Meet ‘The Job Father’ Helping Hundreds Of Black People Secure Jobs In Tech
Jermaine (Jupiter) Murray, also known as ”The Job Father,” is paving the way for Black people in tech by using his LinkedIn page to help professionals secure jobs and recruiters diversify their hiring practices.
According to recent reports, Black representation in tech is barely improving, with Black professionals only making up approximately 13% of the industry. Additionally, only 7% of Black people can break into high-tech, proving that the tech industry has an issue embracing and retaining Black talent.
The recent layoffs have also shown how precarious Black people’s jobs can be, with many being the first to go when a company experiences a downturn or significant loss. Despite this, Murray hopes his work will open the door for over 500 Black people to take up space within this sector.
In an interview with Forbes, Murray reflected on his journey and why he continues to advocate for Black talent in tech. “I think one of the first things that Black people could do internally is to understand what their value is to be able to solidify what their elevator pitch is,” Murray added.
“The second thing I would say is once you have that understanding, and once you’re able to build on that, whether it be a portfolio or working on different projects, you should always try to find community.”
The founder of the consulting firm, JupiterHR provides career consulting services to people looking to break into the tech industry. Murray uses his expertise to help people understand how to best move forward in their careers.
Initially started as a resume writing service, the platform aims to help 500 improve their CV to secure a spot in tech.
According to Murray, it is vital for Black entrepreneurs in tech to build a community for themselves, so they can connect with like-minded individuals and find their niche.
“I would encourage Black people to double down on networking within the Black Tech ecosystem and become a part of platforms and groups,” Murray added. “I would also encourage them to double down on investing in their skills development and building out niches for themselves. They can do this by finding a part of tech that they’re either passionate about or have strong subject matter expertise in.”
