Promoting the Freelance and Gig Economy - Workology

Promoting the Freelance and Gig Economy - Workology Need for Forward Thinking Government The US Department of Labor has redefined the rules surrounding what employees can be considered exempt. This redefinition requires that employers have newly declared nonexempt employees accurately record time worked on a daily basis. At the same time they are clamping down on use of independent contractors. Both of these actions fly in the face of the new way to work that is being used by companies like Uber, Lyft and Taskrabbit. The government seems to be receding instead of moving forward to embrace new methods of employing and keeping employed workers. What can be done? I came across one suggestion that I liked. Flexibility Is Needed Marco Torregrossa, Secretary General at the European Forum of Independent Professionals, writes on the website EurActive.com that much can be done to help support freelancers or independent workers. Torregrossa says that “To achieve the full potential of this emerging shift, policymakers must have a more heterogeneous and less monolithic understanding of an evolving independent workforce and begin shaping solutions that reflect this new reality of work.” He suggests this for the EU, but his advice is just as relevant, if not more so, for the US. He says that governments need to think differently about independents, or solopreneurs as he calls them, even differently from SMEs (Small and Medium-sized Enterprises.) He even goes so far to call for solopreneurs to “be given access to social security programs, training schemes, funding instruments and tax benefits that are too often unavailable to solopreneurs without steady pay packets and with variable income streams.” Innovation Zones Much like other work zones that have been created to foster company or job growth, one idea that Torregrossa has that caught my eye was his idea of innovation zones. As he says “Businesses and local authorities should co-create innovation zones to experiment with flexible work arrangements.” States or cities could create zones that would allow independent workers to work with businesses under different arrangements than current law allows. These innovation zones would allow independent workers and business to experiment with multiple ways to work together and not have to worry about IRS or DOL or state regulations that would penalize both parties for the arrangements. He says: They should support the development of local platforms letting companies use freelancers without fear of liabilities if they might later be reclassified as employees and use big data to monitor trends. HR agencies, financial actors, public and private intermediaries should upgrade their services to sustain workers’ transition from project to project, platform to platform and into different career paths. This would allow companies, workers and governments the opportunity to reinvent the world of work. We are moving down that road very quickly and we need to try to find ways to promote this adaptation. Torregrossa tells us that NYC for one is prime for adaptation. He says “The rush hour is dying. New York City’s subway system has announced that, for the first time in 30 years, “weekday growth was strongest outside of the traditional morning and evening rush hours”.   This is because people are beginning to abandon the conventional commute to a 9-to-5 job, so they can live and work autonomously.” If this is not a clarion call for rethinking how we work and the role of government and businesses will play in that then I don’t know what would be. Need for Forward Thinking Government I am hoping we can get some forward thinking politicians and bureaucrats to look for alternative ways to deal with the increasingly larger population of independent workers. Perhaps it will happen in Europe first, following Torregrossa’s lead, because there is a different opinion of some of the social support nets that need to be set up than there is here in the US. I would like to see the US embrace this kind of change driven by businesses and the independent workers, but I am not going to hold my breath for that long.

