PSA: Linked In Seminar. . . June 26, 2012

If you are interested in learning more about Linked In, go to the OU Jobs Board and sign up for this TUESDAY (i.e. tomorrow evening) Seminar teaching the ins and outs of Linked In and its utility in expanding your opportunities.

What To Do When The Money Doesn't Exist?

Hat Tip: with thanks to a loyal reader

A mother at Imamother writes the following (two excerpts):

I'm supposed to register my second child for school next year and even if after the humiliating questionaires and grilling they agree to give us a break, I wouldn't have enough to pay the school and I have no idea what I am going to do. I am putting off having a third child indefitiely ONLY BECAUSE the cost of tuition is prohibitive. this cannot be what sarah schneirer had in mind. I don't have the guts to put my kids in public school although it grows increasingly tempting. What options are there if the money simply DOESN'T EXIST and there is nowhere to get it from? I am constantly fighting a sense of panic. This issue is controlling our finances, our family planning, our emotional health...this is WRONG! Especially in today's economy, where people need to be happy with whatever job they can get, how does anyone in the frum community pay more than one tuition? who has a spare 10 or 20 or 30,000 a year after living expenses? WHAT DO I DO??

--AND--

[. . . . . . ]I AM getting a tuition break. full tuition would be nearly $7000. But for my next kid the most I can do would be 2500 and the school won't take that. I have a friend with girls in the same school who ligitimatly can't pay because the school she works for is behind in paying her. her kids are getting kicked out. schools are toughening up, and not giving breaks and grace periods like they used to because they are also short on cash. also the exedous from brooklyn to lakwood means fewer young families and fewer kids in the schools. that means fewer tuitions. so they need whatever money they do have coming in and they won't give up on it so easily. Our school got a new tough as nails administraotr and you have to go through a song and dance just to get an appointment with him and even if you do, he has heard the same sob story ten thousand times. the fact is we just can't afford it the same way we can't afford to buy a house and qwe can't afford a new car. we can't afford private school. I looked into homeschooling. I don't think I can pull it off. I don't have the patience or the orginization or the space. I may have to look into it again, but not everyone can be a teacher. even for their own kids.

Additional info: The husband works a "dead end" job, has no degree/vocational certificate and what he makes only covers about half their living expenses. The mother freelances, but hasn't experienced great success.

Wow, this is a really difficult situation with no "good solutions" in the here and now. Reading between the lines, the underemployment on the part of both parents makes the oft suggested individual solutions (moving, aliyah) problematic. It also makes the "obvious" alternative of homeschooling, suggested as it should be, difficult because the parents need to be investing in their own earning potential, skills, etc.

I regard homeschooling/group schooling as one of the most doable alternatives for centrist/modern Orthodox Jews in the upper middle income brackets (esp. where income is earned primarily by one parent). It is one thing for a family staring another 5-digit tuition bill in the face that falls on top of another 5-digit tuition obligation to decide to home school. It is quite another thing for parents who just don't have much disposable cash regardless of where they send their children to school. This is just my opinion, but I think it would be very, very helpful to have some real money to work with if taking the homeschooling route (especially in a world that can be described as hostile to the very idea).

So what are parents like these to do when their well has simply run dry and the schools are not able to accommodate? Are there any practical solutions in the here and now for parents that don't think they can home school?

I always love flexibility and many options. Flexibility seems to be sorely lacking here. It is hard to know just how limited the family's options are or if they are limiting their own options unnecessarily. I do believe that no matter what schooling route they ultimately go in, or regardless of if they grow their family, the parents must invest in their own earning potential. .. from developing a marketable skill set to developing the skills that are keeping them from seeing the possibility in homeschooling.

You'll Throw Them a Pumpkin Pie?

Hat Tip:

The Lakewood Scoop

VIN News

Yeshiva World News

Matzav

Simply unbelievable (see full article at Asbury Park Press).

While in the past, private schools waived their right to busing on Thanksgiving, this year that is not the case. From the comments everywhere (and a TLS poll), the majority believe bus drivers should have the day off, although there are plenty of comments from bnei rachamin that are anything but such as they should just be happy to have a job, etc, etc. There is something to be said for reasonable accommodation. It increases morale and creates an environment of mutual respect, something I'd certainly want when I'm placing my child under someone else's care. Additionally, if you stand for families spending time together, this is the day! This is penny-wise and pound foolish ans as many comments point out, if everyone were to act on strict law, bus drivers could refuse to make many accommodations that they make out of kindness. Additionally, local employers might act accordingly and not make accommodations they make for Jewish employees.

But Lakewood Vaad spokesman went on record saying the law is the law and "In the Jewish school system, every day is precious for education. [Thanksgiving is] a wonderful holiday, but there are still (18,000) kids who need to get home." Furthermore he states that with the growth and population of schools, carpooling is not a safe option. Disingenuous? I think so. Unless Lakewood calendars are significantly different than those of the rest of the Orthodox world, I dare say that in addition to yom tov, there plenty of days off. . . . just not Thanksgiving, mind you. And, do Lakewood parents not drive on Sunday?

Next time, Weisberg states, there should be a financial incentive (something I'm certain taxpayers won't be happy about). But this time, the attorney for the township's Board of Education says he will personally buy pumpkin pie or dessert for all drivers at his expense. Do those who speak hear their own voices? I'm sure the bus drivers can buy their own Mrs. Smith's pumpkin pie! What a chutzpah. It comes off as arrogant and insulting, adding insult to injury.

