Students seeking a side job will have one more option in their employment search with the launch of the Web site, mycubi.com.
Mycubi.com enables self-employed, home-based entrepreneurs to advertise their skills and allows employers to post requests for specific jobs, according to the site’s founder, Danielle McCormick.
Student users can create profiles called “Cubis” to advertise their skills. Each Cubi contains a unique heading similar to the name of a business. On the Cubi, users have the option of displaying details about their business including pictures, services they offer, pricing, availability and a map showing where they are located.
A user can also see how many times each of his or her Cubis has been viewed.
Cubis can span a wide range of services.
“You can literally create a Cubi for any skill you have,” McCormick said in a press release.
User Mike Townsend of Camp Springs, Md., called his Cubi “Allin1mike.” He offers “everything from personal cooks, auto detailing, lawn service and home cleaning,” according to his profile.
McCormick said she had also seen Cubis made by pet grievance therapists and psychotherapists specializing in artists.
The idea for mycubi.com came to McCormick after she saw the difficulties her friends had in marketing their small businesses in their communities, McCormick said.
“The time is right for the self-employed person to use the Internet to market at a local level,” McCormick said.
In the AU community, there is a site with a similar purpose to mycubi.com. In 2001, the AU Student Government — then called Student Confederation — created the JobCorps Web site. The site is now called AUSG Job Board. It aims to “connect AU students with neighborhood employers,” according to the site.
In 2008, the Washington Post suggested JobCorps as one way for D.C. locals to find a sitter in the city. Job Board offers its services at no cost to the clients seeking a student, according to the site.
One different feature of mycubi.com is the ability for users to hold an online video call with potential employers or employees. McCormick said this feature is not yet running but will launch soon, helping to add an element of safety to the job-seeking and hiring process.
Instant messaging will also be available via mycubi.com shortly, according to McCormick.
Like the AUSG Job Board, mycubi.com offers its basic services for free. However, it will soon offer text message alerts for a fee and take commissions on services like therapy sessions conducted over the Web site’s video chat, according to McCormick.
Unlike mycubi.com, Job Board is limited to positions in the D.C. area. Students can create profiles, but they do not include photographs or maps.
You can reach this staff writer at sparnass@theeagleonline.com.
