Loomio
Thu 9 Aug 2018 9:23PM

Talent directory (was freelance roster)

R RobJN Public Seen by 281

Hi all. As part of our aim to grow OpenStreetMap in United Kingdom we are planning to create a Talent Directory. This is for both paid and unpaid work. Basically you share your details and if we come across a client or project that may be relevant to you, we will link you to them. There is of course no guarantees that any work will become available but if we don't try we will never find out if this service is helpful. It is a free service we are offering - no strings attached.

FEEDBACK REQUIRED (Beta stage)

Here is the proposed form. Please let me have your feedback.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfDIsIHmQSDWae4_pUUmMy45gPYtsdcpMcTDqLTx7w6Ze3vNw/viewform?usp=sf_link

TS

Tony Shield Fri 10 Aug 2018 8:23AM

Hi Rob, suggest there is a field questioning if the person is offering for volunteer, paid for or both types of opportunities. E.g. I am retired but have my own company so can do both, really I would do a lot for volunteering if my expenses were covered.
Might also be helpful to have entries for the main OSM skills - mapping and entry using JOSM? Id? Potlach? able to set up an OSM tile server? install OSM database from Planet? . . . . Could present OSM in a presentation scenario if given the slideshow tools?
Regards

JH

Jon Harley Fri 10 Aug 2018 12:48PM

I agree with Tony that it would be helpful to have checkboxes for paid work, voluntary work with expenses, or both.
But I think having checkboxes for the main OSM skills is too limiting. Some people may be looking for someone to carry out specific tasks, but when people hire consultants they are looking for perspective (overview) and background rather than specifics like that.
Perhaps rather than specific skills, it would be worth having a break down of the types of work the freelancer is looking for, eg consultancy, advice, education (presentations about what OSM is), training (teaching people to use JOSM or whatever), mapping etc.
Or maybe that's still too limiting if someone comes looking for a type of work that doesn't fit in whatever set of categories we come up with.

N

Neil Fri 10 Aug 2018 8:07PM

Can this be part of your OSM profile?
Can you just use your OSM name as contact, rather than full name and email -- at least for initial proposals?
At least having OSM name listed on form might be useful -- give some idea of editting, etc.
Presume it's all GDPR compliant - and there's an easy way to remove oneself.

R

RobJN Sat 11 Aug 2018 4:16PM

Jon + Tony: Yes, I meant to do add paid/inpaid checkboxes but forgot. Will add that feature.

In regards to lists - my problem here is capturing everything without it being too long. The OSM ecosystem is very big now. I wonder whether we start with free text and if obvious categories come through, then we can update it as required.

Neil: When you say "Can this be part of your OSM profile?" do you mean like at osm.org/user/RobJN ? If yes, then it's worth a reminder that this is OSM UK group and that we have no control over the OSM website (we are a local chapter). You can of course propose it to them.

I'm not sure of OSM name. It'g good for those looking for mapping work, but not necessary for other forms of work. I think it may just be best to include this in one of the free text boxes if it is mapping work you are looking for (e.g. the skills or personal statement box).

Updated: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfDIsIHmQSDWae4_pUUmMy45gPYtsdcpMcTDqLTx7w6Ze3vNw/viewform

R

RobJN Sat 25 Aug 2018 8:33PM

Hi all. No more comments so I am considering this final. Please take this message as a "soft launch". You can go ahead and start adding your details if you are interested. I will do a formal launch shortly.