As per this article, it looks like we will see a repeat on Christmas and that the Igud HaMosdos is the body with the power to release the drivers from their duties as NJ law requires busing according to the calendars set by the schools.

Just in, as I go to publish, some schools are declining their right for busing. Hopefully more will follow. I'd suggestnot waiting too long. People need to make their plans.

Not Everything Should Go on Record

Hat Tip: VIN

Not everything should be aired out in public. . . especially one's sheitel. Or, at least that is how I felt after reading the NY Post article on pre-Rosh Hashana sheitel styling with upscale Manhattan stylist that runs into the 4 figures, that on top of the 4 figure wig.

While VIN commenters chat away regarding the halachic permission of wigs, esp. larger than life wigs, the prudence of spending this type of money, and the consumption issues, I'm going to steer clear of that and address a different aspect of the article. While I am of the opinion that you can't hide dirty laundry and it is better to admit that there are issues, rather than putting up an often hollow defense, I'd prefer the dirty laundy vis a vis what a minority are spending on their hair (and presumably the rest of the wardrobe . . certainly these wigs aren't topping off clothing from the [insert your favorite discount department store] clearance rack?) be kept hush-hush for the sake of the rest of us.

Being an Orthodox Jewess who regularly applies/interviews for accounts and positions which entail great trust and great potential for abuse, this article is cringe-worthy! Perhaps I'm just paranoid because I had professors that focused on fraud risk factors! But, I've also seen up close and personal what happens when an employee with an all too expensive life to support vis a vis their station losses their bearings. By biting when a reporter wants to write an article on pricey sheitel care, the costly lifestyle that is a rarity becomes the normal in the eye of the beholder (I still haven't forgotten about the other sheitel case of recent memory). I don't blame any newspaper for wanting to do a human interest story like this, but there will be no balance where the frugal, corner cutting, second hand sheitel wearer is subsequently featured.

Therefore, the interviewer can now think: Orthodox Jew = terribly expensive lifestyle = risk to employer. This on top of whatever other issues the employer may worry about (I had one interview that crossed into awkward territory where I had to explain that the previous employee who left him burned wasn't representative of Orthodox Jews vis a vis the laws of yichud).

I think that the majority of younger sheitel wearers do want their wig to go undetected on the job. The best solution to that, whether you are spending $500 or $5000 is to zip the lips.

Lakewood Scoop: You Should Be Ashamed of Yourself

Hat Tip: A reader who writes "now I've seen it all".

The Lakewood Scoop, who only 4 short months ago was alerting readers that a MLM that many frum people had placed their money and energy into had gone bankrupt leaving others holding the bag and causing a bit of commotion (TLS Link) has just put up an advertisement fronting as a news story for some type of budding scam promising the kollel man and others the starts. It is brought to you by a Yaakov (Jack) Rottenberg via the Lakewood Scoop. Here is the text (abbreviated):

[Advertorial] Question: Are you sitting in Kollel wondering how you are going to be paying your monthly bills? Are you working 9 to 5 without covering your monthly bills, or do you cover your monthly bills but do not to have any accumulated savings? Are you tired of having to work month after month only to have to pay the same bills and do the same work over and over? Is the economy putting you under stress?

Well here is the answer for you,

Hi, my name is Yaakov Rottenberg, and I’ve been in this exact situation before and B’H by joining this business my situation has changed completely. This has been very successful for me and all my associates.

I’m talking about a billion dollar company available in other states that has just opened in New Jersey giving anyone with a vision the opportunity to earn UNLIMITED income based on what they put into it.

“You see, when you work you get paid for the work you produce but, you need to keep on producing the work to get paid”.

Imagine if you can work once diligently and then off that make residual month to month income for the rest of your life.

NOT POSSIBLE??

INCORRECT!!

With this opportunity you can do exactly all this and hopefully achieve FINANCIAL FREEDOM.

I’m not only talking about being able to get all the extras in life (although that’s also nice), we are talking about simply having an income that will pay your monthly bills month after month after month for the rest of your life.

The company was founded in 2006 & has quickly risen to one of the fastest growing companies in the US and one of the top fortune 500 companies.

This is the perfect business for anyone, whether you already have a business going, or whether you are sitting in kollel, whether you are old, young, single or married.

In this business you can work on your own schedule, with your own hours, at your own convenience and at your own pace.

Here are some quotes from other associates of mine. . . . . . . .

Lakewood Scoop, where is your yashrut or is (your) money all that matters? The man doesn't even NAME his company, but promises lifetime income served up on a silver platter. Be prepared to al chet for placing a stumbling block before the blind. Surely you can recognize the scam pattern!?! You were only just alerting the public to a scam 4 months ago and now you are hosting a shameless plug for an unnamed company? The klal's money, time, and energy is not hefker. You and I know full well that those who believe don't have what to risk (and these "opportunities" require "investment").

You should take this advertisement down immediately! This is shameful and desperate. Time to get back to the Torah basics and time to care about other people's money (or lack thereof).

A few signs an "opportunity" will leave you holding the bag:

*You must to pay to play.

*To get $paid$ you need to bring people into the business. (Stable, successful businesses do not seek to grow indiscriminately and indefinitely, they target markets, create niches, have HR departments that select who they want representing their company and product).

