A Broker's Open House Can Help You Sell Your Home

To contact us Click HERE
Photo: PhotoAtelier (Glen)


If you're selling your home, you might want to consider holding a lesser-known type of open house called a broker's open house or broker's preview.

This event gives the selling agent an opportunity to market your home to other agents who might see that your home matches the requirements of a buyer.

Find out how a broker's open house differs from a traditional open house, whether a broker's open house can help you sell your home faster, and more in my Investopedia article, A Broker's Open House Can Help You Sell Your Home.

When you want to do something but you don't

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Have you ever really wanted to do something but at the same time you don't want to? It is a strange feeling.
What do you do when you are on a diet, you really want to eat that chocolate bar (which happens to be the only one for miles) but you see on the label that the chocolate contains fried worms and insect legs? The sensible option would be to walk away from it and say "Yuk!". But, what if you want the chocolate so much that you opt to eat it? What then?

When 'friends' hurt you

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It is horrible when people who are supposed to be your friends hurt you.

Actually, two things are the worst; One is when the friend actually set out to hurt you on purpose (pre-meditated hurt) and the other is when no-matter what you do for them, how much time you spend on them, they decide to treat you badly - i.e. they are inconsiderate, take alot but give very little, or are just plain rude.

We have all been there haven't we? You do your best for that person, you help them, you listen to their problems, you are there for them when they need you - and how do they chose to express their gratitude and honour your friendship? Well, they say nasty things to you, ignore all you did for them, are never there when YOU need to talk about your problems and quite honestly behave like absolute tw**s!

This is not friendship.

Why I Won't Apply for Your Job . . . A snippy response (but a good one)

To contact us Click HERE
Oh my goodness!  I love this post.  It's written in response to an article entitled "Why I Won't Hire You".  And it is brilliant! Tim Gray you are quite the man for this one.  I hope and wish that employers will read this very truthful, very helpful article.
If you want to see the original article plus comments, go here. 
WHY I WONT APPLY FOR YOUR JOB..

1 - Require me to fill out your company's "application" that simply repeats all the information that is on my resume. Why are you showing me that your company is more interested in busywork than skills? You will never even look at the "application", it is a waste of everyone's time.

2 - Require yet another login to post my resume to your company's website. your company is not special, why are you cluttering up your own servers with the silly logins for people that will never be used again? Hire some competent IT people and design a resume submission system that does not require a un-needed login for them to have to remember. The best one I have seen emailed the submitter a pincode and allowed them to login with their email and pincode if they ever needed to update the resume.

3 - Post ridiculous requirements. 30+ years in java, astronaut that has been in space 10 times, has god's cellphone number. If you are letting the idiots in HR write the job description at least take some time from golf or your fantasy football to proofread the job position. It just makes you look like a very uneducated manager, a big red flag for the real professionals.

4 -Do not post a salary range. You want me to waste my time to find out you are paying 30% under industry average? Be honest and post the salary range so you get real professionals that don't want to waste our time to apply.

The above are the reasons that most companies get 5000 resumes or more for a single position that are not what they are looking for. Mostly because the hiring manager is incompetent at writing a proper job posting. The HR department think they are godlike. And everyone thinks their company is so good they don't have to give any real information about the position.

Want a better list of hires to choose from? Do the above and look like a respectable company to work for.

Honestly, if you want top notch professionals, you have to look good enough for us to apply.

Something Good's Around the Corner

To contact us Click HERE

For half of February, I was feeling a bit down in the dumps. I finished up a project and didn't seem to have any other prospects lined up. The one job that I thought was going to come thru kept me hanging and didn't seem to have a start date in sight. It's stressful not knowing where your next job is going to come from!
But as I have come to realize, things really do have a way of working out. If you are hard-working, ambitious, [and likeable], something good is usually just around the corner. And if you really want to give luck a hand, I recommend booking a non-refundable trip....that'll usually do the trick :)
Jobless, I accepted my parents' invitation to go to Cabo, Mexico. The day after my dad booked the ticket, my dream company called me to come interview. Of course, I got the job and the most amazing part was, they told me NOT to cancel my trip. So I got to go to Cabo for a week and start full time the following Monday.
When I got back to the states this afternoon, I had several voicemails waiting for me. One to work on a freelance indie film, another to interview for a TV pilot, and one offering me an assistant job (something I had interviewed for like 2+ weeks ago). I am very happy with the job I already accepted, but it is always a confidence booster hearing a whole boatload of people want you! And to think, just two weeks ago, I was stressed and feeling utterly rejected.
Note to self: RELAX....good things will come to those who are patient and persevere.

Why I Won't Apply for Your Job . . . A snippy response (but a good one)

To contact us Click HERE
Oh my goodness!  I love this post.  It's written in response to an article entitled "Why I Won't Hire You".  And it is brilliant! Tim Gray you are quite the man for this one.  I hope and wish that employers will read this very truthful, very helpful article.
If you want to see the original article plus comments, go here. 
WHY I WONT APPLY FOR YOUR JOB..

1 - Require me to fill out your company's "application" that simply repeats all the information that is on my resume. Why are you showing me that your company is more interested in busywork than skills? You will never even look at the "application", it is a waste of everyone's time.

2 - Require yet another login to post my resume to your company's website. your company is not special, why are you cluttering up your own servers with the silly logins for people that will never be used again? Hire some competent IT people and design a resume submission system that does not require a un-needed login for them to have to remember. The best one I have seen emailed the submitter a pincode and allowed them to login with their email and pincode if they ever needed to update the resume.

