Hey everyone,
The Fedihosting Foundation is looking for a new site-admin for Lemmy.World, to help our busy team. This moderator will help with reviewing and acting on reports, weighing in on user content, and helping foster our local communities while acting as a friendly neighbor to other fediverse instances.
You also DO NOT need to have an account on one of our FHF services but WILL have to create an account after joining. Users from other sites WELCOME!
Benefits:
- You’ll get to work with a great team of passionate kind, goofy individuals from all over the (lemmy) world!
- We have weekly virtual hangouts where we brainstorm new ideas and catch up with each other. Community for us is not just a buzzword.
- We can also provide work and personal references, as we are a registered legal non-profit.
- While not a technical role, you will also gain exposure to best-in-class industry tooling and processes for large-scale hosted applications (aka modern DevOps).
- We also run a small blog, that we’d love to have folks contribute to.
- Join in on the editorial voice for our featured communities.
- We also understand this is a hobby and that family and work come first
- If you’re having a hard time finding time or are busy, we will always do our best to help and support you.
Applicants should have the following qualities:
- Experience moderating a diverse group of individuals from many geographic, religious, and LGBTQ+ backgrounds.
- Able to commit to at least 5-10 hours a week.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and communication.
- Solid background in conflict resolution.
- Must be able to speak English.
- Works well asynchronously with remote teams.
- Grammar skills optional 😛
Bonus skills (which you will learn if you don’t already)
- SQL / Business Intelligence software skills.
- N8N workflow automation
- Web Design (Hugo + GitHub Pages).
- Python scripting
Application process:
- It goes without saying that we will only be considering applicants with a significant positive history of online posts and/or comments, no trolls, please.
- Applicants must be okay with sitting for a video interview and must pass a basic background check.
- While not strictly required, a CV with relevant work and volunteer history will help during the application process.
- We are an international team that works from both North America EST time (-4) and Europe CEST (+2), so we would ask that candidates be flexible with their availability.
Please apply HERE https://forms.gle/epTdTy9Xh9kNFKsQA
(Edit: Updated post, thanks Donuts!)
(Edit2: Thanks for all the feed back on this post, it’s much appreciated 💗💗💗)
(Edit3: If you feel like you’d fit in, apply, the req’s that we posted are more of a suggestion, then a hard yes or no)
My job didn’t even require a video interview, this unpaid role has more strict requirements than half the jobs in the US haha.
My guess is it’s because it’s a similar role to a Reddit Admin, which is to say they’re basically a global moderator. Also, having access of any kind to the site’s SQL server requires an element of trust. That’s probably why they require the video interview.
Folks that would be brought in would be part of the admin staff and have access to quite a lot. You’re on target with that for sure!
Yep I wish them well but it’s a bit much for a volunteer position
I’m glad there’s an effort to avoid weirdos who have our worst interests at heart. Hope some heroes apply and go through the process!
My job didn’t even require a video interview, this unpaid role has more strict requirements than half the jobs in the US haha.
It’s an IT job for a role with big responsibility. Unpaid or not, the role is the role. Filling up the shelves in a grocery store comes with a bit less responsibility.
My job is also an IT job with big responsibility. I wouldn’t have compared the 2 jobs otherwise. Not sure where you got filling grocery store shelves from.
Thanks for understanding, we’re just trying to be careful 😟
Thanks for understanding, we’re just trying to be careful 😟
People who complain aren’t the applicants you would have wanted anyway.
Thank you for being careful.
Yes, but for your job you’ve given to your employer your ID and your home address. If you mess something up they know ehere to get you. These guys can’t get these warranties and they need to know you better.
What stops you from lying during a video interview? It’s not like they have some crazy virtual lie detector.
Nothing, it’s just an extra check.
Sour grapes
I’m not applying but I have a comment / suggestion:
A pattern I’m seeing here, in activism and open source is that you basically want the full package right now. While I understand that that is what you need, people like that don’t grow on trees.
