That assistance needs to be extended to Jennifer at Drink This.
The always selfless and generous David St. Lawrence at Ripples has called the blogging community's attention to Jennifer's desperate plight.
A reading of her difficult financial predicament, that has resulted in home telephone disconnection, possible loss of her car, and a lack of funds for food and personal items, shows a severe monetary crisis.
Jennifer is a highly skilled writer, is well educated, and who possesses a strong employment skill set. She shouldn't remain unemployed for long. Some smart employer should be calling her immediately. She would be a definite asset to any company.
Bloggers can help out other bloggers in many ways, either with short term monetary assistance, leads for either full or part time employment opportunities, or hiring the blogger in question themselves.
Since a blogger's writing and analytical abilities are displayed on a daily basis, we have a solid idea of that person's talents. We know how well they write. We have a sense of their strengths and weaknesses as people. We know they are likely to be an asset to any organization that they join.
You say, "How can you really know a person from their blogs? That is only one aspect of their lives and they could be far different people from the ones we read on our computer monitors."
That may in fact be entirely true.
Consider this, however.
People are hired every day by employers of companies large and small, on far less information than we have about bloggers. A one or two page resume, and a half hour interview or two, are the norm for most employee recruitments. That is infinitely less than what we know about other bloggers.
I'll take my chances on a blogger, who I have read for some time. Anytime.
As for the previously mentioned bloggers, who were also seeking employment assistance. The news is mixed.
James Joyner of Outside the Beltway reports that he has found employment. While the money is less than he hoped, the postion as "a management analyst position with a local tech firm that does government subcontracting" sounds very promising.
Kathy Kinsley of On The Third Hand is still in the hunt for a job. She says, "If you live near me, I'll come weed your garden or wash your windows (literal or PC)." Kathy is also seeking any web design jobs that most companies consider to be too small for them.
As bloggers, we can be of real and tangible help to other bloggers. By the power of our blogs, and our online and offline contacts, we can aid our colleagues in their quest for gainful employment.
Thanks to Jay Solo for planting the seed of this idea.
We possess more power at our fingertips than even we are aware.
Let's give our bogging compatriots our help.
