The economy is in the crapper. Sick of hearing about it? So am I. So where are the answers? Every time I turn on the news I cross my fingers that one of these drones is going to give me some good news. An inkling of hope. Something. Anything. “Start a lemonade stand.” Give me an idea. Anything at all. Every night I watch, or actually try not to watch, the news. It’s bleak to say the least. All the reports are about the decline in the stock market, bailouts, stimulus plans and that in vitro obsessed octo-psycho. Enough is enough. The marketplace is changing. We get it. So for everybody out there that’s had it with news stories about overpaid AIG executives and Bernie Madoff’s bazillion dollar Ponzi scheme, stay with me here. There’s a light at the end of the tunnel.

The answer is Urban Interns. They were recently featured on NY1 and amNew York. Their sole focus is on part time, flexible work. With the increasing number of layoffs and out of work individuals, many people are starting to redefine their careers and simply go where the work is. Freelance and contractual jobs are taking over. In the simplest terms, Urban Interns is a web-based network that connects people looking for help with people looking for work. They are not a recruiting firm. They do not get involved in the exchange between employer and employee. They’ve simply created a user friendly meeting place for the two.

All of the candidates are college enrolled or college educated, so there is a quality aspect involved. The interns on the site are smart, talented people looking for work. If you need an editorial assistant 20-30 hours a week, go to Urban Interns. If you need someone to run errands for you over the weekend so you can spend time with your family, go to Urban Interns. If you believe in the art of delegation, then this is the place for you. They are currently in their beta phase in New York City, so the service is free. Now is the time to test them out. If all goes well and according to plan, they will roll out in cities across the country.

While some, if not most, are paid positions, others are unpaid. In this economy people underestimate the value of unpaid opportunities. When I spoke with co-founders Cari Sommer and Lauren Porat, they told me how excited they are to see a photographer looking for an assistant on the site. Being an aspiring amateur photographer herself, Cari was thrilled to see an opportunity like that present itself. It was an incredibly satisfying moment for her. Lauren was thrilled with the photographer’s assistant listing because it speaks volumes about how small businesses and busy professionals are so often one and the same… just people looking for an extra set of hands. Urban Interns is really the only place that is meeting their needs. When you consider the experience you can gain working for free in a fledgling economy, and the contacts you can make, it becomes incredibly clear just how important a site like Urban Interns can and will be. I have yet to find its match. I highly suggest checking it out.

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