Saskatoon man creates smartphone app for odd jobs

A local University of Saskatchewan graduate has developed an app to match people who need temporary jobs with those looking to get work done.

Sage Nyong is the founder of Odd Jobs, where people post the work they need done and what they are willing to pay. It’s displayed on a map as a red dot; you can find out what the job is and how much it pays by clicking the dot, and a phone number pops up when it’s clicked again.

“It just makes life simple. It gets stuff done, it gets work done. It gets money in people’s pockets,” Nyong said.

Jobs featured on the app include anything from mowing lawns and painting fences to helping someone move. There is no vetting process, Nyong said, so people have to trust that the posts are real.

He said the Odd Jobs app differs from Kijiji in that it only shows jobs in someone’s immediate area. That means if a user is travelling and needs to find work, the app will adapt to wherever they go.

“The main concept about Odd Jobs is the fact that it shows you jobs around the community. It’s all about people around you,” he said.

Nyong got the idea for the app after seeing university students, like his younger brother, who need to make money but don’t have the time for a permanent job. But he said their demographic extends to anyone who needs quick, temporary work. He even pointed to the recent wildfire evacuees in Saskatchewan.

“I bet you some of those people would have loved to make some money,” he said.

Nyong said the free app already has more than 800 downloads since it was made available last week.

bmcadam@rawlco.com

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