With unemployment rates climbing to double digits in some states, job hunters are turning out in record numbers at job fairs hoping to make a good impression and get back into the workforce. Competition for landing a job can be fierce and Better Business Bureau is offering advice on how job hunters can make a strong impression and position themselves as the candidate of choice with potential employers.

In early March, the Georgia Department of Labor organized the largest job fair in the state's history; more than 19,000 attended in order to meet with 100 employers. In California, more than 10,000 people flocked to Dodger Stadium for a job fair. And in Cleveland 7,000 showed up for a job fair vying for 1,000 jobs, causing more than 2,000 job seekers to be turned away by overwhelmed fire marshals.

"Job fairs can be a great way to meet with many potential employers, however, in today's flooded job market, standing out from the crowd and positioning yourself as the best candidate is a tough battle," said Barry Goggin, President of the BBB serving Northeast California. "With a good game plan and some focused preparation, though, job hunters can tip the scales in their favor and greatly increase the probability of making a good impression and securing a new position."

BBB offers the following advice for job hunters on how to prepare and present themselves at a job fair:

Research companies first. In some cases, only one employer is holding a job fair, which makes research much easier. For larger job fairs bringing in many employers, job hunters should be able to find a list of attending companies at the host's Web site and begin researching the companies they want to target beforehand. Not only will this help job hunters focus on specific opportunities, but it will also help them develop intelligent, tailored pitches for the employers they want to engage.

Take plenty of resumes. Before walking into a job fair, job hunters should know which businesses are attending, and what positions they are recruiting for. Job hunters should have customized resumes prepared for their target businesses, and should bring plenty of copies of their standard resume to pass along to other employers. Also, job hunters should take a briefcase or portfolio to organize and hold business cards and other materials.

Perfect an elevator pitch. An elevator pitch is your description of who you are, what your skill set is, and how you can benefit the business. The pitch should be brief, conversational and natural, but should be well-rehearsed. The elevator pitch simply must be memorable and sincere since job hunters may only have a few minutes at the most to make an impression on the potential employer.

Dress and act the part. Putting your best foot forward at a job fair means "looking the part" by wearing professional clothes, such as a suit and removing any unusual piercings and covering tattoos. A job hunter also needs to act like a professional, including not swearing or making inappropriate jokes or speaking ill of a former employer.

Be confident. While a day at a job fair can be exhausting, it's important to always act confident and enthusiastic. Job hunters should work hard to stay positive and take breaks to get organized and recharge their batteries. In fact, BBB recommends taking a few minutes to review your elevator pitch and materials before approaching each of your target businesses.

Don't become a victim. While instances of scammers setting up shop at a job fair are rare, job hunters should never pay an upfront fee to any potential employer at a job fair, nor should they give any personal information such as bank account or Social Security numbers until they have researched the company fully outside of the fair.

For more advice on finding a job, as well as guidance from BBB on avoiding fraud while on the hunt, go to BBB.org

Disposing of outdated office computers, printers and copiers the right way is not only important for protecting the environment, it also staves off the efforts of data thieves. Better Business Bureau explains the three steps necessary for small business owners to dispose of old office equipment safely and securely.

Electronics contain toxic poisons such as lead, mercury and cadmium which if they are just tossed into a landfill will eventually leak out and pollute the soil and water. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, 1.84 million tons of TVs, computers, printers, cell phones and other electronics were discarded primarily into landfills in 2007. Only 18 percent of discarded electronics were recycled that year, however, the EPA notes that e-cycling is growing in popularity perhaps due to mandatory programs in some states.

BBB recommends taking the following step to ensure that all hazardous and data sensitive office equipment is disposed of the right way:

Step 1: Identify hazardous and data-sensitive electronics
The following office equipment contain toxic materials or sensitive data and should be recycled responsibly and not just tossed into the garbage:

• Computer CPUs
• Mobile phones
• Copiers, Printers and Fax Machines
• Monitors, Keyboards, Speakers and Mice
• Landline phones
• Computer cables and wires
• TVs, VCRs, DVRs and stereos

Step 2: Destroy Sensitive Data
While most electronics have toxic components, some also contain sensitive business information stored in the product's hard drive. Ensure that any data has been wiped before getting rid of the following electronics:

• Computers: You can purchase inexpensive software to wipe a computer's hard drive, but the data could still be retrievable to a determined person. If you have extremely sensitive information that you don't want getting into anyone's hands, the most secure way of destroying the data is to remove and physically destroy the hard drive.
• Copiers and Printers: Copiers and printers have internal hard drives that save digital copies of the documents it has printed. Consult the manual to find out how to wipe the memory; you can also use third-party software to overwrite the hard drive. The most secure way of erasing data is to physically destroy the hard drive—as long as you don't lease the product. If you lease, consult with the company on how your data will be erased.
• Mobile Phones: Consult the owner's manual or search online for directions on how to wipe the phone's memory. Remove the SIM card if your phone has one.