3 - Post ridiculous requirements. 30+ years in java, astronaut that has been in space 10 times, has god's cellphone number. If you are letting the idiots in HR write the job description at least take some time from golf or your fantasy football to proofread the job position. It just makes you look like a very uneducated manager, a big red flag for the real professionals.

4 -Do not post a salary range. You want me to waste my time to find out you are paying 30% under industry average? Be honest and post the salary range so you get real professionals that don't want to waste our time to apply.

The above are the reasons that most companies get 5000 resumes or more for a single position that are not what they are looking for. Mostly because the hiring manager is incompetent at writing a proper job posting. The HR department think they are godlike. And everyone thinks their company is so good they don't have to give any real information about the position.

Want a better list of hires to choose from? Do the above and look like a respectable company to work for.

Honestly, if you want top notch professionals, you have to look good enough for us to apply.

American Express travel rewards bonus is truly bogus

To contact us Click HERE
Photo: kokorowashinjin

Say you decide to book a plane ticket through American Express’s special travel booking website so you can earn double Membership Rewards points. 

You’ll pay a hidden fee of $6.99 per domestic ticket.

But unless you’ve shopped at other travel websites and compared prices for identical flights against American Express’s prices, you’re unlikely to ever know that you’d paid this fee.

 It’s rolled into your ticket price without being itemized; you won’t find out about it unless you read the fine print before you buy your ticket.

To get to the fine print, you'll have to click on the link to “Taxes + Airline/American Express Imposed Fees” under step 2, “Review the price,” after you’ve selected your flights.

You’ll get a pop-up window with a document titled “Information About Taxes, Governmental Fees, Tax Recovery Charges and Service Fees.” 

The third item under “Air Transactions” says “Online Air Transaction Service Fee.A non-refundable fee of US$6.99 per domestic ticket and up to US$10.99 per international ticket is charged for each ticket purchased online for an airline that pays us a standard fee or commission.”

American Express doesn't just charge fees on air travel bookings, either.

Learn more about American Express's hidden travel booking fees and some better ways to earn rewards when booking travel online in my Interest.com article, American Express travel rewards bonus is truly bogus.

Why you shouldn't buy a home on leased land

To contact us Click HERE
Photo: haven't the slightest
Did you know you could buy property without owning the land it sits on?

You're familiar with mobile homes, right? They're the most well-known example of a home you can own while paying a monthly fee to rent the ground it sits on.

But you can do the same thing with an actual house, or even a condo. You’ll find different types of leased land properties in different parts of the country. Some leased land communities are retirement or vacation home communities.

How can you identify these properties, which are often disguised in real estate listings?

-The property might have a regular street address but also have a lot number.
-The home might be priced far below similar homes in the area, or be far nicer but priced like an average home.
-The price might be a dream come true given the location, like waterfront property for the price of an inland property.
-The listing might describe the home as being in a planned development or master planned community (though traditional homes can also fit this description). 

Sometimes, it may simply appear that the property is governed by a homeowners association (HOA) because the listing might mention the association features you’ll have access to, like a community pool and playground. However, the HOA fees will be sky-high, double or triple the standard HOA rate for your area. That's because part of the HOA fee will go toward community amenities; the rest will cover your land lease fee.

I don't think these arrangements really work out in favor of homeowners, as I discuss in my Mortgage-Calc.com article, Why you shouldn't buy a home on leased land.

There are also lifestyle issues to consider. Land lease communities, like other HOA properties, can have restrictive rules such as how long guests may stay with you or what types and sizes of pets you can own.

Indeed, leased land properties often belong to HOAs. That means you not only need to understand the details of the leased land arrangement, but you should also understand what you’re getting into when you buy a home in an HOA. Learn how they work in my articles, 9 Things You Need to Know About Homeowners Associations and What Living in a Homeowners Association Means.

The FHA's 203(k) loan can help you buy a fixer-upper

To contact us Click HERE
Photo: Amy Fontinelle

Here’s a common scenario that homebuyers face when they want to buy fixer-uppers: The buyers need to finance the purchase with a mortgage, but the mortgage lender will only provide funds for homes in good condition.

In today's market, many foreclosed and short-sale homes need major repairs since their owners couldn’t afford basic maintenance. Buyers who would like to earn sweat equity through purchasing and rehabbing such properties are often shut out of the mortgage market.

But the Federal Housing Administration's 203(k) program makes it possible for these types of would-be owner-occupants to get loans for fixer-upper properties (the 203(k) program is not available to investors).

If you're interested, here are a few things you should know about 203(k) loans:

-A seller might be reluctant to accept a purchase offer that’s contingent on FHA 203(k) financing because of the extra time and uncertainty involved in closing these loans.

-The program allows homeowners to do their own rehab work, but it will hold you to professional standards.

-You’ll be allowed a maximum of 6 months to complete the work whether you hire professionals or do it yourself.

-While loan proceeds can only be used to pay for professional labor--not homeowner labor--doing the work yourself could mean a smaller mortgage.

The FHA 203(k) program isn’t for the faint hearted. It takes two of life’s most expensive and stressful transactions--buying a home and doing major renovations--and adds mortgage lenders and government, two of the most difficult institutions to work with, to the mix.

But this loan program can make an otherwise impossible home purchase a reality for determined homebuyers.

For more information about this type of loan, read my Mortgage-Calc.com article, The FHA 203(k) mortgage: Home renovation helper.

A Broker's Open House Can Help You Sell Your Home

To contact us Click HERE
Photo: PhotoAtelier (Glen)


If you're selling your home, you might want to consider holding a lesser-known type of open house called a broker's open house or broker's preview.

This event gives the selling agent an opportunity to market your home to other agents who might see that your home matches the requirements of a buyer.

