It is very interesting that LinkedIn, which started as a business network, and Facebook, as a personal network, may soon be competing in the job posting space. Or should we say, “Job Board,” space? With Linkedin already heading this direction, Facebook announced today a new initiative utilizing it’s partnerships with the Department of Labor, National Association of Colleges and Employers, DirectEmployers Association, and the National Association of State Workforce Agencies. The initiative will allow jobs and job seeker content to be available for the first time ever on the network. The attempt is apparently to help combat the national unemployment rate by promoting a “social job” page in the 10 states with the highest unemployment rates including Puerto Rico. Then a series of surveys will be conducted regarding how job seekers, recruiters, and college career centers utilize social media. And let’s not forget one of the biggest slices of this pizza…the job listing service will be FREE according to Facebook’s statement mentioning, “where new job postings can be delivered virally through the Facebook site at no charge.”
Linkedin, which has a job posting service that costs employers money, is probably gasping for air while waiting to see how this pans out. Just think of 700+ million users and the endless possibilities Facebook could/might have by integrating a job service or job portal in their network? It would be an enormous blow to the entire industry by potentially eliminating the Monsters, Career Builders, Aggregators, and just about every other facet of the job board world. However, it would make sense as the largest Social Network in the world. Why not connect business, personal, and career all in one place? It proves my theory that eventually we won’t need to search for jobs, they will find us based upon our profiles, connections, interests, hobbies, etc. If Facebook pulls this off and all goes well, this could be an entire game changer for not just the industry, but every person that uses a social network.
Per what a Facebook spokesperson told Mashable, “We’re not going to limit ourselves to what’s possible today. Instead, we’re going to devote resources to develop the innovations that are going to help the job seekers of tomorrow. We’re going to invest in research in new technologies that will deliver jobs virally at no charge and expand opportunities for people to create social job searching experiences online.”
Let’s keep our eyes and ears on this one as it could be HUGE!