It would be good if there was a “trainee” position for people to gain the kind of experience you are asking for. And guidance, by you to make sure they learn the right lessons. Possibly including a private-ish best practices handbook or whatever. I know that that means additional work in the short term.
Thanks for reading, all the best wishes!
(Compare to linux’ kernel team asking for kernel devs and the policy of “pick any topic you’d like to work on”. Do I expect a fully course on everything, bringing me from “high school knowledge” to “kernel dev professional”? No, of course not. But a few book recommendations would be great. In that case. Not sure if you can learn moderation from a book.)
It’s not exactly uncommon for a listing to advertise the person they want, but to accept applicants with significantly less on the basis that they can get there. Nearly every job I’ve ever got I was not at the level advertised in something or other.
…do you have any idea how many times I DIDN’T EVEN APPLY because they said “must have X skill”, and I was like “oh…then I better not waste everybodies time.”
I’d say if you have 80% of the requirements you might as well apply. I would frankly ignore years of experience more or less entirely.
So that’s why employers asks for 18 years of Go and 12 years of Rust experience!
I’ll be honest, I’ve tried it both ways, turns out I’m just useless.
No one is useless 💗
Worst case you just get told no. It NEVER hurts to apply. You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.
I know you are pointing out that the end result is almost always better if you keep taking shots, but keep in mind that for some, the whole process is worse than average and can be an extremely exhausting and negative experience.
everybodies
everybody’s ?
Yeah it’s pretty common in IT jobs where they’re like “we want 25 years experience in these ten different technologies” and then you talk to the hiring manager and they admit that those qualifications are ridiculous.
A pattern I’m seeing here, in activism and open source is that you basically want the full package right now. While I understand that that is what you need, people like that don’t grow on trees
The post-y2k bust removed a lot of our higher-paid staffers, and those were our mentors. For 2-3 generations of new coders we’ve been without that crucial “this is WHY it’s best-practice” understanding from an experienced peer.
When you lament the loss of ready and experienced volunteers, what we lack are people who’ve learned at the side of truly talented people and are ready to take on some projects.
Now we have people with free time and a short history of … Well, it’s work.
What I’m saying is, there’s a clear cause for the current state, for breach after breach after massive breach, and the lack of stellar volunteers.
This will get better, but - as downvotes will show - the current state is one of massive potential but little realization.
When you lament the loss of ready and experienced volunteers, what we lack are people who’ve learned at the side of truly talented people
What I’m actually lamenting isn’t the lack of experienced volunteers.
I’m lamenting the fact that the groups in need lack the awareness that nobody is teaching the stuff they need and that they should do it themselves.
E.g. https://kernelnewbies.org/ I wasn’t kidding when I mentioned them. Their idea of “outreach” is to open the door and wait for people to fall in. They have no teaching material, they have no recommendations. I’m recognizing that there is something happening that is in my interest and I personally would put in the time to learn whatever is necessary to get to the level that is required to seriously touch that code. I just literally don’t know where to start and have no point to connect. There is a https://kernelnewbies.org/KernelMentors mentors program. Not only is their only point of contact a mailing list, if you follow the link, you will find that the mailing list doesn’t actually exist.
All job posting overstate the requirements somewhat. It makes sense to start with the ideal vision of what you want and then work backwards from the applicants you get. I know a big puffed up job description is daunting and we think they won’t talk to anyone who is not perfect. But they will talk to lots of people. They will let go of some requirements they thought they cared about, and find some new qualities in someone that they didn’t think to ask for. This is how it works 100% of the time.
Agreed, I think it’s a lot to ask for in a volunteer position and kind of a dumb idea for the Lemmy Admins to hand over “the keys to the kingdom” to some random dude(tte) because they passed a video interview and submitted a (possibly forged) resume.
I’d be happy to apply, but requiring a CV and full background check in addition to a video call interview is a bit steep for me.
Just the video call I’d absolutely be applying, I genuinely believe in Lemmy and want to see it succeed, but not to the point that I’m willing to put this much information into non-employment hands.