The Fight Against Resume Writing Military Transition

The Fight Against Resume Writing Military Transition Where to Find Resume Writing Military Transition Don't limit the little folks Large, military well disposed organizations tend to have tremendous financial plans for enlisting and publicizing veterans. Peruse our military resume models today to find how we can help you, or contact our group straightforwardly to discover more. There are different approaches to compose your resume. People who attempt to progress from the military to the non military personnel workforce consistently keep an eye out for help as there are such a large number of things they should know before building up a resume and introductory letter. You'll be encircled by composing experts all through the arrangement of request situation, and once you decide to buy article and select an assigned essayist, things are probably going to get much all the more energizing. When composing your expert military resume, our motivation is to raise your own cost and verify you are serious. Solicitation input and tune in to their recommendation on how it is conceivable to improve your resume. Its goal is to empower your peruser to quickly learn in case you're the sort of individual they're scanning for. The Definitive Approach to Resume Writing Military Transition When composing your composing military resume, our motivation is to veteran resumes singular cost and verify you are extremely serious. As our gathering of essayists is quite huge, we generally have free authors quick to bring a reasonable and generously compensated buy. It's workable for you to move toward an expert resume essayist in case you're feeling the interest for it. The essayist will make an expert quality, exceptionally thorough page continue. The Secret to Resume Writing Military Transition You don't need to dispatch various request structures, get a lot of passwords at for all intents and purposes each progression of request. You simply need to pass a basic method of approval, click purchase research papers, fill an easy buy structure and that is it! Basically accept the open door to make connections before you essentially start conveying resumes. Searchable resumes need explicit page structures since PC scanners can't peruse certain items. Military Summary Outline your military information in a quick synopsis that is effortlessly perused. Composing resumes can be trying for certain people, and in this manner don't be frightened to discover some help from the specialists. Your Military Resume Writer will converse with you all through the resume planning method to ensure your most pertinent capacities and capabilities show up at the bleeding edge. The person in question will talk with paper umich all through the resume planning procedure to guarantee your most applicable abilities and capabilities go to the front line. New Step by Step Roadmap for Resume Writing Military Transition You may likewise get some information about and address others who have proceeded onward from a profession fundamentally the same as yours. Presently all you must accomplish is find deal with non military personnel road. Our top to bottom author preparing system guarantees the government continue essayist appointed to you is personally familiar with the military to bureaucratic profession change strategy, and that your resume for military assistance features your particular capacities and achievements which are exceptionally pined for in the current serious administrative occupation industry. Making the change from military life to the regular citizen world is a huge test, especially once you should continue that will facilitate your work search with the goal that you can land a work as speedily as could reasonably be expected. Military to non military personnel changes are among the specialities they've recorded on their site. A military to non military personnel transformation continue subsequently isn't simple as you would need to persuade your imminent busin ess that you are set up for the change in your vocation. At the point when it's because of a move in the business or a move to your greatest advantage, there are a lot of motivations to gain a mid-vocation change.

You Probably Want to Change Careers #8212; So Here#8217;s How to Do That

You Probably Want to Change Careers #8212; So Here#8217;s How to Do That Recent Research from the University of Phoenix found that approximately 60 percent of every working grown-up and 73 percent of experts in their 30s need to change vocations. On the off chance that youre thinking that is such a large number of individuals to be a happenstance, youre most likely right. In the review, we found that half of the individuals who said they needed to change professions had entered their vocations in light of the fact that their were occupations accessible, says Ruth Veloria, official senior member at the University of Phoenix Business School. I think what were seeing is a huge scope absence of vocations that are fascinating or connecting by and by. A few people needed to make a few trade offs, particularly in the last eight or nine years, and now things are beginning to change in the economy. Presently, more individuals are pondering: Is it time for me to roll out an improvement? The examination likewise found that individuals with yearly salaries between $75,000 and $100,000 were well on the way to have lost enthusiasm for their fields (45 percent) and learn about consumed (40 percent). Veloria accepts this outcomes from the leveling influence numerous experts feel when they arrive at this level in their vocations. At the point when we experience people in that section at University of Phoenix, in many cases they are in their professions, and they are feeling like their chances are starting to limit in their field, Veloria clarifies. They can feel like they are getting stuck. At the point when you are attempting your hardest to push ahead, yet you might not have what it takes to make that bounce from center administration to the official level, that can just upgrade the sentiments of burnout. In the event that youre one of the numerous individuals in need of another profession, Veloria has a few hints for you: 1. Recall That Skills Are Transferrable A few experts feel they cant conceivable change vocations on the grounds that doing so would mean beginning once again in a section level position. Veloria says this is a mixed up conviction. Obviously, you have to do the examination on the most proficient method to get into the profession that you need to have, however the significant thing is to comprehend which of your abilities can interpret, Veloria says. For instance, say you work for a promoting organization, yet you need to move into social insurance in some limit. Veloria says you might need to consider moving into the human services industry by beginning in an advertising position at a level that is practically identical to your current role at the advertisement organization. Furthermore, if youre stressed that you lack several the aptitudes you have to make the hop starting with one profession then onto the next, Veloria needs to help you to remember the presence of online testament projects, MOOCs, and comparative preparing choices. There are unquestionably ways that you can add to your arrangement of aptitudes without returning to the starting point, Veloria says. 2. Set aside Some Effort to Understand Yourself and Your Career Goals Gives up back to imagining you work for a promotion office and need to switch over to social insurance. We instructed you to get a promoting position with a social insurance association. Great, you say. But I dont need to be in promoting. I need to be in social insurance. What you have to do now is some overwhelming self-reflection. Once youre in the business, you can analyze where your drawn out pathway lies in that field, Veloria says. A decent method to do this is to discover a coach inside the association who can assist you with mapping out your new vocation way. You can have tutors in your organization, or coaches in your field, who can enable you to develop, Veloria says. They can assist you with finding new open doors that line up with your enthusiasm, and they can enable you to comprehend what it is you have to do to arrive. 3. Become More Entrepreneurial in Your Career A coach can assist you with pioneering a path to your objectives, be that as it may, Veloria says, you have to recollect that it is your path to blast. Dont trust that HR will deal with your profession, Veloria says. You can oversee it for yourself. Veloria accepts that experts hoping to make profession changes and even the individuals who are not have to turn out to be increasingly enterprising and take control of [their] career[s] in the event that they need to succeed. What's more, I don't get it's meaning to turn out to be progressively innovative? Veloria shares a model from her own vocation that answers the inquiry by delineating it. Veloria invested energy in elevated level client support jobs with various enormous name monetary associations, along these lines getting very master in client experience and fulfillment. At the point when she came to University of Phoenix, in any case, Veloria thought about by what method ought to could utilize her insight into and energy for client assistance for the association. We work a ton on our understudy understanding, and I [found a way to] fit my abilities into that working condition, Veloria says. I had the option to make a fresh out of the box new situation for myself that didnt exist. I plunked down, considered what was missing, introduced the business case for why it was required, and had the option to have that business case acknowledged. Its imperative to recall, includes Veloria, that all employments that you need dont essentially exist in your organization today. Its a strong move yet it tends to be fruitful to make the activity [you want] and offer it to the supervisory group. Also, in the event that you can do that, perhaps you wont even need to experience an entire vocation change. Perhaps you can discover enthusiasm and satisfaction in the field in which you got a handle on copied in any case.

