Burners Building a Private Job-Referral Network
With layoffs and hiring freezes making waves in the tech world, the Burning Man community is leaning into its mutual-aid roots. A recent thread from within the scene highlighted a simple, powerful idea: create a Burners-only job and referral network to connect people inside camps, art projects, and organizations with openings and introductions.
The post called attention to one Burner — who goes by Sunflower — actively looking for a Product Manager role. They bring 7+ years across customer success and product strategy, plus a year volunteering as a PM. Their ask was straightforward: if someone in your camp, org, or company is hiring, make an intro.
What stood out wasn’t just the job request — it was the idea that the playa’s culture of radical self-reliance and radical collaboration could be translated into an ongoing referrals portal. Burners suggested a lightweight, trusted hub where people can post openings, share vetted referrals, and offer short bios and what they’re looking for.
Why it could work
- Existing trust: camps and regional groups already vet people through shared projects and events.
- Quality over quantity: referrals from fellow Burners often come with context — how someone shows up in community, skills, and collaborative fit.
- Low friction: a simple portal or mailing list could connect people faster than cold applications.
Members of the thread suggested keeping things privacy-forward (opt-in contact info, verification by regional leads) and lightweight — a spreadsheet or Slack/Discord channel could be enough to start.
How Burners can get involved (practical steps)
- Create a central, opt-in directory: name, skills, role sought, and preferred contact method.
- Start regional channels: have local Burner groups verify entries before posting company openings.
- Use camps and art collectives as referral validators — trusted introductions beat cold outreach.
- Protect privacy: allow anonymous or limited-profile listings and control over shared resumes.
The momentum in the thread was clear: Burners want to help each other land meaningful work off-playa, and there’s appetite to build something small, trusted, and community-run. If you’re part of a regional network, camp, or org, consider kicking off a simple pilot — a spreadsheet plus a Slack channel — and see if the playa’s collaboration can help translate into careers.
Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/BurningMan/comments/1ojmrhd/burners_helping_burners_lets_build_our_own/
