Homeless tradie receives dozens of job offers after executive's plea
A homeless man’s fortunes seem to have turned around after a mining industry leader found him holding up a sign on a Melbourne street.
Luke Messer, who works for MMG Limited, wrote on Linkedin he “got chatting” to Scott, a homeless man, last week when he discovered he had 26 years of experience operating excavators.
Scott was holding up a cardboard sign trying to raise $45 “to get a room for tonight”.
“I asked him if he would like me to send his message to my LinkedIn network in the hope someone may have a job for him,” Mr Messer wrote.
“He said ‘I’ll try anything, I just need a bit of luck’ then he gave me his phone number.”
It seems Mr Messer’s approach had the desired effect too with 780 comments and more than 18,000 likes.
Robin Johnson, managing director of construction company RJE, was among those who commented offering Scott an opportunity.
“Hi Luke, message me his number and we will see what we can do,” Mr Johnson wrote.
“We have work in Victoria and Tasmania and can provide a roof and tucker to help him out.”
Anthony Jenkins, managing director of REMCON Constructions, wrote that he called Scott twice and sent him a text.
Scott has since received more than 30 “genuine” job leads and more than 10 offers of accommodation, Mr Messer wrote on Wednesday.
“I met with him this morning and he said he’s had so many phone calls he hasn’t been able to keep up,” he wrote.
“He also wanted me to say thank you to all the people who have offered their support.”
He added Scott has sat down with a large construction firm who are in the process of confirming a formal interview.
It’s not known if Scott has gained employment yet, but Mr Messer has also started a GoFundMe page to raise money for the homeless man to “not only assist him back into work but enable him to stay there”.
In other news, a homeless man recently returned A$23,500 he found in a brown paper bag.
Kevin Booth found the money out front of a food bank in the US, which he regularly visits.
He turned the money in and when no one claimed it from police, the cash went back to the food bank.
In September, a toddler, who was feeding the homeless with his father, decided to invite them to his birthday party.
He planned on sharing birthday cake with his newfound friends.