Two Excellent Job Finalists, But Only ONE Gets Job! - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Two Excellent 'Occupation Finalists,' But Only ONE Gets Job! - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Indeed, the presidential crusade is finishedâ€"at long last! It was a long, twisting, now and then unbearable street for the two finalists for the activity, Mr. Romney and Mr. Obama, both brilliant applicants. Yet at the same time, at long last, just ONE of the applicants was at last chosen for the position, the President of the United States. It is ever in this manner for most quests for new employment. At the point when you consider it (as I have done!), there are something beyond a couple of equals between how this, the most significant of pursuits of employment, unfurled and how the normal, truly undeniably progressively ordinary, quest for new employment unfurls in the present place of employment showcase. As is the case with practically all the TOP employments today, numerous competitors at first lined up for the activity as our country's CEO. Most were obviously qualified enough to at any rate be considered for the activity, while a couple of others plainly were definitely not. The pool of work applicants before long started to be separated (once more, similar to the case in the present in general occupation market) and potential up-and-comers were dynamically (and now and then, immediately) wiped out from further thought, for an entire assortment of reasons: They weren't seen as having the fundamental experience as well as ranges of abilities wanted by the employing authority (the American individuals), they made different blunder during the beginning times of their bid (what I allude to as throwing shadows on the divider in Talent scout Hiring Secrets: The Rules of the Hiring Game Have Changed . . . Everlastingly!), and so forth. When the pool of potential contender for the activity was diminished to a progressively sensible size, the recruiting authority (American individuals) began assessing (either deliberately or sub-intentionally) the enduring applicants basically on the accompanying four fundamental rules, similar rules, by chance, that all employing specialists use (regardless of whether they are intentionally mindful of it) when assessing work up-and-comers: Could the up-and-comers really carry out the responsibility? Do the up-and-comers truly need to carry out the responsibility? Will the up-and-comers carry out the responsibility? Are the entirety of the up-and-comers great social fits? It wasn't long at all before some of the competitors were wiped out carefully based on the first and third standards: Can the up-and-comer really carry out the responsibility? furthermore, Will the up-and-comer carry out the responsibility? Most competitors were fairly immediately considered to miss the mark in meeting these significant, however surely emotional, measures and were in this way out of the race at an opportune time. Much the same as most pursuits of employment. There was little uncertainty that for all intents and purposes the entirety of the competitors more than met the subsequent basis: Does the applicant really need to carry out the responsibility? (There are hardly any government officials of national height and unmistakable quality who don't desire, in any event furtively, for a definitive prize.) Still, as can absolutely be the situation in any pursuit of employment today, that demonstrated to hold little influence over those creation the real recruiting choice. When the two work finalists were resolved, i.e., Mr. Romney and Mr. Obama, apparently, a definitive employing choice appeared to pivot principally upon the fourth measure: Which of the two competitors would end up being the best social fit? That is, which up-and-comer anticipated both the individual and expert brands that the recruiting authority (the American electorate) generally wanted, if not requested? So as to stay in a state of harmony with the electorate, now and again the two competitors needed to refine as well as reaffirm their brands in any event to some degree during the whole course of the pursuit of employment. Beginning to appear to liberal, or excessively traditionalist? Change the brand a bit. Bid among ladies or minorities slipping a bit? Once more, change the brand. 'Eye to eye' Interviews with the 'Chiefs' At that point came the exceptionally significant eye to eye interviews, i.e., the broadcast presidential discussions, which gave the leaders (the American electorate) a chance to perceive how well every applicant had the option to think and react quickly, the open door for the chiefs to show signs of improvement feel for the genuine competitors. Similarly as in practically any pursuit of employment, the chiefs, We the People, were endeavoring to learn (among numerous different things, obviously) which of the two finalists could best be normal to . . . Give functional answers for explicit issues confronting the organization (our nation), e.g., a joblessness rate that is still excessively high, an economy that is as yet vacillating, and so on. Make the organization cash, e.g., make employments and subsequently increment much-required income, and so forth. Spare the organization cash, e.g., decrease the expanding national obligation, and so forth. Or then again, Both make and spare the organization cash. How well (or how inadequately) every competitor was seen by the leaders to have the option to achieve these significant destinations would eventually drive the recruiting choice. Just as in any pursuit of employment! The Final Decision Similarly as with any pursuit of employment, there at last came when the leaders needed to really settle on a choice in regards to which of the two finalists would be picked for the situation viable, the administration. The two competitors spoke to themselves well all through the job search. And the two up-and-comers created, anticipated and kept up close to home and expert brands that engaged enormous quantities of the decision-producers. All things considered, just ONE would be chosen for the position. Much the same as any pursuit of employment. All things considered, obviously, we currently know which of the two competitors was at last chosen, Mr. Obama. Possibly you commended this decision, or perhaps you didn't. In any case, the employing choice has been made, and the competitor who was the subsequent option, Mr. Romney, must acknowledge that and proceed onward to other vocation openings. Just like in any pursuit of employment! In this way, on the off chance that you are at present in the quest for a new position, and every now and then mourn all the different circles you should bounce through just to remain in the game, it may be useful to review that nobodyâ€"including contender for the U. S. Administration!â€" is ever truly excluded from the hardships one regularly experiences in another pursuit of employment! Creator: Skip Freeman is the creator of Talent scout Hiring Secrets: The Rules of the Hiring Game Have Changed . . . Forever! and is the President and Chief Executive Officer of The HTW Group (Hire to Win), an Atlanta, GA, Metropolitan Area Executive Search Firm. Having some expertise in the arrangement of deals, designing, assembling and RD experts, he has grown incredible procedures that assist organizations with employing the best and help the best get recruited.