Find out how a broker's open house differs from a traditional open house, whether a broker's open house can help you sell your home faster, and more in my Investopedia article, A Broker's Open House Can Help You Sell Your Home.

"Free" credit score from Citi isn’t free, but it is nearly worthless

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Photo: antwerpenR

If you're a Citi credit card holder, you might have recently received notice of a promotion to get a "free" credit score.

The advertisement says the score is “based on data from Experian,” but doesn't clarify whether you're actually getting your Experian credit score or merely an estimate of your Experian score.

Some credit monitoring products provide estimated credit scores that personal finance experts refer to as "Fake-O" scores because they pretend to be the score lenders use to make credit decisions. The real score is called a FICO score, named after the company that created the scoring formula, the Fair Isaac Corporation.

Fake-O scores aren't helpful because creditors can base their lending decisions on your score from any one of the three big credit scoring companies--Experian, Equifax or TransUnion--or they can use a different service entirely. 


Each credit scoring company puts its scores together using a slightly different formula, so your credit score can differ by dozens of points from one agency to the next, easily making the difference between your being offered the best interest rates or even meeting a loan or credit qualification cutoff. 


Your credit score could even differ by hundreds of points across credit bureaus if one of your files contains a mistake. 


Get the facts about Citi's "free" credit score offer in my Interest.com article, "Free" credit score from Citi isn’t free, but it is nearly worthless.

Clueless shopper bares all in checkout line

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Photo: stevendepolo

You need to be careful when you're applying for a store credit card--careful with your personal information and careful that you're not signing up for a card with lousy terms.

First of all, you shouldn't apply in store. The most secure way to apply for a store card, or any other debit or credit card, is in the privacy of your home, through a secure Internet connection or phone call.

If you don’t want to miss out on a discount on a large purchase, postpone your purchase—don’t compromise your financial security like this woman I saw at Target.

Second, you need to know what you're signing up for.

Even if the terms and conditions are made available to you at the store, you’re not likely to feel comfortable taking the time to read them, or be able to concentrate fully, when you’re standing in a checkout line with a cashier and other customers waiting for you.

Third, you need to figure out if the store credit card's discount is worth the trouble.

5% back on all your Target purchases sounds like a lot--but even if you spend $1,000 a year at Target, that’s only a $50 savings. Is $50 enough to make it worth having another bill to deal with 12 times a year?

Another chore associated with store credit cards is constantly checking to make sure you don’t exceed what will probably be a very low credit limit. I've had store credit cards with limits as low as $500, and I have very good credit.

If you're really interested in a store credit card, go home and apply after you've read the fine print and thought through the pros and cons.

Don't be the clueless shopper who bares all in the checkout line.

Why you shouldn't buy a home on leased land

To contact us Click HERE
Photo: haven't the slightest
Did you know you could buy property without owning the land it sits on?

You're familiar with mobile homes, right? They're the most well-known example of a home you can own while paying a monthly fee to rent the ground it sits on.

But you can do the same thing with an actual house, or even a condo. You’ll find different types of leased land properties in different parts of the country. Some leased land communities are retirement or vacation home communities.

How can you identify these properties, which are often disguised in real estate listings?

-The property might have a regular street address but also have a lot number.
-The home might be priced far below similar homes in the area, or be far nicer but priced like an average home.
-The price might be a dream come true given the location, like waterfront property for the price of an inland property.
-The listing might describe the home as being in a planned development or master planned community (though traditional homes can also fit this description). 

Sometimes, it may simply appear that the property is governed by a homeowners association (HOA) because the listing might mention the association features you’ll have access to, like a community pool and playground. However, the HOA fees will be sky-high, double or triple the standard HOA rate for your area. That's because part of the HOA fee will go toward community amenities; the rest will cover your land lease fee.

I don't think these arrangements really work out in favor of homeowners, as I discuss in my Mortgage-Calc.com article, Why you shouldn't buy a home on leased land.

There are also lifestyle issues to consider. Land lease communities, like other HOA properties, can have restrictive rules such as how long guests may stay with you or what types and sizes of pets you can own.

Indeed, leased land properties often belong to HOAs. That means you not only need to understand the details of the leased land arrangement, but you should also understand what you’re getting into when you buy a home in an HOA. Learn how they work in my articles, 9 Things You Need to Know About Homeowners Associations and What Living in a Homeowners Association Means.

The FHA's 203(k) loan can help you buy a fixer-upper

To contact us Click HERE
Photo: Amy Fontinelle

Here’s a common scenario that homebuyers face when they want to buy fixer-uppers: The buyers need to finance the purchase with a mortgage, but the mortgage lender will only provide funds for homes in good condition.

In today's market, many foreclosed and short-sale homes need major repairs since their owners couldn’t afford basic maintenance. Buyers who would like to earn sweat equity through purchasing and rehabbing such properties are often shut out of the mortgage market.

But the Federal Housing Administration's 203(k) program makes it possible for these types of would-be owner-occupants to get loans for fixer-upper properties (the 203(k) program is not available to investors).

If you're interested, here are a few things you should know about 203(k) loans:

-A seller might be reluctant to accept a purchase offer that’s contingent on FHA 203(k) financing because of the extra time and uncertainty involved in closing these loans.

-The program allows homeowners to do their own rehab work, but it will hold you to professional standards.

-You’ll be allowed a maximum of 6 months to complete the work whether you hire professionals or do it yourself.

-While loan proceeds can only be used to pay for professional labor--not homeowner labor--doing the work yourself could mean a smaller mortgage.

