Facebook announces job-search tool, heats up rivalry with LinkedIn
Facebook has entered a deal with BranchOut, DirectEmployers, Work4Labs, Jobvite, and Monster.com to launch a free Social Jobs Partnership (SJP) app. Facebook’s app, currently available for U.S. users, lists more than 1.7 million jobs.
Facebook has also partnered with the U.S. Department of Labor, the National Association of Colleges and Employers, DirectEmployers Association, and the National Association of State Workforce Agencies.
Facebook’s Social Jobs app allows users to browse jobs on a listing’s location, skills, and industry. Facebook says the purpose of SJP is to “tap into the growing trend of talent acquisition through social media”.
The social networking giant also points out the recent NACE survey that showed Facebook is emerging as an important factor in linking qualified jobs with qualified candidates. The survey says around half of employers users are using Facebook for hiring process. A majority 54 percent already using the social network expect Facebook to become a more important part of the talent acquisition process in the near future.
“Nearly 90 percent of companies stated that Facebook has decreased the amount of print advertising needed with regards to their recruiting efforts, making Facebook a cost effective way to find new talent.
Of companies using Facebook to acquire new potential employees, more than half state the importance of networking and referrals,”says a Facebook note.
“The number one suggestion by recruiters (87 percent) is for candidates using Facebook to ‘Like’ a desired company’s Facebook page, followed by using Facebook as a networking tool.”
Facebook’s new application intensifies its rivalry with LinkedIn, the largest professional networking website. LinkedIn has of late made various changes and added new features to up user engagement on the website. Cnet’s Donna Tam in her coverage remarks: “Facebook is not making any money directly off this application, so this doesn’t mean the company is getting into the jobs listing business just yet. Still, LinkedIn must be worried. The new app, and the partnership arrangement, highlights how much Facebook is at the core of social jobs recruiting — LinkedIn’s bread and butter.”
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