Customize this Outstanding Product Developer Resume Sample

Alter this Outstanding Product Developer Resume Sample Alter this Outstanding Product Developer Resume Sample Item Developer ResumeCreate Resume Career GoalTo accomplish a fruitful profession in Product Expansion and Development and SalesAcademic BackgroundAchieved Bachelor of Arts Degree in Marketing from the Southwest Missouri State Business School, Pittsville in 1992.Computer Programming SkillsOperating Systems: Windows9X, Windows2000, Windows ME, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Linux, Unix, MS DOSHTML Editing Tools: Macromedia Dreamweaver, Microsoft FrontPage, Adobe GoLiveGraphics Tools: Macromedia Flash, Macromedia Fireworks, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe PageMaker, Adobe Illustrator, 3D Max, Bryce 3DOffice Package: Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Outlook ExpressProgramming Language: Pascal, Turbo Pascal, C, C++, Java, Java Swing, PythonComputer Programming SkillsOffice Package: Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Outlook Express.Operating Systems: Windows9X, Windows2000, Windows ME, Windows XP, Window s Vista, Linux, UNIX, MS DOS.Professional Excellence SummarySuccessfully got preparing record with capacity to make complex thoughts, ideas and Items available and easy to understand to clients, customers and personnel.Inventive in promoting and show of items and effectively trading them with full expertise.Professional BackgroundPresently filling in as a Product Developer since 2000 in The Wheel Exchange Inc. Kirksville City, MS and proficiently took care of and played out the following:Manage and direct all Product Development Procedures and Operations, which incorporate the assembling and testing of model models of cycles.Conceive, extend and manufacture bikes and cycles for the truly impaired people.Formulate, create and execute the creation of a wheelchair bicycle for Milton Murray in his yearly Las Vegas Marathon bid.Taking evening classes as a workforce on bike making, fix and maintenance.Direct and set up a cycling crew supported by The Wheel Exchange Inc.From 1997 to 1999 f illed in as a Sales Manager in IGIGIs Inc. also, directed up to 25 representatives alongside playing out specific obligations and duties like:Controlled and coursed a few framework of merchandise.Coordinated item information and advancement through teaching.Maintained generally excellent client relations and affinity with clients.Ordered required materials, looked after stock, created and actualized imaginative window introductions and displays.From 1994 to 1996 functioned as a Unit Manager in David Harrison Motors in Boston, MA.Customize Resume

