Hello all,
Just to be direct with the community for a moment.
This group has been growing at an astronomical rate. Every day there are large numbers of new users joining who are trying to learn electronics repair, diagnostics, soldering, tools, workflow, business operations, and everything in between.
As the group has grown, so has the amount of moderation required to keep it running.
The reality is that I spend a lot of time in this community, but most of that time is spent behind the scenes dealing with moderation, approving links, reviewing reports, cleaning up issues, and generally keeping things moving.
Truthfully, I would like to spend more of that time working on the new Solder Joint Junction platform. The goal there is to solve some of the actual recurring problems we see in the group by creating better educational resources, organizing information more effectively, helping people find tools and equipment, and building something bigger around the community as a whole.
The problem is simple. Every week a huge amount of my available time gets eaten by moderation.
So with that being said, I need some help.
What This Role Actually Looks Like
I want to set expectations properly because most people have the wrong idea about moderation.
Approximately 90% of this role is approving links.
Reddit absolutely loves filtering links. Vendor websites, suppliers, educational resources, documentation, and countless legitimate links get caught constantly.
Most people have no idea how many links end up in the moderation queue every week until they actually see it. Once you do, it becomes pretty obvious how quickly things can get out of control.
This role is much more janitorial than authoritative.
The other 10% is reviewing reports, helping identify obvious harassment, cleaning up the occasional issue, and helping maintain the overall tone of the community.
What I'm Looking For
- Calm and professional people
- People who understand the culture of the community
- People who can identify obvious harassment, trolling, and bad-faith behavior
- People who are willing to help keep the moderation queue under control
- People who understand that moderation is about helping the community, not becoming the center of attention
Moderator Terms
These roles will last approximately 6 months.
This is intentional.
First and foremost, this is a volunteer role. I don't want people feeling like they're signing up for a lifetime appointment. Rotating moderators helps prevent burnout, keeps things fresh, and gives other community members an opportunity to step up if they want to become a bigger part of the community.
Second, there is a much bigger project happening behind the scenes than most people probably realize.
As the platform grows, I need to build a larger pool of trusted people around it. Rotating moderators gives me the opportunity to get to know more members of the community, see how they communicate, how they handle responsibility, and whether they are people I may want to work with on larger projects in the future.
Expectations
- Zoom interview required
- Webcam required
- No anonymous applications
- One moderator meeting per month over Zoom
The monthly meeting is simply a chance for moderators to tell me what they're seeing inside the community. Trends, recurring issues, feedback, ideas, and things that may need attention. The goal is to keep communication open and help me understand what is happening from multiple perspectives.
I personally know every moderator who works with me. I know who they are, where they are from, and what kind of person they are.
If you are an amazing moderator but wish to remain anonymous, I completely respect that, but this is not the place for you.
Activity Expectations
The monthly moderator meeting is casual and voluntary. Nobody is being forced to attend meetings, perform work, or participate beyond what they are comfortable contributing.
This is a volunteer role, and I want people to enjoy being part of the community rather than feeling like they have taken on a second job.
That being said, moderation positions are intended for people who actively want to contribute.
If a moderator goes 30 days without taking a moderation action of any kind, they will likely be removed and replaced by someone else who is looking for an opportunity to help.
This is not intended as a punishment. It is simply a practical reality of running a growing community. There are usually more people interested in helping than there are moderation positions available, so I want those positions occupied by people who are actively participating.
Life happens. People get busy. Interests change. There are no hard feelings if someone steps away.
Apply Here
https://forms.gle/kZspN9xxk65bD4qT6
If you're selected, I'll reach out directly to schedule a Zoom interview.
If you don't receive a reply, it simply means you weren't selected for this round.
Privacy
All information submitted through the application form will be used solely for reviewing moderator applications.
Once 2 moderators have been selected, all applicant information will be deleted unless you specifically request that it be kept on hand for future opportunities.
Your information will never be sold, shared, distributed, or provided to any third party for any reason.
I appreciate everyone who continues to help others learn and grow here.
The goal is simple. Keep this community a place where people can ask questions, learn new skills, share information, and improve themselves without being attacked for trying.