Step 3: Dispose Properly
When it comes to actually getting rid of outdated office electronics, there are many options available depending on the condition of the item, the retailer, the manufacturer and, in some cases, state laws. Following are the main disposal methods to consider:

• Donate – Schools, charities and community organizations can use your electronics—such as computer equipment, phones, copiers and printers—as long as they are in proper working condition. Your donation may even be tax deductible.
• Recycle – There are many companies across the country that break down and recycle old electronics for free. They usually have drop off locations or you may even be able to schedule a pick up if you have many heavy items. To locate a BBB Accredited e-cycler visit BBB.org/us/bbb-accredited-business. Many states also offer e-cycling programs—some of which are mandatory. A list of state programs are available on the EPA's web site: EPA.gov
• Return – Some manufacturers including Cannon and Apple and even retailers such as Best Buy and Costco provide "take back" programs to help customers recycle their old products safely and cheaply. Every major cell phone carrier will also take your old cell phone and donate it to a charity or have it disposed of properly. The EPA has a list of manufacturer and retailer programs online at EPA.gov
• Resell – While more labor intensive, you may be able to make a little money selling your electronics through auction websites or online classifieds. Be wary if any buyers overpay or ask you to wire money for any reason.

For more small business advice on how to manage data check out Data Security – Made Simpler at BBB.org/data-security

Online banking has made it easier and more convenient to manage business finances, but it also provides an opportunity for hackers to gain access to business accounts with the goal of making unauthorized money transfers. Better Business Bureau recommends small business owners implement a few simple steps to keep their financial information and transactions secure when banking online.

According to Visa Inc., 85 percent of data breaches occur at the small business level. Many business owners are ill prepared to defend customer or employee information in the face of an attack; 33 percent of small businesses lack even simple antivirus protection, according to Symantec Corporation.

"Small business owners might feel that they are flying under the radar of data thieves and hackers, but they are actually in the crosshairs," said Barry Goggin, president of the BBB serving northeast California. "That's why BBB partnered with leading security experts to show small business owners that implementing a strong data security strategy doesn't have to take a lot of time or resources."

BBB and partners Symantec Corporation, Visa Inc., Kroll's Fraud Solutions and NACHA – The Electronic Payments Association created Data Security – Made Simpler, an online resource to help small businesses implement key data security policies and practices.

Data Security-Made Simpler tackles the key topics of small business data security including the following advice for small business owners to make secure online banking transactions: 1. Initiate a "dual control" payment process with your bank and employees.
Ensure that all payments are initiated from your bank accounts only after the authorization of two employees. One employee will authorize the creation of the payment file and a second employee will be responsible for authorizing the release of the file. This process should be in place regardless of the type of payment being initiated...including checks, wire transfers, fund transfers, payroll files, ACH payments, etc.

2. Have dedicated workstations.
Restrict the use of certain workstations and laptops solely for online banking and payments, if possible. For example, a workstation or laptop used for online banking should not be also used for Web browsing or social networking.

3. Use robust authentication methods and vendors.
Make sure your financial service providers allow for "multi-factor authentication." This means that you need more than just a user name and password to access your account.

4. Update virus protection and security software.
Ensure that all anti-spyware, anti-malware, and security software and mechanisms are robust and up-to-date for all computer workstations and laptops used for online banking and payments. Implement a process to periodically confirm they remain up-to-date. Security patches are often available via automatic updates.

5. Reconcile accounts daily.
Monitor and reconcile accounts daily against expected credits and withdrawals. If you see any kind of unexpected activity on your account, notify your financial institution immediately.

Data Security — Made Simpler was created by BBB in collaboration with two nationally-recognized data security experts, Dana Rosenfeld and David Zetoony.

Small business owners can get additional advice and tips on improving data security at BBB.org/data-security/.

