Conscious Strategies LLC

Category: Musings

  • How to Spot a Recruiter Scam

    Has a “recruiter scammed you”? The first time it happened to me, it took me a few shakes of the head to realize and spot the recruiter scam in the nick of time.

    Luckily, I wisened up after the first event, and I’m here to share my tips for spotting a recruiter scam before you send your bank information to their nonexistent HR department.

    Now, not all recruiters are robots enlisted to scam you. But in this tight job market, we may unwittingly fall prey to scammers scouting the internet for information they can use against us.

    Six red flags that may indicate a recruiter scam

    #1 The initial exchange comes out of the blue

    Hello, you’ve won the lottery. All you have to do is…Just kidding. Whenever I get an email from a company I can’t remember applying to (and I keep a file to double-check my memory), I think, “Hmm, maybe this is a recruiter scam.”

    Also, the bot will often say “hi, hello, or dear” without using your full name. See how the initial email was so impersonal? The person said “Hi”, not “Hi Rana”.

    #2 And the line about scheduling the interview?

    Even if you can bypass that with curiosity, you could wonder why I must email them back to access the calendar. Hmm. It seems unprofessional. What do you think? I think it is a fishing expedition to see if you reply. And you may, so read on.

    #3 Not super professional on any level

    It IS curious that I have to email them when I can’t even remember who the firm is. Doubt lurks in my mind like a mugger following you to your car. If you’re in doubt, it may mean you have had way more professional teams and HR people reach out to you. You’re comparing those experiences with the current sketchy one, thinking “not very professional, would I enjoy working for that company in the first place?”

    #4 Suspicious format, font, and pre-job briefing

    I’ve been in marketing for over 10 years and have never heard of a pre-job briefing. Interview preparation materials – yes. Also, the font looked different. And why did Lily not have a signature? Even contractors typically take on a domain signature. So many little weird things in a normally civilized email with a consistent font and format.

    #5 Verify before trust

    Assuming you aren’t convinced. Or, you researched the company and await their email team to respond to your inquiry. Because yes, you do have to reach out by phone, over LinkedIn, or through the company’s contact portal to see if this is a legitimate interview offer.

    On the last PDF page of the so-called Job Briefing Guide, there is a big red flag If you run into difficulties setting up Teams. You wouldn’t omit the period and capitalize the “I”. This kind of typo should alert you. Also, HR people send Teams links from verified platforms. You shouldn’t be typing in a person’s name. See #6 for more.

    #6 Over the edge red flag

    Hiring managers would take the domain name of the company they work for. I’d like to point out how this scammer had an Outlook account. And what does that code mean?

    I suspected this was a scam because it is the second of its kind to land in my inbox. I’ve received them by phone, but those are different. This type sends collateral to lure you in and when you’re looking for a job you might be tempted to follow every lead.

    Don’t be weak, the right opportunity will present itself. Follow up, check it out, believe in you. Otherwise, you are part of a growing number of already having a hard time earning a living folks who’ve just given out some very private information. Established companies with legit HR departments send you correspondence through a portal, typically.

    Here’s what AI has to say about recruiter scams:

    Yes, recruiter scams are happening and are on the rise. Scammers increasingly target job seekers online, often impersonating legitimate recruiters or companies to gain personal or financial information. These scams can take various forms, including fake job offers, requests for upfront payments, and phishing attempts. 

  • The Art of the Thank You: Grati-dood

    Koda is teaching me a lot about gratitude and the art of the thank you. Even though she can’t speak human, her idea of saying thank you is usually to lick an eye, ear, hand or calf.

    There’s a sweetness to doing something that makes your puppy happy. It truly makes me feel good to receive her grateful affection. I know also when she growls at me that she’s pissed off, so trust me, the dood can communicate.

    Expressing gratitude

    Thank you For…

    I recently did two nice deeds for different humans who I barely know and did not receive a TY, thank you, thanks or #muchappreciated. This got me thinking about the words and why they matter to me.

    In my own upbringing, my mother always insisted on a thank you call and or thank you note. “I’m calling to say thank you for” or, “thanks so much for your thoughtful…”. The idea of thanking for a gift, gesture or good wish was intrinsic. Yet even the simplest words could express this. The lack of a thank you was bad manners and let’s just say, Mom did not go for this attitude at all.