The perks and benefits to look for in a job - Margaret Buj - Interview Coach

The advantages and advantages to search for in an occupation At the point when you're attempting to pick an occupation, there is a ton to consider, and it can some of the time become a touch of overpowering. How are you expected to settle on the correct decision when you haven't worked for that business, or carried out that responsibility? All things considered, this is one reason why beginning a new position can be such a lottery. Indeed, there are a great deal of occupations out there that may appear as though dream employments for such a significant number of individuals, however can really transform into a bad dream in the event that you dont have the correct advantages and advantages to go with it. Over 20% of organizations don't offer their workers any sort of advantages or rewards, and that shows they aren't going the additional mile to guarantee representative maintenance. Toss in the way that 38% of representatives need to get prizes for good work, and it's not hard to see that advantages matter a great deal to us. These are a portion of the advantages you ought to be searching for when attempting to pick your next activity. Parental Working environment benefits in 2017 demonstrated that one of the key contemplations for a ton of representatives was parental advantages. Outstandingly things like shared parental leave for fathers, and adaptable working calendars. Being a parent isn't simple, and you need to ensure you put your children first as frequently as could reasonably be expected. Thus, it's an ideal opportunity to begin engaging with organizations that likewise perceive that, and this is an advantage that should be a central point for you in your dynamic. Benefits You have to consider your drawn out future, and that implies considering a solid annuity advantage. There will be a few organizations out there offering annuity re-enrolment benefits that are extremely valuable for helping you get the most ideal annuity result you can. Your annuity isn't something you may think you have to worry about the present moment, however it makes a difference more than you might suspect. Its best if the annuity conspire the new business utilizes has a five star Defacto rating and is MAF authorize, so you realize your future occupation will be in the most ideal hands. This is a significant thought and one that could well be a conclusive factor when you are going after positions. Medical coverage Medical coverage is a phenomenal method of taking care of yourself and securing your drawn out wellbeing. It's imperative to attempt to care for yourself, particularly when you are working in a high-pressure business condition. This is the reason 60% of workers guarantee that wellbeing inclusion is very importantin helping them choose whether or not to stay in a vocation. In this way, you should search for work with organizations that offer appealing and serious wellbeing and prosperity benefits. Marking Bonus Not all organizations offer this, yet the ones that do are certainly worth considering. Marking rewards are commonly paid out to a representative when they join an organization, and this will frequently happen among top of the line organizations in an offer to make sure about ability rather than their opponents. A genuine case of this is the product organization Huddle, which pays representatives a marking reward of £5,000 when they join! What's more, as though that weren't sufficient, it additionally pays them £500 as a yearly blessing! On the off chance that you can discover work with an organization like this, you realize the advantages will be staggering! Limits Limits are a typical representative advantage, yet they are something we would all anticipate. It's ideal to have the option to get a good deal on buys, regardless of whether they be occasions, staple goods, or diversion. Along these lines, you ought to do some exploration and attempt to discover probably the best worker limits out there, and who offers them. What's more, you have to ensure you maintain a strategic distance from any organizations out there that don't offer worker limits of any sort! Adaptability The work-life balance is so significant, however not many of us appear to have the option to get this enough nowadays. You need to take a gander at what organizations out there offer adaptable working terms and conditions. Presently, this may be boundless occasion time, which organizations like Visualsoft offer, permitting workers to go on vacation when they need. Or then again, and this is a major one, the capacity to telecommute. Increasingly more Millennials are valuing this as a significant advantage of the activity, and organizations are wising up, with a normal of 8 out of 10 managers offering this. As should be obvious, there are heaps of superb rewards and advantages that are offered, it's only an instance of finding the organizations that offer them. Choose what is generally critical to you, and attempt to make sure about business some place that gives the absolute best advantages around. What advantages are generally imperative to you? Tell us in the remarks!