The FHA 203(k) program isn’t for the faint hearted. It takes two of life’s most expensive and stressful transactions--buying a home and doing major renovations--and adds mortgage lenders and government, two of the most difficult institutions to work with, to the mix.

But this loan program can make an otherwise impossible home purchase a reality for determined homebuyers.

For more information about this type of loan, read my Mortgage-Calc.com article, The FHA 203(k) mortgage: Home renovation helper.

A Broker's Open House Can Help You Sell Your Home

To contact us Click HERE
Photo: PhotoAtelier (Glen)


If you're selling your home, you might want to consider holding a lesser-known type of open house called a broker's open house or broker's preview.

This event gives the selling agent an opportunity to market your home to other agents who might see that your home matches the requirements of a buyer.

Find out how a broker's open house differs from a traditional open house, whether a broker's open house can help you sell your home faster, and more in my Investopedia article, A Broker's Open House Can Help You Sell Your Home.

What is property tax abatement?

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Photo: Rubber Slippers In Italy

Property tax abatement is a temporary reduction in the amount of tax a property owner must pay.Often, tax abatement means that you only pay tax on the value of the property’s unimproved land; the value of the structure is not taxed. Other times, both the value of the land and the value of the structure are taxed, but at below-market rates.

For example, in places where property tax abatement programs are used to encourage the
redevelopment of run-down homes, local government will only charge tax on the property’s considerably lower pre-renovation value.

Property taxes are an ongoing, significant annual expense for homeowners, even after the
mortgage is paid off. Property tax rates vary by locality, but typically cost about 1% to 3% of the
home’s value each year. This means that if your home is worth $250,000 and your local property tax rate is 2%, your annual property tax bill would be $5,000.

Property tax abatement can save a homeowner tens of thousands of dollars over the program’s lifespan. It provides more breathing room in the monthly budget and can give a meaningful boost to long-term net worth.

Tax abatement can also put home ownership within reach for someone who otherwise couldn’t afford a home. In fact, some abatement programs are targeted directly at this group of buyers and limit eligible properties to those at the middle and lower end of the price scale for a particular community.

Being able to sell your home with a property tax abatement attached can improve the home’s resale value and limit its time on the market. However, the opposite could be true once the abatement expires.

Learn more about local programs for reducing your property taxes in my Mortgage-Calc.com article, What is property tax abatement?

Why you shouldn't buy a home on leased land

To contact us Click HERE
Photo: haven't the slightest
Did you know you could buy property without owning the land it sits on?

You're familiar with mobile homes, right? They're the most well-known example of a home you can own while paying a monthly fee to rent the ground it sits on.

But you can do the same thing with an actual house, or even a condo. You’ll find different types of leased land properties in different parts of the country. Some leased land communities are retirement or vacation home communities.

How can you identify these properties, which are often disguised in real estate listings?

-The property might have a regular street address but also have a lot number.
-The home might be priced far below similar homes in the area, or be far nicer but priced like an average home.
-The price might be a dream come true given the location, like waterfront property for the price of an inland property.
-The listing might describe the home as being in a planned development or master planned community (though traditional homes can also fit this description). 

Sometimes, it may simply appear that the property is governed by a homeowners association (HOA) because the listing might mention the association features you’ll have access to, like a community pool and playground. However, the HOA fees will be sky-high, double or triple the standard HOA rate for your area. That's because part of the HOA fee will go toward community amenities; the rest will cover your land lease fee.

I don't think these arrangements really work out in favor of homeowners, as I discuss in my Mortgage-Calc.com article, Why you shouldn't buy a home on leased land.

There are also lifestyle issues to consider. Land lease communities, like other HOA properties, can have restrictive rules such as how long guests may stay with you or what types and sizes of pets you can own.

Indeed, leased land properties often belong to HOAs. That means you not only need to understand the details of the leased land arrangement, but you should also understand what you’re getting into when you buy a home in an HOA. Learn how they work in my articles, 9 Things You Need to Know About Homeowners Associations and What Living in a Homeowners Association Means.

The FHA's 203(k) loan can help you buy a fixer-upper

To contact us Click HERE
Photo: Amy Fontinelle

Here’s a common scenario that homebuyers face when they want to buy fixer-uppers: The buyers need to finance the purchase with a mortgage, but the mortgage lender will only provide funds for homes in good condition.

In today's market, many foreclosed and short-sale homes need major repairs since their owners couldn’t afford basic maintenance. Buyers who would like to earn sweat equity through purchasing and rehabbing such properties are often shut out of the mortgage market.

But the Federal Housing Administration's 203(k) program makes it possible for these types of would-be owner-occupants to get loans for fixer-upper properties (the 203(k) program is not available to investors).

If you're interested, here are a few things you should know about 203(k) loans:

-A seller might be reluctant to accept a purchase offer that’s contingent on FHA 203(k) financing because of the extra time and uncertainty involved in closing these loans.

-The program allows homeowners to do their own rehab work, but it will hold you to professional standards.

-You’ll be allowed a maximum of 6 months to complete the work whether you hire professionals or do it yourself.

-While loan proceeds can only be used to pay for professional labor--not homeowner labor--doing the work yourself could mean a smaller mortgage.

The FHA 203(k) program isn’t for the faint hearted. It takes two of life’s most expensive and stressful transactions--buying a home and doing major renovations--and adds mortgage lenders and government, two of the most difficult institutions to work with, to the mix.

But this loan program can make an otherwise impossible home purchase a reality for determined homebuyers.

For more information about this type of loan, read my Mortgage-Calc.com article, The FHA 203(k) mortgage: Home renovation helper.