*Code words: "Financial Freedom" "Opportunity" "Change you life" "Unlimited" (markets are always limited), , "perfect business for anyone" (in real marketplace companies don't want just "anyone" representing their business), "work your own schedule", "dreams" $$$

*The defenders are like men on a mission (you sense that religious vibe).

Here is the comment I left at TLS (not sure if it will get published):

How low can you go to post an advertisement for a company whose name is not even published only 4 months after you alerted your readership to The Harvest America bankruptcy? That "opportunity" like this "opportunity" share the same patterns and the same religious zealousness on the part of the defenders. The world is promised and little can be delivered because the model simply doesn't work. Stable, successful businesses to not seek to expand indiscriminately and indefinitely. They are not "perfect for anyone." They have officers, managers, owners who spend tremendous resources ensuring their company is staffed efficiently, not staffed by just anyone. They know markets are limited and they seek to target markets and create niche markets. These companies don't want everyone and anyone selling the same product. Quite the opposite in fact.

This is a stumbling block in front of the blind. In the spirit of Rosh Hashana (guarantees on parnassa!? I think not!), it would behoove you to remove this ad.

PSA: Nassau County LinkedIn Workshop

My Long Island readers might be interested in a LinkedIn Workshop at the West Hempstead Public Library.

Monday, September 19th at 7:00 PM. Information follows:

For your readers in Nassau County:

Please join me for my LinkedIn Workshop at the West Hempstead Public Library- Monday September 19th at 7 PM! http://bit.ly/LinkedIn_WHPL

You can see an outline of the LinkedIn Workshop here: http://bit.ly/Networking_Workshops and a Webcast of my presentation at the OU here: http://bit.ly/LinkedIn_Webcast

Owning Your Problem

I have to point my readers to a totally unexpected personal finance reflection, 10 Ways to Stay Poor Forever, featured on Budgets are Sexy by Ms. Adams. Ms. Adams, in the comments section, writes that social programs turned her into a government assistance junkie and calls her own life repugnant. What I like about this post is that the author has owned her problem. That is empowering.

I like this post because the author is taking ownership of her issue. Because it was so blunt, I originally thought it was a satire piece, but apparently not. In the 10 Ways to Stay Poor Forever, she manages to summarize months worth of blog material here at Orthonomics.

Since I can't cut and paste the post here, I will just summarize and you can head on over to the post yourself!

How to "Stay Poor Forever", the kitzur.

• Don't pay your bills.
• Rely on windfalls.
• Avoid manual labor, babysitting, and extra jobs.
• Spend your time chasing government assistance.
• Congratulate yourself on lack of a mortgage.
• Waste time finding yourself and your next career.
• Spend time on "work at home opportunities" and multi-level marketing schemes.
• Spend too much time shopping and finding deals, even though you don't have money to spend and a budget.
• Don't make realistic plans.
• Throw tantrums when you run out of money and celebrate a paycheck by spending money.
• And #11, a latte habit.

Have You No Shame?: Frum Peddler of MHA Writes and Writes

For (Orthonomic) background on MHA scam, see Lakewood Local.

This letter to The Lakewood Scoop regarding MHA is written by a loud and proud person who claims to be the first to introduce the program to the frum community. Wow! I'm blown away. Brazen is the only word I can think to describe this drivel.

This post is a continuation of a discussion of Get Rich Quick Schemes: see the previous post and a post from 2008. Add to this discussion of putting the cart before the horse. Also add to this discussion the many posts on Areivim "life insurance" because it all fits together in a larger discussion.

Here is a man that claims he brought big money into the frum community when he introduced and pedaled a product in the frum community, a "product" that wasn't actually a product after the grocery business was dropped and one that will reveal, with a simple Google Search, that there were quite a few questions on the business model, or lack thereof.

He is the tzadik and you just aren't hearing him out. Yep, I've dealt with those who lack integrity and I have a profile in my mind of how some people talk and walk. This might just be a letter, but the swagger and attitude is ever present. I can hear the letter and it is like deja vu. I can physically feel the letter in my bones.

Because the topics of yashrut and integrity are part and parcel of our being, and because I've been asked in the past about how to spot those who you don't want to do business with, I'm going to take the liberty to reprint parts of the letter for those who simply have yet to deal with someone like this because there is an educational purpose, even if this particular writer is sensational to the max. The emotions, the accusations, the self-promotion, the attitude. It is all there and it is sociopathic. (Note to self: pull a relevant find from Mishlei for the blog).

I have no idea if I have any readers are ones left holding the bag from MHA, but if you are, before you take the advise of this businessman purporting to be doing nothing but chessed, do yourself a favor and get legal advice before disputing charges on your credit card, i.e. taking his advice. The man cannot see straight.

It is so sad to see the comments coming in on this letters, comments such as:

"I think the Salesman was not intending to scam anyone..since the program was for 230 to get a 300 dollar card..if it lasted 5 months you are already ahead. I don’t think anyone truly thought this thing will last forever. Even now one can buy giftcards at 10-15% below face value..(big companies like Staples and Target sell them to get cash in bulk)." [My note: Put your gemorrah kop on. You simply can't compare big box stores selling prepaid gift cards for a discount to a company selling cash for cash. Staples and Target sell a product, not cash. It is to their benefit to gain your loyalty, peek your interest, and get you into their store to buy product.]

The question is to invest in a “window of opportunity” investment..where it makes sense until it doesn’t..if that is considered a scam. [My note: do you hear yourself?]

And this: "I dont know why so many people are beating up on you. I know you and you helped us out in a way that you thought we could all gain. And you helped us when it went down.