How to avoid fake internships

How to avoid fake internships Weve got a great post this week from Asaf one of our careers consultants talking about fake internships. Most organisations offer placements in good faith, but there are some unscrupulous ones out there. Make sure you know what to look out for and what to avoid. Would you pay someone to get you a job? Would you pay someone to guarantee you an internship? If you are tempted to say “yes”, you need to know how to distinguish between a fraudulent offer and a genuine one. I was recently approached by a student who was almost tempted to say yes and in the process, lose some serious money. Let me take you through our journey *John saw an advert on a national job search website â€" the kind of website we all use. The ad was about an internship programme in the US. He clicked, sent his CV, and waited. A couple of days later he was invited for a telephone interview with the “US-EU Global Internship Agency”. What followed was a standard 30 minutes interview â€" it seemed professional, if generic. Four hours after the interview, he received an email offering him an internship with a company called “Global Financial Expertise” in the US. Great! The email also reminded him about a fee of $2250, payable to the agency. Not so great. At this stage John contacted  Careers Skills  to ask for advice. My first reaction was to be cautious â€" agencies don’t usually charge candidates. Agencies charge companies and in return they help companies to find â€" and place â€" suitable candidates. But there may be genuine agents or service providers who offer services, training, and even access to employers for a fee. Was “US-EU Global Internship Agency” one of them? By asking a few simple questions, you can find out quite quickly whether the organisation is genuine, or fake. What do I get for my money? We have seen companies that charge hundreds of pounds for a simple CV check that you can get for free from your careers service. In our case, the only thing the agent was offering John was a link with an American company. What kind of internship is on offer here? You need to find out more. What does the placement involve? What projects will you be working on, and where? My  advice was to call the company and ask them if they are aware of an agency that charges money for placing interns with them, but before sharing that with John, I decided to do some digging of my own. My curiousity was piqued and I wanted to find out more. Heres what I did: I googled “Global Financial Expertise”. Interestingly, the first result on the page was its Facebook page. Although you would expect Facebook to have a high page ranking, you wouldnt expect a companys Facebook page to appear  before the company website. It also had a presence on LinkedIn. But when I searched further I found it didnt appear as a company at all, but as a group. Anyone can open a group on LinkedIn! I also couldn’t find any employees of the company there. This doesnt have to mean anything but I was immediately suspicious. I found their website. Yes, they had one. But â€" and this is a pretty big but â€" it just didn’t look like a website of a reputable financial company that recruits interns abroad. It used generic images, very little text, and I couldn’t see any company registration numbers or employees I checked their contact details. There was a telephone number and address but when I used Google Maps to locate the address, I found 25 other companies registered at the same address! I used Street View to tour the area. It didn’t look much like a global financial centre. As a final throw of the dice I went to the Warwick library business databases and used Factiva to search for  â€œGlobal Financial Expertise”. Now that was interesting. I found news items from 2010 about withdrawing the company’s licence. So if the company is still operating today, it does so illegally. A quick google search for“Global Financial Expertise fraud”  generated more evidence. There was little room for mistake; the company had been instructed to close down a couple of years ago. This was the end of the journey for me. The agency is most likely part of the scam. Google them, and you find nothing. If I were John, I wouldn’t even take the trouble to phone them. Better to stick with employers that pay you, not the other way around.  Scam internships  are a very real problem, but you can avoid them. Top tips Be careful of agencies that charge you. What do you get for that money? Is the fee reasonable? Google the company name. Look at their website carefully. Can you get a sense of a real company with people, offices, clients and activities? Or are they “virtual”? Search business databases like Factiva for news items about the company. Google the company name + “scam” or “fraud”. Check LinkedIn. Can you find employees from this company? Clients? If possible, contact them and ask further questions. Look out for poor spelling and grammar â€" this can often the sign of a fake recruiter. Not all companies use specialist copywriters, but the genuine ones will certainly try to produce accurate, consistent and professional copy. * All names and identifiers have been changed.