A Broker's Open House Can Help You Sell Your Home

To contact us Click HERE
Photo: PhotoAtelier (Glen)


If you're selling your home, you might want to consider holding a lesser-known type of open house called a broker's open house or broker's preview.

This event gives the selling agent an opportunity to market your home to other agents who might see that your home matches the requirements of a buyer.

Find out how a broker's open house differs from a traditional open house, whether a broker's open house can help you sell your home faster, and more in my Investopedia article, A Broker's Open House Can Help You Sell Your Home.

4 Reasons To Use Your Benefits Before Year-End

To contact us Click HERE
Photo: Tax Credits
The holiday season has arrived and your calendar is filling up with obligations.

Although your time is already limited, it might be worthwhile to add a few medical and dental appointments to your schedule.

Yes, you'll be extra busy, but you might save a significant amount of money by taking care of these appointments now, instead of waiting until next year.

Find out why in my Investopedia article, 4 Reasons To Use Your Benefits Before Year-End.

The FHA's 203(k) loan can help you buy a fixer-upper

To contact us Click HERE
Photo: Amy Fontinelle

Here’s a common scenario that homebuyers face when they want to buy fixer-uppers: The buyers need to finance the purchase with a mortgage, but the mortgage lender will only provide funds for homes in good condition.

In today's market, many foreclosed and short-sale homes need major repairs since their owners couldn’t afford basic maintenance. Buyers who would like to earn sweat equity through purchasing and rehabbing such properties are often shut out of the mortgage market.

But the Federal Housing Administration's 203(k) program makes it possible for these types of would-be owner-occupants to get loans for fixer-upper properties (the 203(k) program is not available to investors).

If you're interested, here are a few things you should know about 203(k) loans:

-A seller might be reluctant to accept a purchase offer that’s contingent on FHA 203(k) financing because of the extra time and uncertainty involved in closing these loans.

-The program allows homeowners to do their own rehab work, but it will hold you to professional standards.

-You’ll be allowed a maximum of 6 months to complete the work whether you hire professionals or do it yourself.

-While loan proceeds can only be used to pay for professional labor--not homeowner labor--doing the work yourself could mean a smaller mortgage.

The FHA 203(k) program isn’t for the faint hearted. It takes two of life’s most expensive and stressful transactions--buying a home and doing major renovations--and adds mortgage lenders and government, two of the most difficult institutions to work with, to the mix.

But this loan program can make an otherwise impossible home purchase a reality for determined homebuyers.

For more information about this type of loan, read my Mortgage-Calc.com article, The FHA 203(k) mortgage: Home renovation helper.

A Broker's Open House Can Help You Sell Your Home

To contact us Click HERE
Photo: PhotoAtelier (Glen)


If you're selling your home, you might want to consider holding a lesser-known type of open house called a broker's open house or broker's preview.

This event gives the selling agent an opportunity to market your home to other agents who might see that your home matches the requirements of a buyer.

Find out how a broker's open house differs from a traditional open house, whether a broker's open house can help you sell your home faster, and more in my Investopedia article, A Broker's Open House Can Help You Sell Your Home.

Why I Won't Apply for Your Job . . . A snippy response (but a good one)

To contact us Click HERE
Oh my goodness!  I love this post.  It's written in response to an article entitled "Why I Won't Hire You".  And it is brilliant! Tim Gray you are quite the man for this one.  I hope and wish that employers will read this very truthful, very helpful article.
If you want to see the original article plus comments, go here. 
WHY I WONT APPLY FOR YOUR JOB..

1 - Require me to fill out your company's "application" that simply repeats all the information that is on my resume. Why are you showing me that your company is more interested in busywork than skills? You will never even look at the "application", it is a waste of everyone's time.

2 - Require yet another login to post my resume to your company's website. your company is not special, why are you cluttering up your own servers with the silly logins for people that will never be used again? Hire some competent IT people and design a resume submission system that does not require a un-needed login for them to have to remember. The best one I have seen emailed the submitter a pincode and allowed them to login with their email and pincode if they ever needed to update the resume.

3 - Post ridiculous requirements. 30+ years in java, astronaut that has been in space 10 times, has god's cellphone number. If you are letting the idiots in HR write the job description at least take some time from golf or your fantasy football to proofread the job position. It just makes you look like a very uneducated manager, a big red flag for the real professionals.

4 -Do not post a salary range. You want me to waste my time to find out you are paying 30% under industry average? Be honest and post the salary range so you get real professionals that don't want to waste our time to apply.

The above are the reasons that most companies get 5000 resumes or more for a single position that are not what they are looking for. Mostly because the hiring manager is incompetent at writing a proper job posting. The HR department think they are godlike. And everyone thinks their company is so good they don't have to give any real information about the position.

Want a better list of hires to choose from? Do the above and look like a respectable company to work for.

Honestly, if you want top notch professionals, you have to look good enough for us to apply.

When you want to do something but you don't

To contact us Click HERE
Have you ever really wanted to do something but at the same time you don't want to? It is a strange feeling.
What do you do when you are on a diet, you really want to eat that chocolate bar (which happens to be the only one for miles) but you see on the label that the chocolate contains fried worms and insect legs? The sensible option would be to walk away from it and say "Yuk!". But, what if you want the chocolate so much that you opt to eat it? What then?

When 'friends' hurt you

To contact us Click HERE
It is horrible when people who are supposed to be your friends hurt you.

Actually, two things are the worst; One is when the friend actually set out to hurt you on purpose (pre-meditated hurt) and the other is when no-matter what you do for them, how much time you spend on them, they decide to treat you badly - i.e. they are inconsiderate, take alot but give very little, or are just plain rude.