Good luck on the search.
It says the CV isn’t required.
While not strictly required
Technically true, but verbiage leads me to believe its more required than not.
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Thanks for the feedback, we only ask for a CV to help the process, but all of us on the admin team are on a first name basis.
We’ve all know each other quite well <3
As you should be!
After quite a long while working with someone to this capacity, it would be strange not to be on first name basis, but I haven’t worked with you.
I’ve been on the internet for a very long time, and it takes quite a bit of rapport to build before I’m comfortable giving out my first name, let alone my full name.
I definitely understand where you’re coming from, just a stretch at the start for me personally.
Really love the admin team though!
Not trying to tell you what do do (I bet there’s heaps of people that would see it the same way as you)
But it seems kind of odd that people are happy to give a background check to a corporate employer who doesn’t give shit about them (and who they don’t care about or feel any responsibility towards), but wouldn’t do the same for a community org position that necessarily involves more responsibility to the broader community.
So the issue here for me is lack of pay.
Asking me this through straight employment is an agreement that protects both the worker and employer in some capacity.
Asking this through volunteer work makes me uneasy.
I’m completely happy to volunteer my time to an org that I believe in, Lemmy being a ptime example, but not willing to do so in the case of requiring this information up front.
I think it’s because you can “largely” trust business to protect this information, this isnt even really a business.
That’s kind of a myth though, isn’t it?
Like, OK, they probably have more mature security systems in place (but that’s definitely not guaranteed, especially with anything middle tier or smaller), and at least they have cash reserves so you might get something if you can figure out how to sue them.
But most businesses would be well happy to make a quick buck off selling whatever private data they managed to get their hands on.
I’d be surprised if someone hasn’t already tried to make a business out of redistributing background check information, now that I think about it…
Its because they have laws they have to follow, and if they break them I can take them to court. My last employer had to send out checks to make up missed wages over 5 years recently. It happens here regularly. Companies make mistakes and people take them to court. Its only the absolutely giant ones that might even have a way around it. I wouldnt even expect any of the big tech companies to keep any of my information private though to be honest.
This is just Lemmy.World. You don’t have to be an admin here to help out Lemmy as a whole.
You are correct, but the topic is applying as an admin, so I replied to the topic.
I nominate FlyingSquid.
Oh, trying to make me put in an honest day’s work, huh? Okay then, just for that, I nominate BonesOfTheMoon!
I’m woefully under qualified but you and I keep Lemmy hopping.
I’m as unqualified as you, I’m sure. I don’t fit any of the bonus skills and I have no background in conflict resolution. I apparently am a cause of conflict if anything.
Anyway, I don’t think either of us is getting the gig, but I’m glad we both try to make Lemmy a better place.
We really do! We keep it lively.
Third
Second!
Wah? Huh? Me? Admin? I don’t know anything about web design or legal compliance or social media marketing or anything. I’m flattered though, thanks.
web design or legal compliance or social media marketing
Fuck all that. It’s not needed.
They need someone with strong reading comprehension, who can consistently reason their way from an ideology to the specific situation, then write professionally. Mods work the collective que of reports independently.
If you don’t want the gig no one one is owed an explanation. But, please don’t judge yourself underqualified for the wrong reasons.
Well apparently I’m not positive or productive, so I guess I’m not qualified after all.
LOL, someone accused me of being “hostile” when I politely disagreed with them. There are some wonderful folks on lemmy…but like any place on the internet, quite a few weirdos.
I just read through the linked conversation. I’m sorry, but it’s been clearly decided by groupthink that you are not allowed to learn anything or form new opinions. I hope you understand their decision and its effective permanence on your growth.
I knew I was doing Lemmy wrong. Thanks.
When I said to consider yourself, you asked me to consider another’s opinion of you that you disagree with.
If you can dish it out then you’ll see right though such bullshit when it regularly pops up in the mod que ;)
Sorry, it’s been a long day.
Right now my landlord isn’t owning a gigantic series of mistakes. You made my day by owning a very small one.