Falling victim to a fraudulent investment scheme can mean losing anywhere from a few hundred dollars to your life savings. While most people might not see the harm in sitting through an investment seminar, Better Business Bureau recommends researching the investment company first, rather than run the risk of falling for a financial siren song over a free lunch.

Investment scams and schemes can come in many forms and a common technique to lure people in is the offer of a free financial seminar over lunch. In one recent example, the Securities and Exchange Commission shut down a Ponzi scheme which stole $20 million from retirees in California and Illinois. The scammers invited senior citizens to estate planning seminars and later coaxed their victims into buying promissory notes for purported Turkish investments.

"Free lunch seminars can seem like an easy way to get a meal, but attendees run the risk of getting drawn in by the slick presentations and promises of big returns," said Barry Goggin, president of the BBB serving northeast California. "Unscrupulous seminars often use the promise of a free lunch to lure in leisurely senior citizens who have time and exploitable retirement accounts and real estate."

When listening to an investment pitch, BBB recommends looking for the following red flags:

• Requires a large up-front investment. Untrustworthy schemers might try to convince investors to pay a lot of money upfront so they can get out of town with a large haul, rather than wait for the funds to trickle in.
• Promises high returns for low risk. Every investment comes with a level of risk. Typically the amount of risk increases in line with the potential return on the investment. If the seminar is trying to sell an investment scheme that claims a high return with little or no risk, beware, even if it comes with the promise of a money-back guarantee.
• Employs high pressure sales tactics. Seminar leaders often use high pressure sales tactics to get people to sign up without thinking it through. They might claim that there are only a few spots left or that you need to get in on the ground floor today to see the largest earnings. Any reputable investment company will let you take your time and do your research and will not pressure you into signing a check.
• Relies on off-shore investments. Many hucksters try to give their scheme an air of sophistication by relying on overseas investments such as foreign currency, property, stocks and bonds. They also might claim—incorrectly—that you can avoid taxes by investing overseas.
• Sounds too good to be true. At the end of the day, if the offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Always listen to your instincts because the potential payoff is rarely worth the risk.

For more advice from your BBB on financial planning and investing visit BBB.org/us/consumer-tips-finance/.

Are you inundated with calls from telemarketers? Is your mail box stuffed with junk mail? It is unlikely that anyone - the BBB, the Postal Service, you, or your attorney - can have your name removed from all mailing lists. Even if you are successful in eliminating your name from most of the lists you are on today, new lists are constantly being created. Many lists are composed from such basic sources as telephone directories and zip code indexes. However, if you want to take steps to cut down on the amount of fund raising mail you are receiving, here are some points to keep in mind.

To stop calls from telemarketers:

• Put your name on the "Do Not Call List" every six months
• DoNotCall.gov
• (888) 382-1222

To remove your information from mailing lists:

Mailing Lists
Fill out this Mail Preference Service online form to be placed on the "delete list." Submitting the form online costs $5, but mailing it to this address is free:

Mail Preference Service
Attn: Dept 6150403
Direct Marketing Association
P.O. Box 282
Carmel, NY 10512

Telemarketer Lists
Register with the Telephone Preference Service to remove your name from telemarketer lists. Fill out the form and send it to this address:
Telephone Preference Service
Attn: Dept 6150486
Direct Marketing Association
P.O. Box 282
Carmel, NY 10512

E-mail Lists
Submit your e-mail address to the E-Mail Preference Service, and DMA members will remove you from their e-mail lists. Also see GovSpot's instructions on reporting Spam to the FTC.

Charity Lists
The easiest solution to the problem of unwanted fund raising letters is to decide which charities you want to support and discard the appeals from other groups. Don't feel guilty about not supporting all of the groups writing to you; they do not expect a donation from each and every person they solicit.

If more focused giving doesn't reduce the volume, write directly to each organization soliciting you to request that your name be deleted from their mailing list. If you wish to continue supporting a group and receive its solicitations, request that your name not be included on any list that is exchanged or rented.

Most charities use nonprofit postal rates to send you fund raising appeals. Therefore, it does not work to write a note (such as "Delete my name from your mailing list") on the envelope and try to return the letter to the sender. These special postal rates only cover delivery one way - to your home. Unless you add additional postage, the letter will not be returned to the charity, and your name will not be removed from the charity's mailing list.