We are pleased to announce that Workpost.com Version 2.0 is now online. We've made a lot of changes to the site, including the addition of a Workpost Directory based on new “Pro” user accounts, a review and feedback system, full-text searches of posts and other fixes and improvements.

Many people are looking for work right now and want to post "services offered" instead of work to be done. In response to feedback from site visitors and users, we created a directory system where pro account members list business information, links and expanded contact information.

The Workpost Directory is free to join and searchable by location. Set-up and maintenance of pro accounts is easy. Since the listings are controlled at the account level and can be changed at any time, the dynamic directory listings can evolve with businesses.

For more information on the Workpost Directory, please visit http://www.workpost.com/about.aspx.

-Workpost Foreman 

Version 2.0 is only a few weeks away from launching now. We've listened to feedback and fixed many issues we don't like about the current version of the site. The back-end work will be complete and then we'll test and make improvements to the front-end.

We're still planning to add a directory and a review system for pros and companies. Users with pro accounts will have the option to list business information in the directory, respond to posts etc.

Much like other review sites, our system will allow site users to rate and review contractors. We want to create a directory that will encourage quality pros and companies to join, to help them find work and help employers find quality pros by location. Unlike some review sites, however, we want to put control of the directory listing and reviews in the hands of the contractors. Of course, bad reviews will tend to make a contractor want to take their listing out of the directory (at least temporarily) but we want people to have the ability to come back once they've improved their business. The way many other sites operate, contractors who get bad reviews have fewer options to redeem themselves and little or no choice to be reviewed.

We don't want anyone to get bad reviews. We don't want people or companies who do poor work, cheat clients etc. and repeatedly get bad reviews to be in our directory at all.

So.. version 2.0 is basically what version 1.0 should have been but we had to launch something at the time to see how people would react. In future versions of the site, we'll continue to improve and refine ("iterate") the application while adding services classifieds, directory and review systems might not typically offer.

Over the next few weeks we will be coding and testing our new directory and review system for pros and businesses. There are many online directories where consumers can research and comment on the performance of service providers but our directory is going to work a little differently...

Our system will encourage skilled and reliable pros and companies to want to join and participate while making it difficult for contractors, businessmen etc. who don't do quality work and who don't satisify clients to want to remain listed.

Thanks to everyone who has provided feedback and suggestions.

-Workpost Foreman

"TOKYO (Reuters) - While the world pursues the knowledge economy, employers are increasingly desperate for plumbers, welders and other technical staff, U.S. employment services firm Manpower Inc said on Tuesday, in its annual survey of staff shortages.

...the survey of nearly 43,000 employers in 32 countries found the rising lament almost everywhere was for trades people and similar skilled, but not necessarily highly educated, positions."

http://www.reuters.com/article/ousiv/idUST30198120080421

Along with "Green" technologies, we believe service industry jobs will play a major role in the future of the U.S. economy. Everybody needs but can't easily outsource trades people like plumbers, electricians or carpenters. You can't outsource certain kinds of skilled creatives either. Like wedding photographers. Somebody has to be there at the wedding and they need to be professional to get the job done right.

 Who Hires During A Recession?

Apparently:

Bankruptcy Lawfirms, consumer debt councilors, conservation consultants, green energy supplier, private security firms, pawn shops, electronics recyclers, religious institutions, business lawyers, mechanics, accountants, mortuaries, alcohol producers, SEO, teachers...

No oil companies? 

Heath care work isn't going away anytime soon either. From nursing homes, to home care providers to nurses, to insurance companies, the demand for health services and companies in only growing.

"NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Demand for new homes may not return to normal levels until next decade, according to the latest outlook from the National Association of Home Builders."

Based on feedback we've received, we're moving ahead with the idea of adding a directory based on the information contained in the user accounts. We'll add extra fields to accounts for professionals to include business information. Regular users who just want to make or answer posts need not worry about their information ending up online, only pro accounts will have information listed in the directory.

Again, we'd like to thank those who have taken the time to write Workpost, create an account or post. It's not easy to build something like this and every visit, message and post counts. We see traffic coming and going and know that the site isn't terribly useful when it's almost empty like this but keep us in mind and one day you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Cream rises to the top and it's only a matter of time before wages in India for the best workers are equivalent to wages in other parts of the industrialized world. In some fields, this has already occurred and foreign workers, contractors and consultants now take home the same pay as Americans.

The world is flat and getting flatter still.

BBC News - India's wages surge but risks multiply

Many visitors to workpost.com are professionals looking to advertise services. With this in mind, we are considering the addition of a searchable, local directory where pros would be able to list business contact information

Users will be given the option of having their business information included in the directory and, perhaps, changing their account status to that of a "Professional". So there will be site users, site pros and administrator accounts. If this sounds like something that would be useful to you -- as a workposter or as a professional -- please let us know. 

So, for now, if you post "services offered" in the Workpost system, we probably won't delete your post. It's not how the system is supposed to work but it's ok for now.

To have your business information included in the Workpost Directory (if and when it gets built), please create a Workpost account, fill out the available fields with as much information as you are comfortable sharing and we'll let you know when we add new features to the site. 

Thanks for visiting.