I think this is much more positive and productive than what the other conversation became.
If the long day has been online, I suggest talking to someone about any subject IRL, in person or on the phone. A little human stuff puts all this digital bullshit right back into perspective for me.
Good dude.
You are welcome!..I think, hahaha
I probably check all the boxes. Currently a cyber security engineer have worked in infrastructure for the last twenty years and currently head up the compliance team of the cyber division of the company I work for, I focused mainly on NIST, CMMC, and SOC II compliance. I’ve modded a few forums and discord servers over the last 20 or so years. There is no way in hell I’m dropping private info on a random google doc that’s open to the public. If there is a more secure way send my info send me a message.
The Google form results go only to the management team of our parent non-profit, no one else sees the responses. If you feel that this is not secure enough, you can send a secure PGP email to our security disclosure address. We DO provide it for folks that need more security.
Currently have CyberSecurity degree. I’m finding it difficult to get a job in the field without relevant experience of having a job in the field. How can I get experience to get the job that requires experience?
Apply for those jobs as if they didnt ask for prior experience. Simple trick.
Lol I have been and so far, have only been auto-denied
"We thank you for applying for our position of $position, unfortunately we have decided to move forward with other applicants at this time. We will keep your application on file for $applicationDuration days. If you see another position that interests you, please apply again!
Thank you, $companyName"
Think smaller? Company-wise that is.
I’ll give it a go! Another issue I’m facing is that I alredy make more money than what I think smaller companies would offer. I would love to change my career because I’m so tired of this track.
Well maybe theres other ways you can make up the difference. Smaller companies might be in lower cost of living areas. even if working from home it can be nice to live near work. I’m not too sure how all this remote work stuff has changed hiring though.
I 100% agree with your point about security and private information, but you are way over qualified for this “job”. ;)
It’s kind of weird to ask someone to have all that mod experience and then expect them to just post their private information publicly, though. Surely if they have enough experience they’ll already know what a bad idea it is to publicly post people’s information, and it’ll be hard to get them to apply.
It reminds me of a past job recognizing that I have a lot of cashier experience, but then not being able to understand why I refuse to share a till with anyone else. Duh, because I’ve been through that pain before and any smart office will want to avoid it, too.
I believe you.
I feel like „site admin“ is a bit misleading. Then again, lemmy doesnt have a proper distinction between local and site wide moderators afaik.
I‘d be interested to help with real admin stuff like docker containers, dns and firewalls. Let me know if that interests you.
Excellent interpersonal skills
Oh well.
I mean, as long as you don’t put fish in the break room microwave, we’re cool…
Dont tell anyone but there is a possibility that i already did that /s
If a potential candidate doesn’t understand why there’s a strong vetting process then then don’t understand the changing paradigm of human communication. Teaching that is an unacceptable liability. The OpSec is on point. Great work. And, thank you for everything, including tolerance of those that don’t yet understand why.
You don’t get people with 5 years of experience if no one is willing to give you experience.
There was a line on 3rd rock from the sun that was so relatable to me as a teenager in the 90s.
Tommy, the oldest alien, now trapped in the teenagers body, is trying to get a job at a fast food place. The manager turns him down. And when Tommy asks why, the manager says “I can’t hire you, you have no experience!”
And when Tommy asks how you get experience, the manager says “First you get a job”. Tommy asks how you get a job, and the manager says “You need experience!”
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You don’t start a career as a CEO.
But they often start as “executives” which is a huge problem.
Very few modern CEOs have ever actually worked a day in their lives. They move around between various different industries with no knowledge of what’s important.
Their only concern is making stock price go up over a short timeframe
Their only concern is making stock price go up over a short timeframe
To be fair, that’s why the Board of Directors is hiring them. Everything else is secondary to line go up.
Thanks, we are just trying to be careful.
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Serious question, why would anybody do this? These are the requirements of an actual job but without any of the pay. If someone is putting in this much effort, they might as well just apply for a real job and get paid for it.