We have all been there haven't we? You do your best for that person, you help them, you listen to their problems, you are there for them when they need you - and how do they chose to express their gratitude and honour your friendship? Well, they say nasty things to you, ignore all you did for them, are never there when YOU need to talk about your problems and quite honestly behave like absolute tw**s!

This is not friendship.

When you want to do something but you don't

To contact us Click HERE
Have you ever really wanted to do something but at the same time you don't want to? It is a strange feeling.
What do you do when you are on a diet, you really want to eat that chocolate bar (which happens to be the only one for miles) but you see on the label that the chocolate contains fried worms and insect legs? The sensible option would be to walk away from it and say "Yuk!". But, what if you want the chocolate so much that you opt to eat it? What then?

When 'friends' hurt you

To contact us Click HERE
It is horrible when people who are supposed to be your friends hurt you.

Actually, two things are the worst; One is when the friend actually set out to hurt you on purpose (pre-meditated hurt) and the other is when no-matter what you do for them, how much time you spend on them, they decide to treat you badly - i.e. they are inconsiderate, take alot but give very little, or are just plain rude.

We have all been there haven't we? You do your best for that person, you help them, you listen to their problems, you are there for them when they need you - and how do they chose to express their gratitude and honour your friendship? Well, they say nasty things to you, ignore all you did for them, are never there when YOU need to talk about your problems and quite honestly behave like absolute tw**s!

This is not friendship.

Ex-offender in NC looking for a job

To contact us Click HERE

Ex offender needs help finding a job

Q: Hello,

My name is Oscar and I need help finding work in Charlotte, North Carolina. I am not a felon, but I do have a charge on my record. I was charged for secret peeping and plead guilty to it under some bad advice from my public defender. So now this charge is on my record and it is causing a lot of problems for me. I didn't have to register as an offender nor did I really receive any type of punishment for this charge, besides the fact that it is hurting my chances at finding a decent job or home. My girlfriend and I have had our first kid this year and I really need a job that can turn into a place that I can be at for the next decade or two. I am not asking for pity, nor am I trying to tell you a sob story, I really just need some help finding some a job that is promising for myself and my family. I hope to hear back from you as soon as possible, and would like to thank you in advance for any tips or advice.

A:  Hello Oscar,

It sounds like you have some type of sex-offense.  My suggestion to you is to find out just how your conviction comes up when a background check is done.  You want to know exactly what a prospective employer sees.  You should have a copy of your disposition that you got when your probation was completed.  If you do not have it, I suggest you get a copy from your probation officer.  When the background check is done, you have to be ready to talk about your charge in a positive way.  Often sex-offenses are the most difficult to work with because of  the stigma attached to them.  

In regard to getting assistance finding a job, ex-offenders and felons in the Charlotte area, an organization called The Center for Community Transitions of Charlotte, NC is a good place to start.  They not only provide job search assistance but also helps by making referrals to other resources that can help ex-offenders and their families.  You can contact them here:

The Center for Community Transitions


(704) 374 - 0762

Ex-offenders and felons can also get job search assistance at their local One-Stop Career Center.  Take a look at the video below:


  

 Where can ex-offenders and convicted felons find jobs

The One-stop Career Centers in the Charlotte are listed here:

South Boulevard JobLink
 5125-A South Boulevard
Charlotte, NC 28217
704-527-3195

 Charlotte-Mecklenburg JobLink Career Center - Arrowood
 7140 Forest Point Blvd.
Charlotte, NC 28217
704-565-6865

Charlotte-Mecklenburg JobLink Career Center - Albemarle Road/Executive Center
5601 Executive Center Drive
Charlotte, NC 28212
704-566-2870

 Charlotte/Mecklenburg JobLink Career Center - Monroe Road 
10801 Monroe Road
Matthews, NC 28105
704-847-2660 Ext 223

 Are you an ex-offender or felon who has a question about finding a job with a criminal record?  I have been helping ex-offenders and felons get jobs for over ten years and I feel I have an understanding of what works. I will be updating this blog often. I will answer specific questions relating to getting a job with a criminal record on this blog so feel free to send me your questions. The right information could help a felon get jobs.  

You could have your question answered right here. Email your question to: BelievePublications@comcast.net.

If you are a felon and really serious about getting a job or you want to help someone you care about get a job, check out this link: From Jail to a Job

Ex-offender may need help to get a job.

Something Good's Around the Corner

To contact us Click HERE

For half of February, I was feeling a bit down in the dumps. I finished up a project and didn't seem to have any other prospects lined up. The one job that I thought was going to come thru kept me hanging and didn't seem to have a start date in sight. It's stressful not knowing where your next job is going to come from!
But as I have come to realize, things really do have a way of working out. If you are hard-working, ambitious, [and likeable], something good is usually just around the corner. And if you really want to give luck a hand, I recommend booking a non-refundable trip....that'll usually do the trick :)
Jobless, I accepted my parents' invitation to go to Cabo, Mexico. The day after my dad booked the ticket, my dream company called me to come interview. Of course, I got the job and the most amazing part was, they told me NOT to cancel my trip. So I got to go to Cabo for a week and start full time the following Monday.
When I got back to the states this afternoon, I had several voicemails waiting for me. One to work on a freelance indie film, another to interview for a TV pilot, and one offering me an assistant job (something I had interviewed for like 2+ weeks ago). I am very happy with the job I already accepted, but it is always a confidence booster hearing a whole boatload of people want you! And to think, just two weeks ago, I was stressed and feeling utterly rejected.
Note to self: RELAX....good things will come to those who are patient and persevere.

