AboutLeslie Truex Expertise I can answer questions on how to find a work-at-home job online or off including the best sites for finding jobs, how approach an employer about working at home, and other methods for creating a work-at-home job. I can also answer questions about current trends in telecommuting, how to establish a telecommuting program in a company, and how to maximize productivity while working at home.
Experience I have telecommuted as a social worker, writer, web designer and online researcher. I have provided work-at-home job announcements and tips online since 1998 at my site WorkAtHomeSuccess.com. I am the author of Jobs At Home: A Complete Guide to Finding or Creating a Work-At-Home and of the soon to be published The Pajama Mama Guide to Online Employment.
Publications My articles have appeared in various work-at-home and stay-at-home e-zines and web site.
Education/Credentials I have a BA in Psychology and a Masters in Social Work.
Awards and Honors Work-At-Home Success has been recognized and received several awards from various online resources.
Expert: Leslie Truex Date: 10/20/2007 Subject: home based telecommuting
Question I have read a few reviews about the Computer Career Institute's home-based Web Promotion Program. The reviews I read were from professional consumer reporters. In doing so, I noticed some of the reviews were identically written although they were from different consumer reporters at different tv and news outlets. Is this school paying these reporters or writing what should be said? Isn't that practice illegal?
John Phillips
Answer Hi John,
I haven't applied to or seen the course for this program so I can't tell you one way or another about the validity or quality. However, I can give you my impressions.
First, when you see the same review posted, its often the result of an affiliate program. The Institute may pay people who refer them new students. As part of the deal the Institute may also provide marketing materials including a review.
Second, while Internet marketing is a great thing to know about, I'm not sure a course will provide you more than you can get through self-taught avenues. You didn't give me the URL to check it out, but if its the one I have seen before, it focuses on articles and "guarantees" work at the end. These two things are of concern. First, good Internet marketing involves much more than just article writing. Any course teaching web promotion should also be teaching about email, ezines, blogs, SEO, etc. Further, I can't see how any legitimate company can guarantee a job. Jobs are earned by qualified applicants. While the course may teach what needs to be known, they can't guarantee that you'll learn it well enough to get hired.
My recommendation for finding a work-at-home job, is to stick with current skills, experiences and even interests. There are hundreds of legitimate jobs out there right now that you can tap into without taking a course. Like traditional jobs, these jobs just need you to be the best qualified candidate as shown in a professional resume.
