📲 Jobhunting mistake: Your voicemail box isn’t set up or it’s full. If you’re not 100% sure yours is working, call yourself from a different phone or ask a friend to do it. Sometimes, simple is the best way. Setup instructions here for iPhone and Samsung smartphones.
Your employer can use this data against you – Don’t let them
One of the three largest credit bureaus, Equifax, is collecting data that could screw you out of thousands of dollars — or a job.
I dug up everything you need to know about a new database of 716 million income and employment records, including, potentially, yours. Why? Because I want you to always be tech-ahead and never tech-behind.
It’s called ‘The Work Number’
Employers can use this massive employee verification database from Equifax (yep, the same folks who leaked 147 million people’s data in 2017) to make sure you are who you say you are.
Your Employment Data Report (EDR) includes things like where you’ve worked, when you worked there and your exact past salary numbers.
Great for employers, bad for you
Trying to get a new job? An employer could use your EDR to find your past salary range and lowball you in negotiations. Your current employer could also see if you have a side hustle and use that info to fire you.
And, of course, Equifax will sell your EDR to anyone who’s buying, including debt collectors. No bueno.
How to stop it
You can freeze your EDR just like a credit report. You can also see who’s tried to access it within the past two years.
Unfortunately, you’ll need to make an account with The Work Number to do it. Ironic, I know.
- Search for your current or former employer(s) using their name or employer code (the nine-digit number on your W-2).
- Click their name, followed by Register Now. Heads-up: It’ll ask for your Social Security number.
Your next job interview could be with AI
I saw a viral post on LinkedIn where a guy from San Diego, Jack Ryan, logged in for a virtual job interview. Instead of a person on the other side of the screen, it was a bot. You can tell by his face Jack wasn’t impressed. I wasn’t, either.
A criminal’s best asset is his lie ability: A moron from Missouri thought he could land a job by hacking into businesses and offering them cybersecurity help. Spoiler: It didn’t end well. Nicholas Kloster was arrested after he hacked into a health club and bragged online about taking over their security cameras and lowering his membership to $1. The FBI and local police were not amused.
What tech profession is going to make big money because of AI? Is it … A.) Tech support, B.) Software developers, C.) Data scientists or D.) Graphic designers?
56% fewer
Job postings out there for software developers. AI tools are taking the place of entry-level developers. The tech boot camps (paywall link) that used to help up to 90% of people get jobs are now helping only 50%. One analyst says it’s the worst hiring period for entry-level tech jobs in 25 years. Tell your kid to major in something else.
Looking for a job? Don't fall for this scam
Though many companies are calling employees back to the office, plenty of remote job opportunities exist. Tap or click for companies offering work-from-home positions right now.
An online company that promises high-paying jobs with the United States Postal Service (USPS) was recently hacked. Security researchers found leaked data on 900,000 customers, including complete credit card records.
Cable companies offering free internet service - See if you qualify
Access to the internet is, for many, a basic necessity. The pandemic has proven a need for stable, high-speed connections so that people can work from home. But it also serves as a vital tool for those looking for employment.
3.5 days
Workweek of the future, predicted by JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s CEO. Jamie Dimon says up to 70% of employees’ tasks will be automated by AI, so there’s no need for long hours. Meanwhile, Goldman Sachs predicts about 300 million jobs will evaporate thanks to AI. Embrace the future or you’ll be left in the past.
I’d tell a joke about unemployment, but it doesn’t work: Consulting firm EY is using an AI-powered avatar to prep job-seekers for face-to-face interviews. eVe answers questions about the hiring process and can also help candidates decide whether to take a job offer. I can’t imagine it’s giving unbiased replies.
70 hours
The ideal workweek, according to a retired founder of a trillion-dollar tech company. Narayana Murthy, who used to run Infosys, says he doesn’t “believe in work-life balance.” You know, the problem with the rat race is even if you win, you’re still a rat.
Future of hiring: Gen Z is ditching traditional resumes and recording videos on TikTok to land jobs. Take Nicole, who applied for a Barstool Sports internship with a video resume and racked up over 657,000 views. No word on how many recruiters saw it, but it sure beats having a resume get buried in an inbox or automatically trashed by an AI bot.
Over 50 countries
Offer digital nomad visas, letting you live and work there for months or even years. Thailand’s, for example, can be renewed for up to five years. Other top destinations include Spain, the Netherlands and Norway. Here’s the full list. You can find me in the Seychelles.
Job scam warning: Retailers and shipping companies are hiring in droves ahead of the holidays. UPS, Amazon, FedEx, Target and all the rest are looking for folks, but they won’t make initial contact with you via email or text. Go to a potential employer’s website and find the “Careers” section to apply directly.
☕ The bar has never been lower: Intel has a bright idea to improve employee morale after major layoffs and cutbacks: Free coffee. Previously, they’d dropped coffee, tea and fruit as part of a $10 billion budget cut. Even though they’ve reinstated coffee, there’s no word yet on the free tea or fruit.
Looking for a job? Crooks have new tricks to con you
Finding employment in the current economic situation can be challenging, but thankfully, it is improving steadily. The latest unemployment data shows that it fell by 0.2% in February, with over 670,000 positions filled.
Another phony IRS email is making the rounds - DO NOT click it
It’s a shame that thieves are taking advantage of the pandemic. Countless scams related to vaccines, vaccination cards, economic relief, employment and the COVID virus itself have surfaced.
One scam making the rounds involves a text message informing recipients that their unemployment benefits are expiring. The message includes a link to a fake state workforce agency site that requests personal information. Tap or click here for details on this scheme.
Looking for work? These are the best (and worst) states so far in 2021
Have you been feeling a little blue looking for a job during these last few months during the pandemic? If you’re looking for some inspiration for a new job and don’t mind relocating, there’s a list you need to see.
Applying for jobs? Use this browser extension to skip the annoying application process
COVID-19 had a serious impact on the economy over the last year and a half. Now that millions of Americans are vaccinated, things are beginning to open up again. But that doesn’t mean we should drop our guard completely. The Delta variant is spreading quickly. Tap or click here to track this new, dangerous variant.
Use this tool to plan a career change based on your skillset
Are you searching for a new job right now? Job hunting can be pretty stressful in normal times, but a lot of people are out of work right now thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, making job competition stiff.
As of September, a whopping 12.6 million people were unemployed in the U.S. Another 4.6 million Americans were on temporary layoff status. There’s a ton of competition for each job opening, and it can be tough finding a position that fits your criteria. There are also these job-related scams to contend with.