Fortunately there are just as many posters who do get it.

The letter:

. . . . . It’s amazing how so many people are mamesh mikayem naaseh vinishma when they blog. Why don’t you first find out the facts?

I was the first one to bring this to the frum world and I am happy I did. Since I did not listen to all the “its a scam” people, I got thousands of dollars into yiddishe hands. People who are have ordered their secure sleeves and expected to get a gift check (not CARD) can get back their money by disputing it with thier credit card. [deleted]

MHA was not a scam. No one got scammed. The ones who can not dispute, are those who made the purchase with a gift card. They will have to wait for the court to first collect all the assets of MHA and only then send in your claim. You will get a portion of the pie. (Not worth your time)

The “if its too good to be true, then it’s not true” people, could have been 5 – 10 thousand dollars richer by now. But alas “its too good to be true” so while you are wise and not naive, you remained wise and not naive but all the rest of us got money.

The “someone on the bottom will be left holding the bag” group of people, never took the time to understand that with this program you make money even if you don’t sign anyone up. They WILL be holding the bag, IF they don’t dispute it.

[. . . . . ]but I think it’s different when there is a credit card involved, because THEY are the ones who protect you.

“But lemaaseh Some people DID lose out, like the people who purchased with a gift card”. Good point, so let me ask you should have we decided not to pump in $150,000 into Yiddishe hands because someone might buy it the wrong way? Lets see what the coffee room says.

And for Mr. K who threatened to report me to the FBI and who threatened to publicize all my emails (in which I help everyone to make sure they dispute the charges properly). You’re mamesh a tzadik.

Finally I’ll say this. Besides for Mr. K (who was not even in MHA) I did not get even one accusing phone call. Every single person was so nice. Every one told me we know it’s not your fault and thank you for helping us with the information we need to retrieve our money.

I’m sure everyone who wrote things that are not so nice only did so because they were upset FOR those who may have lost money.

At the end of the day we still have each other and we each care for each other and this is what HKBH wants. Even my friend, Mr K. also meant well.

Wishing all my fellow brothers bracha vehatzlacha uparnassa b’revach.

And finally, I have a new thing which you could make thousands a month. It’ll cost you only $5. Pay ONCE. That’s it. Be careful, you might be “holding the bag”. Im serious.

[In comments further down in the thread the letter writer continues dig a hole, one that is really ugly. Might not be long until the pidyon campaign at this rate. See the lengthy comment #36 where he "lays it all out on the table" about how he didn't understand the business model but the men in charge have so much experience, how the business was ruined by consumers who called Walmart and later Wells Fargo souring the relationships, how consumers with funny names ruined a good thing, and on and on. Oy, a true believer who outlines a ponzi scheme, but has no integrity or clarity. And now he has another $5 opportunity for you to "invest" in if you are matzliach. . . an (illegal) chain letter with an attached product to kasher it].

And here is another jem from Mr. Parnassa:

I dont own the $5 business company. Ill send the link to those who are interested. And btw no one I know is out thousands. I just cant believe how people can talk without getting any facts. There is not one person i know who is out (so much) money.

We should all be tearing kriah. As reader JoelC says, "The comments on the Lakewood Scoop on this are heartbreaking. The mixture of naivete and brazenness make me lose hope for our brethren."

Time to promote the Tortoise over the Hare. Slow and steady is the way to "get rich."

Bankrupt: MHA (Scam?)

A reader emailed me a number of months ago wondering if MHA (abbreviated name of co as I see this story taking shape), a company that had been advertising in a number of frum magazine such as the Yated ,was a scam? I had begun to research the company and its game when I was distracted by something else and did not return to my research. Since I had not seen the ads myself, I was sadly unaware of how many people from the frum community were participating in this business or buying "product" from them, product that was delivered months later (bad sign!). Strangely enough, some person pushing some sort of shake business got me thinking about the email, and then just yesterday news went out that the company was bankrupt.

Yesterday, the same reader emailed me to inform me that Yeshiva World News was carrying the story, which they received via The Lakewood Scoop. The company filed for Chapter 7. Given the current business model of selling money --gift cards or most recently checks according to some readers--the "failed business model" as some readers are kindly calling it, was bound to hit the proverbial wall. The companies original business sold groceries and toiletries from a website for which you needed a $29.99 membership to even be able to view the choices and claimed you could supposedly save 50% and have the non-perishables shipped to your door with free shipping.

It is a real shame that we see so many people put their time and energy into businesses for which there is little, if any, gold at the end of the rainbow. Oftentimes, involvement with such businesses results in strained relationships with friends and family, to say nothing of financial loss or lost opportunity--time lost that could have been used to pursue a steady income rather than chasing a dream. Worse yet is when people just don't get it. A post on the Lakewood Scoop needs a serious lesson in economics and diversification. He (or she) writes:

Who said it was a scam? It was a failed business. They had everyone asking for refunds at once! Of course they go under. When everyone goes to withdraw money from a bank at once they go bust too! Is every bank a ponzi scheme? Ask any business that accepts returns, I’m sure if every person that bought something in walmart in the last 90 days would ask for a refund, they wouldn’t have issues too!

Those with any business acumen will realize that you can't compare banks of the pre-depression era to Walmart, a company that delivers product on the spot to a diverse customer base, to a company that was selling money for less than its face value to a crowd of BELIEVERS. And, wow, are there some true believers posting over at the Lakewood Scoop.

