LinkedOut: helping the homeless reach companies
143,000 homeless people in France. That was the last figure published by INSEE (France’s national statistics bureau) in 2012. Charity associations estimate that the figure has doubled since then. Without a home, it’s even more difficult to find a job. Launched in July by French non-profit organisation Entourage, the LinkedOut tool puts people in precarious situations in contact with businesses. How? By sharing their CVs on social media such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.
The #LePlateau platform features three figureheads: Jean-Marc Potdevin, founder of Entourage, Laïth Bouziane, a member of the first intake of LinkedOut candidates, and Mickael Martin, a member of the charity association’s street committee. The latter says that this committee is Entourage’s “second lung” where decisions are made. It has eight members who are currently or have previously been homeless and who therefore all have significant experience of living on the streets. “A person doesn’t become homeless because they’re an alcoholic”, Laïth is eager to point out, adding that “80% of those on the streets have no capital, no network and no one they can count on”. Being homeless means being isolated, leading to dehumanisation. And that’s why this charity association is called Entourage, which — apart from entourage — also means family, relations, the people around you. Its aim is to encourage people to meet each other and to create social ties.
LinkedOut: making CVs go viral
“These days, you need a network to find work. When you’re all alone, you have no chance of finding anything at all”, says Jean-Marc Potdevin, founder of Entourage. Launched in July, LinkedOut has helped the first intake of 15 candidates highlight their CVs on social media, thus making them visible to companies. Talented people with skills and, in some cases, previous experience; the profiles of these homeless people who are eager to work deserves employers’ attention. “We’ve chosen to make the CVs more human, more personal, by adding a photo that takes up a third of the page and highlighting their soft skills”, the founder adds. As well as sharing CVs, this project’s philosophy is to encourage lasting ties, because “before you can recommend someone, you need to know that person”, according to the former boss of Viadeo. For Laïth, who is 20, motivation is a key criterion for joining LinkedOut’s intake. Looked after by the French child welfare services (ASE) as a child, when he turned 18 he found himself without any resources. According to the 2019 report by the Abbé Pierre Foundation, a quarter of all homeless people born in France were children looked after by child welfare services, i.e. more than 10,000 people. Once the candidate has been chosen, a voluntary coach helps them write their CV and prepare for interviews. This coach is a genuine partner who notably monitors the candidate during their first few months in their new job. “So far, of the 15 candidates, 4 are currently in work, 5 are being helped by these unpaid coaches and 2 have given up”, says Jean-Marc. A new version of LinkedOut that will be able to display a greater number of CVs is planned for January 2020.
Entourage’s other tools: a guide and an app
Comprising neighbours, shopkeepers, charity associations and homeless people, the Entourage network mainly operates in Paris, the Hauts-de-Seine western suburbs of Paris, Rennes (Brittany) and Lyon. Since its creation, 70,000 people have joined this network. As well as LinkedOut, other tools have been developed, such as a little Simple Comme Bonjour (easy as ABC) guide to reach homeless people and the Entourage app. Thanks to an interactive map that centralises all of the solidarity actions currently taking place in each district, the latter makes it possible to organise gatherings and events. A neighbour or homeless person can thus indicate their need or offer a service directly on the app. During our chat, Jean-Marc is eager to point out that “Each person at their own level, action can be taken but it requires a change in attitude”.
The full meeting is available on YouTube (in french) :
#LePlateau is a third place dedicated to Open Innovation within Societe Generale. It’s a 1,000m² space that hosts, under one roof and for periods of up to 6 months, Societe Generale teams and ecosystem start-ups. Each resident works on their own disruptive or innovative project in large open spaces where teams commingle. #LePlateau provides an environment enabling this work to be undertaken in a single place, but also and more importantly methodological support to accelerate projects, the organising of the residents and premises to enable them to exchange and share their expertise and experience.
