Mark Stelzner (@stelzner) is one of the first people I met when I joined Twitter. We quickly became good friends. I asked Mark to share information on an project he founded called JobAngels. I am a very strong supporter of JobAngels and its ability to help people find work. This blog post is dedicated to Mark and many others tweeps who are trying to make difference by helping others.
Q. What exactly is JobAngels and when was it founded?
A. JobAngels is a grassroots non-profit movement dedicated to helping individuals get back to work, one person at a time. It began“accidentally” on January 29th, 2009, when I sent a single message on Twitter asking what would happen if each of us simply helped one person find a job. The rest (as they say) is history.
Q. How did you come up with the concept?
A. The massive loss of jobs as of January 2009 really began to bother me. Millions were suddenly unemployed and the downsizing showed no signs of slowing down. Given my professional expertise in the human resources field, I began to wonder how I could help.
I then began to think about my following on Twitter. At the time this represented roughly 700 HR professionals, recruiters, and the like – all people who know how to find and secure employment. As opposed to asking these experts to help a dozen or a hundred individuals in need, Iwondered aloud if it was reasonable to ask them to simply help one person. The next morning I Tweeted this simple concept to my followers. The reaction was immediate and overwhelmingly positive.
Q. How much has JobAngels grown since you first started it?
A. Today, JobAngels is a multifaceted self-governing network comprised of over 30,000 active participants. Growth has been purely organic through work of mouth. We have also benefited from generous media coverage ranging from CNN and NPR to the Wall Street Journal and the Los Angeles Times.
Given the relatively loose nature of our networks, we don’t know how broad our reach or effectiveness has been. However, we are aware of over 800 individuals who have secured employment as a result of their association with the JobAngels movement.
Q. Where can people find JobAngels?
A. More information is available at http://jobangels.org. Those interested can join our networks on:
Twitter:http://www.twitter.com/jobangels LinkedIn:http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=1789016
Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=47105839914
One final thought. You do not have to join JobAngels to help someone in need. If you know of an individual who has lost their job, please offer a helping hand. Whether you provide a sympathetic ear, a resume review or a warm introduction to a hiring manager, I guarantee that job seekers will be grateful for your kindness and empathy. Just remember – one person can make a difference.
*picture couresty of timtim.com
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So honored by this post. Thank you very much for your support and friendship!
All my best,
Mark
Great posting and a super idea! Nice job!
Thank You Anita for posting this, and thank you Mark for being a great example of getting back to the basics. Most of use dream of initiating a viral aid of people helping people. Awesom