    I don’t do kind deeds to get a thank you in return, don’t get me wrong. My operating system runs on friendliness and the hope of attracting positive, supportive energy and then, to pay it forward. Manners are also behaviors I’ve learned, and I know not everyone has this type of input.

    On paying forward, today I asked someone in Center City if she could pull up so I could park behind her. She did, and I thanked her so much.

    After my brief errand, I got the chance to say thanks again. We exchanged stories about men, big cars, small parking spaces and both smiled. I took this encounter as a reward. In my mind, this young lady did me a HUGE service and I wanted her to know. I also wanted the Universe to know that none of this went unnoticed.

    On exchanging smiles. A smile conveys lots of things, including gratitude. The effect of smiling on the body is a release of endorphins which counter act stress. The smile/thankyou combo is like a big yummy sandwich that is filling and has ingredients that drip down your cheek.

    A smile conveys gratitude and happiness

    How Gratitude Helps

    Moments like the ones I’m referring to don’t change anything per se. But they do add meaning to nurture my heart and soul. It’s the same kind of healing I get by giving the pup a belly rub and having her lick my face for five minutes afterword.

    These experiences help me manage stress as well. The gratitude behind a thank you in any form also nurtures my health and wellbeing. As a result, I’d go as far as saying that learning the art of the thank you invites joy. Try it for yourself and let us know.

    Need a dose of happy? Follow @KodaHazWax

     

     

  • Work Life Balance When You WFH

    Practice interuptus

    Finding a work life balance when you WFH can be a stretch. The computer is always right there and on. The puppy, the dishes, laundry, and yesterday’s grocery order tug at your heels like a puppy. I’ve heard many women talk about the kids and the challenges of Zoom school too. I don’t have that experience, but I can empathize.

    I work from home since I began my professional writing career. In other words, COVID didn’t put me here. Things changed with it though. My husband who is in a corporate role started to work from home. Then my food budget went up as gas bills when down.

    I actually let those changes in and was able to adapt. For one, I really used to worry about my husband commuting 1.5 hours at 7 P.M. It seemed inhuman. And for another, it’s a pandemic and that’s that. Wishful thinking does nothing useful. 

    All said, I’ve realized even more lately that balance while working from home is in constant flux. 

    What is your idea of a work life balance (WLB)?

    My sense of work life balance is that it is an organic process. I feel like I need to touch base with myself every day to figure out what actions I can take to be in sync this day, this moment.

    It has showed me that balance is a mix. Partly of what you have, how content you are with it, and how much you can go with the flow.

    I am fortunate to have three floors and a basement. The second floor we each have an office. So space wise I can’t complain. That said, there are challenges that add to the mix and try to tip the scales. 

    The way I get to a more equal version of myself is holistic. My mind, body and spirit need to sync up. I do this through meditation, yoga and writing. I have a daily practice of all three. Though writing for clients takes precedence over my own blog.

    Do you breathe during the day?

    I do. It’s the one thing I really need. Doesn’t mean it is easy. Let me tell you in the next blog about Koda. For now I will tell you that I’ve moved my desk into the bedroom, I’m puppy training with a pee pad in my master bathroom and her poo poo is stinky so deep breathing is a bit iffy at certain times.

    My art meets life –> Breathe

    Why work life balance is important even if it’s a distant goal?

    That said, and given we all hav our circumstances and attitude, can we agree we still need an action plan to fuel the positivity? Especially when added to the pressures of working from home and its extras.

    I’m not sure if this is hard for you. Whether you think work life balance is important but not (always) possible. I can only do what my years of yoga teaching taught me and that is:

    -Use your challenges as a teacher

    -Self reflect

    -Practice

    -Have no expectations but set a goal

    -Prepare for the next step

    -Honor where you are

    My Latest Steps to Getting More Work Life Balance

    Does waking up count? Ha. Ok here are a few things I do to bring more equipoise to a work from home lifestyle.

    #1 Lighten the mood with candles at the end of the day.

    Lighten the mood with candles

    #2 Meditate for a few seconds at the end of the work day to clear my head.