Why I Won't Apply for Your Job . . . A snippy response (but a good one)

To contact us Click HERE
Oh my goodness!  I love this post.  It's written in response to an article entitled "Why I Won't Hire You".  And it is brilliant! Tim Gray you are quite the man for this one.  I hope and wish that employers will read this very truthful, very helpful article.
If you want to see the original article plus comments, go here. 
WHY I WONT APPLY FOR YOUR JOB..

1 - Require me to fill out your company's "application" that simply repeats all the information that is on my resume. Why are you showing me that your company is more interested in busywork than skills? You will never even look at the "application", it is a waste of everyone's time.

2 - Require yet another login to post my resume to your company's website. your company is not special, why are you cluttering up your own servers with the silly logins for people that will never be used again? Hire some competent IT people and design a resume submission system that does not require a un-needed login for them to have to remember. The best one I have seen emailed the submitter a pincode and allowed them to login with their email and pincode if they ever needed to update the resume.

3 - Post ridiculous requirements. 30+ years in java, astronaut that has been in space 10 times, has god's cellphone number. If you are letting the idiots in HR write the job description at least take some time from golf or your fantasy football to proofread the job position. It just makes you look like a very uneducated manager, a big red flag for the real professionals.

4 -Do not post a salary range. You want me to waste my time to find out you are paying 30% under industry average? Be honest and post the salary range so you get real professionals that don't want to waste our time to apply.

The above are the reasons that most companies get 5000 resumes or more for a single position that are not what they are looking for. Mostly because the hiring manager is incompetent at writing a proper job posting. The HR department think they are godlike. And everyone thinks their company is so good they don't have to give any real information about the position.

Want a better list of hires to choose from? Do the above and look like a respectable company to work for.

Honestly, if you want top notch professionals, you have to look good enough for us to apply.

A Broker's Open House Can Help You Sell Your Home

To contact us Click HERE
Photo: PhotoAtelier (Glen)


If you're selling your home, you might want to consider holding a lesser-known type of open house called a broker's open house or broker's preview.

This event gives the selling agent an opportunity to market your home to other agents who might see that your home matches the requirements of a buyer.

Find out how a broker's open house differs from a traditional open house, whether a broker's open house can help you sell your home faster, and more in my Investopedia article, A Broker's Open House Can Help You Sell Your Home.

Why I Won't Apply for Your Job . . . A snippy response (but a good one)

To contact us Click HERE
Oh my goodness!  I love this post.  It's written in response to an article entitled "Why I Won't Hire You".  And it is brilliant! Tim Gray you are quite the man for this one.  I hope and wish that employers will read this very truthful, very helpful article.
If you want to see the original article plus comments, go here. 
WHY I WONT APPLY FOR YOUR JOB..

1 - Require me to fill out your company's "application" that simply repeats all the information that is on my resume. Why are you showing me that your company is more interested in busywork than skills? You will never even look at the "application", it is a waste of everyone's time.

2 - Require yet another login to post my resume to your company's website. your company is not special, why are you cluttering up your own servers with the silly logins for people that will never be used again? Hire some competent IT people and design a resume submission system that does not require a un-needed login for them to have to remember. The best one I have seen emailed the submitter a pincode and allowed them to login with their email and pincode if they ever needed to update the resume.

3 - Post ridiculous requirements. 30+ years in java, astronaut that has been in space 10 times, has god's cellphone number. If you are letting the idiots in HR write the job description at least take some time from golf or your fantasy football to proofread the job position. It just makes you look like a very uneducated manager, a big red flag for the real professionals.

4 -Do not post a salary range. You want me to waste my time to find out you are paying 30% under industry average? Be honest and post the salary range so you get real professionals that don't want to waste our time to apply.

The above are the reasons that most companies get 5000 resumes or more for a single position that are not what they are looking for. Mostly because the hiring manager is incompetent at writing a proper job posting. The HR department think they are godlike. And everyone thinks their company is so good they don't have to give any real information about the position.

Want a better list of hires to choose from? Do the above and look like a respectable company to work for.

Honestly, if you want top notch professionals, you have to look good enough for us to apply.

Something Good's Around the Corner

To contact us Click HERE

For half of February, I was feeling a bit down in the dumps. I finished up a project and didn't seem to have any other prospects lined up. The one job that I thought was going to come thru kept me hanging and didn't seem to have a start date in sight. It's stressful not knowing where your next job is going to come from!
But as I have come to realize, things really do have a way of working out. If you are hard-working, ambitious, [and likeable], something good is usually just around the corner. And if you really want to give luck a hand, I recommend booking a non-refundable trip....that'll usually do the trick :)
Jobless, I accepted my parents' invitation to go to Cabo, Mexico. The day after my dad booked the ticket, my dream company called me to come interview. Of course, I got the job and the most amazing part was, they told me NOT to cancel my trip. So I got to go to Cabo for a week and start full time the following Monday.
When I got back to the states this afternoon, I had several voicemails waiting for me. One to work on a freelance indie film, another to interview for a TV pilot, and one offering me an assistant job (something I had interviewed for like 2+ weeks ago). I am very happy with the job I already accepted, but it is always a confidence booster hearing a whole boatload of people want you! And to think, just two weeks ago, I was stressed and feeling utterly rejected.
Note to self: RELAX....good things will come to those who are patient and persevere.

When you want to do something but you don't

To contact us Click HERE
Have you ever really wanted to do something but at the same time you don't want to? It is a strange feeling.
What do you do when you are on a diet, you really want to eat that chocolate bar (which happens to be the only one for miles) but you see on the label that the chocolate contains fried worms and insect legs? The sensible option would be to walk away from it and say "Yuk!". But, what if you want the chocolate so much that you opt to eat it? What then?

