Job Networking on DU? A Good Idea?

[MineralMan]

I wonder if there's a way to implement job networking here on DU. It's not something that would belong on GD or other forums, but it might be worthwhile to have a place where people could network on that specific issue. A place where a DUer could list skills and job goals or list open jobs they know of that might be of interest to DUers. Specific communications could take place in PMs, rather than in open forum, and people's anonymity would not have to be abandoned.

With DU3 on the immediate horizon, this could easily be established and ready to go. It just seems to me that there's a lot of talent around here and a lot of people who may know of opportunities that might match. I work for myself, and know just how valuable networking can be for people who freelance. It's where most of my work comes from, basically.

[Capitalocracy]

1. A jobs forum would be awesome. nt

[madinmaryland]

2. There is a "Career and Job Placement" forum on DU.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=362

There are some job ads listed there, though it seems to be geared more toward how to find a job.

[MineralMan]

3. That's a group, and not available for posting by non-donating

DUers. It's pretty inactive, too.

[madinmaryland]

4. You're correct. I get the names mixed up all the time.

I did see a couple of references for jobs on it, which is why I mentioned it. Since I have only met one DU'er in my seven years here, I don't know if I would want to use a job board on DU. We adopted on of our cats from a DUer and met her when we picked up the cat. We still have the cat after six years!

[MineralMan]

5. Maybe the anonymity thing would keep people from

participating. I don't know. I gave up anonymity on the Internet a long time ago. I use screen names, but I'm easy to identify, and usually post links to my own websites in my profiles on various sites. Few people who think they're anonymous really are, anyhow.

The whole jobs board thing could be done without ever revealing real identities, anyhow. A DUer could list his or her skills, experience, and job goals without revealing a name, and people who knew of opportunities could list them or PM them, also without revealing anything. Advice and suggestions, of course, can be done the same way. I can't see why it wouldn't work, if people actually used it. But, I don't know for sure.