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European Telework Online:   Opportunities for Active Participation The European Telework Online website (http://www.eto.org.uk) is home site for the European Telework Development Initiative, which is supported by the European Commission and already involves over thirty participating organisations. The site carries the richest set of telework information, links and resources of any site world wide and is developing a similar depth of coverage for teletrade and electronic commerce and for telecooperation, including support for online democracy initiatives and community networks. The site uses advanced techniques, including an automated calendar of events into which event organisers can enter their events direct. In the immediate future other new applications will be added, including a "database of resources" holding and providing information about books, reports, initiatives and projects. The ETO site is developed and maintained on a partly funded, partly voluntary basis with an emphasis on professionalism. A press and media promotional campaign has recently been launched in collaboration with NEWSdesk and the International Press and Media Group, which will lead to further growth for what is already the world's busiest telework related site. These growth plans provide opportunities for new people to join the site team, initially on a part time, voluntary basis. This is an opportunity to: develop skills that are in increasing demand across all sectors of industry and public services and to gain hands on experience in a high profile, high performance environment as well as gaining an in depth understanding of telework, teletrade and telecooperation and extensive connections across Europe and Internationally. Career Development Opportunities ETD is sponsoring or supporting the launch of spin off sites that will need these skills as well as future opportunities for paid work at the ETO site itself. We are also working with leading IT and telecommunications suppliers and leading employer organisations. If you join us and prove your worth we will make every effort to help you to fulfil your own personal and/or career goals. Helping to Shape the Future As well as those seeking to work in the Internet field the opportunities are equally open to people who simply want to get involved and to help with the development of Europe's Information Society, in which the ETO site is already playing a central role. ETO is the reference site for a number of important Information Society initiatives and we will increase this central role during 1997. We are also working to develop a linked network of national sites linked to the Information Society programmes of European member states, the countries of Eastern Europe and related sites in other world regions. What Kind of Work? There's a wide range, including: support to an increasing range of online discussion groups including private as well as public discussions; management of a "set" of web pages covering a particular topic; management of a particular aspect of the site such as the events calendar or the database of resources; undertaking critical reviews of other sites and pages . . . . we try to map the work onto personal capabilities and requirements, rather than recruiting into specific roles. Why Part Time? We prefer that most of the ETO site staff work on a part time basis since this means that each person brings to the team their own perspective, rooted in their own communities and backgrounds. In the future there will be a limited number of full time work opportunities, but we make no distinction between part time and full time people or between paid workers and volunteers, in terms of recognising and valuing contributions. We are seeking to build the multingual capabilities of the site, and we welcome people from any part of the world - as the leading telework site we practice what we preach! A key requirement is that you must have good written communications skills in your own first language and reasonable fluency in English, the site's main language. Why Voluntary? When you first start to work with someone on a telework basis in an important task, there is inevitably a "getting to know you" period when we find out about each other, develop necessary understanding and skills, and discover how we can best fit into each other's way of working and living in a comfortable and mutually rewarding way. We therefore ask all prospective members of the site team to start on a voluntary basis (which need not commit you to more than an hour or two a week, but can be more if you wish) so that we can both find out about each other before we enter into any significant commitments. Paid Opportunities? Some participants continue on a voluntary basis, some move onto a partly paid or expenses basis and some are seeking fully paid work. There are opportunities through ETO for each of these - if we know what you are looking for we can help you to achieve it, so long as we have become confident you have "the right stuff"! Getting a Track Record and "Good Connections" If you are seeking paid work, you have probably already found that it becomes easier if you have two important things: a track record where you can point to good work that you have done, and a network of good connections that can help you to meet the people who may be looking for you and your skills and experience. ETO provides the opportunity to build both of these quickly. Equal Opportunities The ETO team especially welcomes people with disabilities or whose domestic circumstances may prevent them from working in a conventional environment - for example single parents, people caring for a sick relatives etc. We are interested in what kind of a person you are and what kind of contribution you can make. We are not in the least interested in your race, age, sexual orientation, colour, creed or any other characteristic. You will enjoy working with ETO if you like people and like communicating and like to help people - that's what we are about. Of course if your personal situation or background helps us to understand more about a particular minority group or a particular country etc. etc. that's all to the good! What You Need to Have You must have full access to the Internet and be able to use this access to facilitate your work with ETO. This means at least a very reliable email connection and a reasonably fast access to the World Wide Web (minimum of 9600 bps but nowadays 14,400 is recommended). You'll appreciate that the whole programme is managed on a distributed telework basis! What You Need to Know You do not need to have prior experience with creating web pages or managing a website, though of course any such experience will be put to good use! We can provide or point you at the tools you will need and help you to learn how to use them, but many of the tasks can be done with simple email and WWW access. You do not need to know anything about telework, teletrade or telecooperation, but you do need to have an interest in the development of the Information Society and the Networked Economy and an eagerness to know more about it and be at the centre of developments. Where Do I Apply? Please start by completing this form. This does not commit you to anything, its just a useful basis from which to discuss how you might work with us and what we both might gain from that. Because we are all pressed for time it will help the ETO team if you complete the form in full and add any immediate questions in the box provided, rather than emailing us with your questions - we will get back with answers to any questions as quickly as possible after you complete the form.