    I created the Yoga Mind CD if you would like to try it.

    #3 I read something inspirational so I can keep learning and thinking with a different part of my mind.

    Clear is kind

    My latest fav expression is “Clear is kind”. It’s from Brene Brown’s book, Dare to Lead.

    #4 Follow the clear is kind mantra in my life as much as possible to be a better communicator and listener.

    Colored pens and a diary are something that keep me organized at work. They help me keep track of goals, ideas, gold star or review moments.

    #5 Branch out to do more things I love on the weekends. Cook, garden, walk in nature, binge a series.

    Branch out

    #6 Make healthy food. I cannot get enough lemon water and my latest yumm – the Waxman Waldorf.

    Crunch out with celery salad.
    Play soothing sounds. This one is Chanting Om Music for Deep Meditation

    Thanks for reading,

    Rana

  • Have we Redefined Reading?

    Have we Redefined Reading?

    Digital platforms have redefined reading. I’m not referring only to tablets like kindle. These portable libraries may actually encourage us to have a book in hand. As a result, we can now do so with greater freedom and a lighter purse.

    What is your attention span?

    I feel that the vast number of digital articles, blogs, email campaigns etc. has changed (re-framed?) our attention span. Have you noticed, glued to a screen, how much reading you do in a day? Would you say you dive in or skim read? Do you still enjoy reading for pleasure? Is your attention span the same as it was 10 or 15 years ago?
    Neuroscientists have discovered that reading a novel can improve brain function on a variety of levels.

    Christopher Bergland, Psychology Today
    Recent reports show that Americans are reading less each year. No doubt many of us lack the time, but what most irks me is we don’t aim high with our attention spans. After all, we can click our way out of reading anything digital. Before we know it we’ve therefore opened 5 pages that take us in 5 directions. Or we extricate – grab the bullet points and go.
    If you’re an average reader, I’ve got your attention for 15 seconds, so here goes: We are getting a lot wrong about the web these days. We confuse what people have clicked on for what they’ve read. We mistake sharing for reading.  Tony Haile. Time Magazine

    Has Everything Written Been Dumbed-down? 


    As a writer, I’m reading for research purposes more than for the joy of the story. I run my written work through editing software and sometimes through editors. In fact, one client wants the tone and syntax to be at eighth grade level understanding. You should know that ‘dumbing it down’ is often a key component to online writing.
    I do completely understand this. Online equals access to a wider audience – yes you millennials. It also means that built into many pieces is a guess that you won’t actually read what you’re reading. You’ll skim or look for the bullet points. It’s like going to the Grand Canyon, taking a selfie to show your followers and saying “I just explored this natural wonder!”.
    I’m trying to achieve a different intellectual balance in spite of my enthusiasm for creative and SEO writing. Truth told my eyes get tired after 8 hours of typing and staring at a computer screen. In addition, some of the books that I’ve picked up through book club recommendations (not the ones below) have disappointed me. They seem to have the same flavor as dumbed down web-based pieces, which does nothing for me. At least, nothing stimulating to my intellect.

    What is on Your Reading List? Here’s Mine


    Recently I’ve picked up a few noteworthy novels to share with you. So far, I’m 3/4 into All the Light We Cannot See and find it engrossing. For my taste, it has great character development and the chapters flow from one to the next. Consequently, I never feel like I’ve lost my place and always want to pick it up for more. I’m not a huge fan of punchy digital copy that has 3 words in a sentence – though I understand it. If you use any editing software, you can achieve this result. Yet I have spoken with women my age and we feel this style targets a younger (perhaps less professional) audience. Here are some features that I look for a novel:
    • Characters I can understand – not necessarily relate to
    • Author focus – not too many tangents
    • A plot I can follow and identify – good story telling 
    • Vocabulary that makes me go to the dictionary a few times – but isn’t pseudo intellectual
    • Has some meaning to it – I am less drawn to fluff and more to substance (remember Steinbeck’s East of Eden?)
    • Well researched if the goal is to address a specific time period
    • If auto-biographical, not egotistical 
    What’s on your bookshelf? Anything that makes you feel enriched? Let’s start 2019 with a drive to get smarter. To expand our minds and nourish our soul.