I understand that you guys want to screen people first, but lmao are you guys going overboard. The people who view this as hobby aren’t going to put themselves through such unnecessary and worthless hassle, and the people who want a job won’t apply because there’s no money involved. The only people who would qualify and want to do something like this are people who literally have no life. These are people who have no family, jobs, or a social life.
I take offense to some of that, but I applied to be an admin back in Q3 of last year. After the video interview I got ghosted. Thought I would give this a shot, had another video interview, and yeah I’m not expecting much. So yeah, I’m not even sure the process actually does anything other than waste time.
I do have a very well paying job, family, but you may have called me out on the “no life” thing… Though I do have a car that’s become a bit of a project so I don’t waste as much time on “IT” shit.
Probably just grabbing your personal data for sale later.
Let me ask you this, as someone with a life, why did you even entertain the idea of wasting time on something this pointless in the first place? Do you find it fun? What’s the thought process? Personally, after I finish working I want to spend my free time hanging out with my friends, family, go on a vacation, etc. If I really do have extra spare time on a consistent basis, I would much rather practice guitar, play ball, or doing things like you’re doing now with your car. I see no benefit whatsoever from becoming a committed unpaid admin in general, let alone for an irrelevant site.
Why are you taking the time to tell us about this? You should be off playing with your dog or whatever.
👍
I’m an unemployed Linux System Engineer and even though I spent most of my free time right now messing with my home server I wouldn’t wanna do it for free for something that actually “mattered” (aka something that people use).
one trying to change careers into DevOps/SRE with no/little experience; using this volunteer work to throw into a resume?
I work in the industry actually, this wouldn’t really help you unless you completely lack any sort of experience. If you want to break into the field, you’ll need a few things: Bachelor’s in CS, a couple of coding projects that you do in your free time or during undergrad, and an internship related to the field. That’s how I got started, but I get your point
I would do it!
I’ll have to learn all those skills and I might be a bad mod, but why not?
Yep, I work in IT as a Linux System Engineer and I’m currently unemployed. I could do it, but there’s a lot involved for zero pay. You really have to love Lemmy or admin work to want to do this for free.
Exactly, they’re trying to pass off the responsibilities of an actual job as a hobby. I don’t see how normal people can justify putting in that much time and effort for something that’s not paid. This type of commitment has to come from people who have a lot of spare time and are on Lemmy so much that it wouldn’t change much for them.
Honest question; why does this have to be a volunteer role? Is there any room in the Open Collective fund to pay towards renumerating someone for something like this?
At this time, our current budget only provides room for operational costs, such as hosting. We’re all volunteers, even Ruud.
Thank you for answering, and for the work you do. I will increase my donation amount :)
Always appreciated ❤️🙏
Yeah I REALLY doubt they could truly not afford to pay someone at least a bit for something like this. I am a former team member and I get the feeling someone or two are getting paid at least a bit.
I do not qualify…
…and I do not think my posts have “a significant positive history of online posts and/or comments”…
Awesome, either way, keep up the good and hard work y’all do!
That’s a strange thing to admit.
Well, I am okay with being honest on the matter, hahaha
If you are willing to be, I know I may not qualify, but I do encourage others that may to apply!
Heya. I’m not interested in that position, but I’m open to moderating another community or two if you need to fill in any gaps for a less demanding role.
Thanks for your interest in moderation. If you want you can always ask either a popular community if you can help out or request a unmoderated community takeover and if anything isnt working for you, you can always create a new community!
I offered my informal CV. Lemmy and the Fediverse the largest group I’ve ever offered any service to. My largest group is just over 1,800, but it’s a relatively homogeneous group needing little mod activity. The commuinity is free to comment on my history, stupidity (lol) and bias. I figure it’s fair considering he job app. I’ll offer that I respect and enjoy (even if it’s verbal sparring) the prospect of opposing reasonable views on Lemmy vs the bots, tropes, reposts, and crabs-in-a-bucket karma-whores on Reddit.
Awesome!