Some readers are suggesting that frum publications better monitor their ads. Others are suggesting Rabbonim not let MLMs into the community. My opinion should come as no surprise, but I don't think it is of any use to put Rabbonim or frum publications in the business of giving a heksher on businesses or ads (although weeding out the ridiculous could be a service), and I believe that the power exercised over business in more right wing communities is already often beyond the pale. There is plenty of censoring. I believe in certain Israeli communities because of tzniut concerns, women cannot advertise perfectly legitimate service businesses.

The real issues are deeply ingrained in a culture that puts the cart before the horse, so to speak. The issues of desperation for parnassa, a lifestyle that is out of sync with the average income level, integrity, etc, are issues that will have to be addressed in order that such scans don't hit like a ton of bricks. Censoring advertisements or shutting out every MLM for being an MLM alone (let's not forget that some MLMs do sell product and aren't "Get Rich Quick" Scheme), isn't going to make a dent when people too many people are hard up for funds. Address that issue, and you might get somewhere.

However, next time I receive an email asking me if I could look into a possible scam, I definitely will. Representatives for this company had yet to advertise in any of the publications I receive in print. There is one company I have seen advertised for which I think people should beware, but I can't remember the details. If you are searching for a better electric rate, start with calling area utility companies, not using a company you know nothing about.

Finally, I'd like to point my readers to a letter to the Yated from Rabbi Eli Teitelbaum zt"l on MLMs and the frum community. Seems his words are every bit as important now as they were back then when the Yated gave free advertising to a lady promising to solve the frum world's money woes by selling some non-FDA approved product for which I deleted the name of the company in my post, and no longer recall what type product she was selling that would solve so many problems.

GET-RICH-QUICK” SCHEMES

Dear Editor,

Reader beware! In last week’s Readers Write column of the Yated, someone suggested a solution to the parnassa crisis by joining some MLM (Multi-Level Marketing) company making the latest rounds. Once again, I must warn all the readers that these MLMs have been tried since the time of Mesushelach and the only thing they will do for you is get you deeper into the quicksand and add to your pain and troubles.

I’m sure they’ll tell you that they are different than all the rest and provide you with names of people who are making millions. It’s time people realize that there is no treasure chest hidden at the end of the rainbow and the moon is not made out of cheese. There is no quick and easy way to riches unless you inherit it.

Many people were in Amway (also known as Scamway) for many years and never made the riches they were promised. The average monthly gross income for active distributors of Amway for January 1998 was $88. This was before expenses. Anyone who dangles a diamond-studded chain in front of your eyes is only trying to draw your attention. It’s like waving a red kerchief in front of a bull. We must never allow our greed and need for money to short-circuit our normal thinking process and common sense.

Unfortunately, many have lost both their time and life-savings by investing in these MLMs. For those who want to learn more about these so-called “get-rich-quick” schemes or MLMs, I suggest they read the book “Behind the Smoke and Mirrors,” by Ruth Carter, or “False Profits,” by Bob Fitzpatrick before investing their money.

While not all MLMs are the same, one should always consult his own accountant before investing his money and never rely on the advice of those who sell the product or franchise. It’s important that you find out what the average monthly gross income after expenses is for active distributors and what percentages of them have remained in the business for more than a year.

Don’t rely on the claims of a few who say they are making lots of money or tell you that you must work very hard at it in order to succeed. What they often fail to tell you is how much time you’ll actually have to put in, and how difficult it is to sell the product which is also being sold by many others, or how cheap you can buy a similar product in a local department store. More often than not, they will exaggerate the “miraculous” powers of their product, claiming that you can’t buy anything compatible anywhere else. One wonders why they don’t sell these miracle products in all stores.

Here’s a simple piece of advice to follow. If it sounds too good to be true, then stay away, don’t believe a word they say, and run the other way. Just because someone claims that it’s not an MLM doesn’t mean it’s not. If it looks like a duck and it quacks like a duck, then it’s a duck, no matter what anyone may call it! Not all that glitters is gold!

Sincerely, Rabbi Eli Teitelbaum

Guest Post: Accreditation, Track Records, and the Degree for Which You Don't Need to Step Foot

Thank you to my Guest Poster for helping me keep this blog active. I have a lot of thoughts I want to share that are not of the usual Orthonomic material, but then again the events are usual Orthodox events. More to come.

Guest Post by

A. Former Bochur

A couple of years ago, an entrepreneurial individual published The Bochur’s Guide to College (For Women Too) www.bochursguide.com. Ostensibly, it is a in informational resource which according to one review on Amazon offers “a very informative and helpful overview of the options available for those seeking to obtain a degree in a non-conventional way…. outlines different ways to obtain credit ranging from exams (CLEP, AP, and others) to online and distance learning. A fun read too!”.

The website features links to Amazon to purchase book as well as links to various online degrees from for-profit institutions which are apparently generating advertising revenue.

It is beyond the scope of this post to discuss the merits or demerits of the compatibility of a Torah observant lifestyle and the contemporary college campus. The fact is that secular college campus is in part reason of how we have gotten to this point.

The topic at hand is the value of having a college degree and how to obtain it. Most (although not all) frum Jews will stipulate the value of having a degree towards some sort of vocational endeavor. The question is how to get there.