When 'friends' hurt you

To contact us Click HERE
It is horrible when people who are supposed to be your friends hurt you.

Actually, two things are the worst; One is when the friend actually set out to hurt you on purpose (pre-meditated hurt) and the other is when no-matter what you do for them, how much time you spend on them, they decide to treat you badly - i.e. they are inconsiderate, take alot but give very little, or are just plain rude.

We have all been there haven't we? You do your best for that person, you help them, you listen to their problems, you are there for them when they need you - and how do they chose to express their gratitude and honour your friendship? Well, they say nasty things to you, ignore all you did for them, are never there when YOU need to talk about your problems and quite honestly behave like absolute tw**s!

This is not friendship.

When you want to do something but you don't

To contact us Click HERE
Have you ever really wanted to do something but at the same time you don't want to? It is a strange feeling.
What do you do when you are on a diet, you really want to eat that chocolate bar (which happens to be the only one for miles) but you see on the label that the chocolate contains fried worms and insect legs? The sensible option would be to walk away from it and say "Yuk!". But, what if you want the chocolate so much that you opt to eat it? What then?

When 'friends' hurt you

To contact us Click HERE
It is horrible when people who are supposed to be your friends hurt you.

Actually, two things are the worst; One is when the friend actually set out to hurt you on purpose (pre-meditated hurt) and the other is when no-matter what you do for them, how much time you spend on them, they decide to treat you badly - i.e. they are inconsiderate, take alot but give very little, or are just plain rude.

We have all been there haven't we? You do your best for that person, you help them, you listen to their problems, you are there for them when they need you - and how do they chose to express their gratitude and honour your friendship? Well, they say nasty things to you, ignore all you did for them, are never there when YOU need to talk about your problems and quite honestly behave like absolute tw**s!

This is not friendship.

Temporary Agencies are a good Choice for Ex-offenders and Felons

To contact us Click HERE

Temp agencies could help felons get jobs

Several of my blog posts make reference to ex-offenders and felons using temporary employment agencies to find jobs.  Often when temporary employees prove to be good workers, employers are willing to hire them as regulars.

I teach my students that there is a strategy to using temporary agencies to get jobs. There are temporary agencies that handle just about any type of work you can think of.  There are others that are agency specific for example, there are some agencies that cater to the medical field and others may cater to restaurants and food service.  Check your local telephone directory to get a list of agencies in your area.

For ex-offenders and felons, the approach to getting hired has to be a little different than a regular job seeker.  From my point of view, there are two types of agencies, nationwide agencies and local, independently owned companies.

Nation-wide Agencies

Below is a list of nation-wide temporary/permanent employment agencies with links to their respective websites:

Net-Temps
Net-Temps has a great site that allows job seekers to find their offices in multiple states and has listing of available jobs according to interest.

Manpower
Manpower has been in the temporary staffing business for over 60 years and is an industry leader.  The site allows job seekers to search for positions by interest, skills and location.

Labor Ready
Every year, Labor Ready sends approximately 400,000 Temporary Associates to jobs in construction, manufacturing, hospitality, events, restoration, auto services, logistics and warehousing, retail support, waste and recycling and more. Labor Ready has more than 600 locations.  Greater than 225,000 businesses of all sizes throughout North America use Labor Ready for their staffing needs.  Labor Ready is the leader in employing ex-offenders and felons.  Their website will help you find your nearest Labor Ready office.

Adecco US
Adecco has over 400 career centers and, on a daily basis connects 70,000 talented workers to the best employment opportunities across the country, making them one of the country's largest employers.  You will find employment opportunities in marketing, customer service and telemarketing, hospitality, industrial and manufacturing, medical, office and administrative, transportation and warehousing and many more categories.

Kelly Services
Kelly Services employment to 550,000 employees annually and is an industry leader in providing temporary employment worldwide.  The website allows job seekers to find the nearest Kelley Services office.

This is just a small list and some allow job seekers to apply online or submit resumes.  I'm not sure exactly what their respective policies are regarding hiring ex-offenders and felons.

Independent Agencies

Independent agencies, in my opinion, offer the best opportunities for ex-offenders and felons to get hired.  Often the larger corporate agencies have corporate policies that forbid the hiring of ex-offenders and felons.   With smaller companies, you will more often than not interview with the owner or manager that has the power to hire anyone that person feels is best for an assignment.

Make a list of temporary agencies in your area from the telephone book.  Visit them and apply just as you would any other job.  Have your resume with you to leave along with your application.

Remind the interviewer that you can be bonded by the Federal Bonding Program.  The Federal Bonding Program encourages businesses to hire at-risk, hard-to-place job seekers by providing insurance policies that protect against employee theft or dishonesty.  Refer to the video below for more information on the Federal Bonding Program.




Ex-offenders and convicted felons can get jobs with Federal Bonding Program

Also remind the interviewer about the Work Opportunity Tax Credit.  The employer would be eligible for a tax credit of up to $2,400 for hiring you if you have been released in the past year.


Are you an ex-offender or felon who has a question about finding a job with a criminal record?  I have been helping ex-offenders and felons get jobs for over ten years and I feel I have an understanding of what works. I will be updating this blog often. I will answer specific questions relating to getting a job with a criminal record on this blog so feel free to send me your questions.   The right information could help a felon get jobs.  You could have your question answered right here. Email your question to: BelievePublications@comcast.net.

If you are a felon and really serious about getting a job or you want to help someone you care about get a job, check out this link: From Jail to a Job

Where can ex-offenders and felons find jobs