused, honestly. This is obviously a scam of some sort. I must have asked too many questions. But first of all, the pay per hour went up from $13 in the original posting to $16 in the IM. What telecommuting business conducts their interviews over Yahoo IM of all things? If you don’t have any information about telecommuting on your website or readily available for potential applicants (assuming he even worked for E&Y in the first place – which I believe that we can both agree is highly doubtful) then how is an applicant supposed to believe that you have things like your tax forms in order? And yes, this entire conversation was conducted on a screen name of “johnncindy3″. My mind was blown.
This was just a huge mess of a conversation. I have no other words, honestly. I hope nobody else gets taken in.
Vroom, vroom, vroom.
The car that belongs to my family is approximately 10-12 years old. It’s old enough that it doesn’t have a built-in roadside assistance plan or GPS. Things that my son will probably grow up knowing, we just didn’t have with this car. I bought it probably in 2004-2005 or so. It’s a cute little car but you can definitely tell that it’s older. It’s done us well though. It took us on a cross country move. It’s taken us on countless road trips, discovering what outside of our town looks like. It’s been put through the ringer with Monster and his food, sick, sleep and toys. And it still happens to work in pretty good condition. Would I take it on another cross country trip? Ehhh… we’ll see. Hopefully not in the near future though.
8 years!
Wow, folks. Sleepless Nights has been up and running for 8 whole years. I got the domain registration prompt today since it’s getting to about that time. Sometimes I forget just how long it’s been. Let’s see, what was I doing 8 years ago?
2003: My junior year. I was an angsty teenager.
2004: My senior year. I graduated May 22nd, 2004!
2005: Six years ago in December, I had a baby.
2006: My Dad got married to his new wife, Julia.
2007: Bought a house, which was subsequently sold about 7 months later due to just needing too many repairs and updates. I’d be really surprised if anybody lives in it now..
2008: Angela introduced me to Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps!
2009: I moved to Texas! Pretty damn good choice to move. Since then, I have watched Iowa’s economy collapse even further.
2010: I flew my brother down to Texas for Christmas and moved in with my then-boyfriend. That was an exciting and stressful month.
Wow, looking at my website in the wayback machine has made me want to create my own layouts again too. Since I’m taking some more PHP classes, I wonder if I could figure out how to design WordPress layouts. I can’t imagine it’s that difficult. Anyways, happy 8 years Sleepless Nights. I couldn’t imagine another domain name that was so fitting. (Note: this was all written up between 5:30am and 6am because I can’t sleep. See? Fitting, isn’t it?)
Television
Lately I have been devouring television shows in my off time. I picked up watching Secret Diary of a Call Girl, Mad Men and The Big Bang Theory to name a few. I really have never been that into watching television shows but these are really, really well done. I mean, I’ve always had “my” shows that I’ve watched. Things like Glee or Buffy the Vampire Slayer or something like that, but it’s been rare that I’ve had so many shows that I want to watch and catch up on at once.
I do have this problem though. I can’t just sit and watch television. Generally, I’ll have a show playing on my iPod, like right now I have Mad Men playing, while I go about my other business. I’ll watch Mad Men while I do my homework this morning and life will be good.
Box springs
Last year, for Christmas, I received a king-size mattress. It was something that my ex preferred, I guess. He didn’t get a box spring and I don’t exactly remember why. Since then, I’ve enjoyed it’s comfort and coziness and being able to move and breathe and spread out in bed. Up until then, the biggest mattress I had ever had was a queen-sized bed when I was pregnant. You may not find me searching for mattresses los angeles, because I don’t live in LA but I have been known lately to be searching for box springs. One day I will have a box spring and a nice frame for my bed, but that day is not today unfortunately.
Comfy clothes
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again.. I think some people wear a nurse uniform some days when they just don’t feel like putting on jeans or “real” clothes. I know that scrubs are real clothes but you know what I mean, I’m sure. I didn’t think they were that comfortable, but I’ve been corrected and told that they are surprisingly incredibly comfortable. Like wearing sweatpants without looking like sweatpants.
Maybe it’s just that I’ve worn jeans and a t-shirt for so long. That’s been my staple outfit for years now. I think I would be too afraid to wear a nurse uniform out in public. I’d be concerned that people would ask me questions. Nursing seems like one of those professions where you get asked a lot of weird, random questions about personal health because people assume you know everything there is to know about nursing and the latest nursing advances.
Head cold
In all of my genius, I couldn’t sleep one night and decided to take out the garbage at 4am. I thought to myself, it’s only 50 degrees outside. That’s not so bad! I’ll be just fine. Well, apparently it was just enough because now I am sick. It’s just a head cold but it still sucks. My throat is raw and sore, my sinuses are full to bursting and my eyes are watering constantly. I’m sure I’ll feel better soon. It’s only a matter of time. Until then though, lots of fluids to stay hydrated and lots of rest! And, of course, hoping Monster doesn’t get sick again. Last week and the week before he was just sick enough to stay home but not well enough to go to school. Kind of in that gray area between sick and not sick. He was slightly feverish, lethargic and grouchy but then by the end of the day, he would have all the energy! I hope that this week is a bit better for both of us.
Construction
Since the weather is relatively nice all year round, we have construction all year round. I think I’ve mentioned that before. There is always some construction somewhere. It’s good, in my opinion. It keeps the laborers working and being able to feed their families without having to worry about much. What I wonder though, is if they use steel drums. I’ve seen so many different canisters on roads near trucks before and I feel like they would really benefit from hauling some of their stuff around in a stell drum from drumsofsteel.com. And hey, after they’re finished – they could always take it home to their kids and have a steel drum band.