In the past, the American Yeshiva world has been replete with success stories, either in business or professional life. While some have been able to excel in business without a degree, many Yeshiva graduates attended night school at commuter colleges that were the springboard towards a professional employment in a variety of professional fields. For the most part, all believed that obtaining a college education was a necessary component. This was achieved through an arrangement with the college to accept some number of Yeshiva credits, but ultimately the undergraduate degree was a diploma from the college of record. Some took this diploma to graduate school, and others were able to enter the workplace with the undergraduate degree and lead fine religious lives infused with Torah values and learning, and the ability to make an honest living.

Phase II of this Yeshiva world phenomenon occurred when it was discovered that for fields like Law, there was no specific major that was a prerequisite for entry. As a result, the “Yeshiva degree” was invented. Ostensibly, this was to turn years of Torah study into some sort of diploma which would be subsequently accepted by the law school. For Law, there has been a strong track record of success for this path. A variant within Phase II included other professional fields such as Accounting for which prerequisites and passing the CPA became more important than the undergraduate degree. As a result, the Yeshiva degree plus the coursework in Accounting could be leveraged to obtain the professional credential.

Enter Phase III, which is really a mish-mosh of Yeshiva (or Seminary) degrees, online degrees, “CLEPing“at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Young people and their parents have be told that some of these degrees are “accredited” and therefore worth the investment. There are a variety of different drivers of this phenomenon, which are also too complex for this post.

A perusal of the website above will list the various programs from which one can obtain a degree, there is little accountability for what is being advised. And the types of degrees being promoted here are very much the same approach that some Yeshivas are publicizing as channels in which one can get a college degree with minimal time and coursework and maximum time learning in the Yeshiva.

Without getting into the ins-and-outs of what is “accreditation”, let’s just compare it to some sort of Kosher symbol. OK, someone claims that it is kosher, and perhaps it technically is under certain circumstances. But is it a reliable hashgacha that most would recognize? In the same way, OK the degree is accredited, but is it recognized by employers? Another question that people should be asking is what is the value of the diploma alone without any relevant job experience, and in many cases writing and social skills within the corporate workplace.

It should be pointed out that many of these modern day diploma mills are in reality for-profit entities which are often more expensive than the local college. So, in the end, is this a worthwhile investment? Sure, the claims are that one can complete the degree in half of the time as other recognized schools. But so what? Most established universities track employment rates of graduates (one can quibble with how accurate the numbers are, but there is some tracking going on?). But are the Yeshivas doing that for the programs which they are directing people to?

The most recent one is the following (but there are others which have been marketed over the years).

*MEMO: To All Yeshiva Rabbinic Degree holders (First Talmudic Law or First Rabbinic Degree etc...)*

The Jewish Community announces the fourth cohort in the most successful M.B.A. Degree program starts again on *June 14th, 2011*. *(Participants meet twice a week for only 6 weeks, the rest of the pro**gram is completed via correspondence and can be done from any location)*

*

*The Introduction Seminar is Tuesday, June 14th *

***Students must register at least two weeks before then*

This Masters in Business (M.B.A.) program has *an additional **$2,000reduction OFF

**the discounted tuition of $8,100*. *(Total M.B.A. tuition would be $6,100

....paying class by class as you go and financial aid is also available.).*

- There are only 12 physical sessions on Tuesday and Thursday evenings that take place in Brooklyn or Queens *(students meet twice a week for 6 weeks), *

- *The rest of the program is completed **entirely online*.

- M.B.A. Graduate Degree Specifics:

https://sites.google.com/site/teameducationinc/ellis-university-mba/course-specifics>

- Schedule and Calendar:

*LINK*

- *Read what current students are saying about the program:*

- Past student comments:

* LINK

*

- *6 different concentrations are available:*

- *M.B.A. - **General*, * *

- *M.B.A. - **Finance*, *

*

- *M.B.A. - **Information Management*,

- *M.B.A. - **Pharmaceutical Marketing and Management*, * *

- *M.B.A. - **Project Management*,

- *M.B.A. - **Entrepreneurship*

- *Financial Aid is also available*

** You can use your *Traditional *or *Yeshiva** Degree* for entry. Students have the option of earning your M.B.A. in 13-15 months if you desire.

Please call with any questions.

Sincerely,

Aaron Braunstein

*Program Director*

*(516) 528 - 8871

(347) 560 - TEAM*

*Teacher Education Assessment & Management*

Program Director

www.GoTeamEd.com

Office: (888) 418-GRAD

I would encourage all readers of the post to write or call the fellow asking him some of the following. Can he produce some statistics as to the value of this program at “Aspen University” or “Ellis University” for employment in the Tri-State area for example? How many graduates have obtained jobs in the past 3-5 years? Without any relevant work experience, what is the value of the diploma in the marketplace? What is the average salary of a newly minted MBA from these programs? How do corporate recruiters react to these schools on a resume and how do they stack up with local brick-and-mortar MBA degrees? How many graduates have obtained employment without any relevant job experience? Does this person stand to gain a commission for each referral to sign up? All good questions, each begging for a compelling answer.

We have a concept of “lifnei iver” which can loosely be translated as dispensing irresponsible advice to those who might be uninformed, naïve, or vulnerable. Those out there should probe as to how credible those making any referrals to these programs really are, whether made by the person above or the head of your local Yeshiva that endorses such a program. Can the value of these short-cuts be corroberated by hard (or even soft) evidence?

Employment: Frankly, I Wouldn't Want to Sit Down for a Meeting

This week VIN ran a Press Release in which NY politician Dov Hikind insinuated that banks in the Boro Park area where engaging in discriminatory practices by not hiring enough Orthodox Jews and essentially demanding some sort of quota or affirmative action program:

(Press Release) Brooklyn, NY - Following a month-long survey of 22 local banks in Boro Park which revealed that the Orthodox Jewish community is not adequately represented in the existing workforce, Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn) has organized a meeting with branch managers and human resources personnel to discuss community outreach strategies and potential vacancies. [. . . . ]

“Our findings revealed that more than a dozen banks serving the Borough Park community have not made a concerted effort to recruit, train or hire the best and the brightest that our community has to offer,” Hikind said. “Though we are aware of many qualified candidates, the character of the Boro Park community is simply not reflected in the workforce of local banks. An evaluation of the same financial institutions located in Crown Heights, Bedford Stuyvesant, and Chinatown found that the people who lived in those neighborhoods also worked in the local banks.”

Who knows why he chose to focus on the banking industry over other industries. Either way, few people I know like to be accused of discrimination. I'd say that is a pure chutzpah when there was no audit of employment applications to begin with. Nonetheless, representatives from banks agreed to a meeting with Hikind and the Emergency Parnassa Initiative (mentioned previously in the post "And if we have to pay them more they are worth every penny").

At the meeting bank representatives informed Hikind, in response to his month long survey of 22 banks in the Boro Park and Flatbush area, some vital information: few, if any, were applying!

Hikind "secured commitments [from the banks] to conduct better outreach efforts to alert the community about vacancies and training opportunities" namely, asking the banks to post vacancies in Jewish and Yiddish publications, as the community doesn't as a whole use the internet. The Emergency Parnassah Initiative Executive Director announced:

“My organization will work with your recruiters to ensure that we send you candidates who have already been interviewed and vetted by us, so you don’t have to sift through hundreds of résumés. You know the people we send you will be appropriate.”

Those who are interested in being considered for positions at local banks should e-mail a résumé and cover letter to jobs@epinetworking.org .

This all would be humorous if it wasn't actually true.

My recommendation to job seekers: if you want to work in a Boro Park bank, apply for the job through the bank's regular recruitment mechanisms. March yourself into several local banks that you are interested in working in and introduce yourself to the branch manager, inquiring of opportunities both within the local bank and other banks in the greater area. Inquire directly of the branch managers and human resources department what skills one needs for the jobs and what skills you should be picking up to advance in the industry.

42 and Never Employed, Now What?

Kollel Guy writes of what the 42 year old, never employed person should do. And he suggests (you guessed it) something creative with a very high potential return. The sky is the limit! And of course with shidduchim rapidly approaching, one needs money now. Forget about developing the hard and soft skills, just go out there and sale, sale, sale. No need for a fancy degree, no need for computer skills. No need for minimal experience. Just be confident, present a great argument, make connections, and (like magic) those people skills can magically create income.

Let's ignore the fact that making the sale does involve some actual skills, such as market research targeting the correct market and just cut to a different issue: people skills aren't all that natural. Just like other skills, mentoring is something worth seeking out.

While 'Kollel Guy' suggests just getting out there (after all, giving a chabura or convincing someone of your Torah is great training), I'd suggest a more traditional route, combined with an entrepreneurial spirit.

There is certainly nothing wrong with looking large opportunities, but there is much to be gained by seeking regular (low paying) employment, watching other people in action, and taking advantage of the mentoring therein. By all means, if a lucrative opportunity presents itself, spend time pursuing it. But, don't discount the value of career development through a more normal track. . . even in your 40's.

Stepping Out, A Prime Example

Caught this article and news clip through VIN about a growing, profitable, multi-city company founded by a frum Jew which serves the general market (!). The food is *not* kosher and some commentors are clearly unable to get their head a Jew in the non-kosher food business. On top of that, it seems that few understand the prohibition of benefiting from mixing meat and milk. One would certainly need a lot of Rabbinic guidance to be in the non-kosher food business. But I perused the Fresh Diet website and it appears that the mixtures of meat and milk are from treif animals and therefore (according to my limited understanding of halacha) likely don't fall under the prohibition of benefiting. Like I always say, everyone is quick to scream dan l'chaf zechut for the sorid. But when it comes to a positive story, wow, does the criticism come quickly.

An eight part series interview at a business blog gives a lot of great insight into how the founder developed this successful business. My summary doesn't do justice, but I picked out some themes that I am taking notes on:

*Research and Understanding Markets: He had a business idea for a kosher zone diet delivery service. After some research which showed that no market existed in the Miami area, he quickly scrapped the idea of a kosher niche market and decided to pursue the general market. Even when he was running the business from home, cooking only kosher food, he avoided the label kosher to avoid limiting himself.

*Starting Small without Debt: The business started with the help of his wife. They prepared meals for 3 regular clients in the evenings and he delivered the meals daily before 7AM. After work, he stopped at the grocery store to do his shopping. He funded his business from the first 3 clients.

*Kept his Day Job: Until he had enough clientele and business was expanding, he did kept his day job.

* Flexibility and Knowing the Business: He has stayed ahead of the competition and even though he has taken on debt to expand the business, he has made changes to keep gross margins high and is now working on revenue deals to cover the big expenses (rents and salaries).


* Eye on Profitability: The founder has big goals in terms of profitability and gross margins.


The founder clearly has an entrepreneur's mindset. While he is not college educated, he has developed a wide variety of skills and a great database of information. He also has a tremendous drive, developed from a young age. He understands what is important to the business (technology, appropriate marketing, celebrities). He has also put himself out there, making TV appearances personally with his chef.


I love reading about different entrepreneurs and how they launched their businesses. As a bit of a non-consumer, it is hard for me to imagine spending this type of money. But the world is made up of all types and there are many niche markets out there.

Oh, and those profit margins. . . 5-10% (see the eight part of the series), although he plans to expand to 20% with economies of scale and revenue deals. As I pointed out in an earlier post, businesses are not generally rolling in dough and an owner has to be careful in order to maintain profitability and the margins needed keep the business in the black, as the owner has done each year.

Guest Post: Employment Issues and Reliance on Community

A reader emailed me with some fantastic comments on my last Employment related post on the Emergency Parnasa Initiative Meeting as reported by Matzav for which I titled my post "And if we have to pay them more, they are worth every penny." I relate to his comments and I am placing them up as a quick Guest Post. I'm hoping that this week, I will visit a few other employment related subjects because these are important issues and a lot of the information being disseminated and the culture issues surrounding it are (in my opinion and the opinion of others far more qualified to speak on the subject) are problematic.

Guest Post/Commentary follows (with minor edits):

Comments for this thread seems to have digressed towards what I consider to be the tangential issues or work ethic, religious accommodation in scheduling, and the job market for the “therapy professions”. Furthermore the forum covered in the Matzav.com piece seems to be ignoring a very important topic in any discussion of employment within the frum community. The premise of the initiative that was proposed in this gathering was that frum business owners should be more willing to hire frum employees. Another implicit antecedent for this front burner issue is the economy, job market, which has resulted in the current challenges in employment . But in reality, these challenges are somewhat independent of the current economy and job market, and more a function of the lack of education, training, and skills facing the frum community. Much of this has been self-inflicted by a movement towards insularity, an anti-college sentiment, and the social pressures to remain in Yeshiva through one’s 20’s. This shift is about 30 years in the making, and the chickens have come home to roost, only to be exacerbated by the current economy, but not a direct result of it per se.

Instead of restricting one’s aspiration and potential employability to working for frum employers, why aren’t frum people getting real college degrees that would allow them to compete for professional jobs in the general workplace? (This question is largely rhetorical in light of the self-inflicted points listed above.) Why do frum people, even Yeshivish, have to rely on the frum community to hire, train, and pay them? Are people so narrow-minded that they ignore that getting a degree, getting a professional job in the general workforce with potential growth and progressions—and yes, remaining Torah observant and maintaining sedarim in learning is quite do-able? After all, before 30 years ago, it was a model that happened and worked quite well. Frum Jews had great work ethic, employment stability and had opportunities to effect Kiddush Hashem in the general professional workplace.

Somehow, the challenges of a Torah observant person being employed in the general workplace have been overblown in recent years. Consequently, an underskilled and underemployed workforce has emerged, with limited options. Then, the law of labor supply and demand take over.

There is a legitimate sentiment among frum employers that they might be reluctant to hire someone whom they cannot fire. Let’s take an example. Let’s say a frum business owner (we'll call him Chaim) decides to be nice and considers hiring 29 year old Moishie, previously in Yeshiva in Kollel exclusively to work as a Manager in his medical supply warehouse. (Let’s ignore the fact that Moishie has never supervised anyone other than the busboys at Camp Nearim in 2003 and doesn’t know Accounts Payable from Camp Nearim canteen order form.) Let’s assume that Moishie’s wife is a Teachers Aide at the local Bais Yaakov and they have 4 kids. It just so happens that Chaim sits next to Moishie’s father at the same table in the shtiebel and they have invited each other to simchas over the past 10 years. Given Moishie’s limited experience, skill set, familiarity with technolony and no experience in managing others, there is a high probablility he will fail working as a Manager in Chaim's warehouse. While Moishie is failing, he is a headache for Chaim, and has decreased the morale of his workers, So, even after Chaim attends the Matzav asifa and guilt trip, why would he want to take a chance on hiring Moishie (and probably paying him far in excess of his relative market value) with all of this baggage?

I also think that there is a sense of entitlement today where the Moishies of the community feel entitled to being paid a living wage (defined as Moishie and his wife see it) once they leave Kollel. After all, they have followed “the script” to a ‘t’. Furthermore, it is presumptuous for the Moishies to ignore the level of risk that business owners are taking in their small companies, and the families that the Chaims of the world need to support as well. Back to our story, Moishie is now stuck, at age 29, with little probability that he can ever ultimately get a job outside of the benevolence of the frum community.

The current economic and employment situation should be a logical wake-up call to the Rabbanim seated on the dais at this gathering to promote those options for eduation and training which would ultimately open up more options for frum young people to enter the workforce and maintain stability there. There needs to be a shift away from badmouthing real college degrees (perhaps from commuter schools like Brooklyn and Queens, or Touro and YU), overrating the value of Yeshiva degrees, and overblowing the spiritual challenges of the workplace. Anyone with any intellectual honesty knows that many of these same challenges exist today, even if one is learning in Yeshiva full-time.

Many of the middle age employees who have worked exclusively within the frum community have not accrued the skills, current technology, experience, work habits, and self-presentation that would allow them to compete for professional jobs, of the likes that will provide them with not only better salaries, but deferred compensation and healthcare which are not necessarily provided by smaller Jewish-owned companies. Once again, that is a relatively new development.