Facebook's new jobs board: Is LinkedIn toast?

The billion-user social network is very eager to get Americans back to work.

By TheWeek.com Nov 15, 2012 12:33PM

Resume copyright Dynamic Graphics, age fotostock, age fotostockOn the lookout for a new job? Here's something to like: Facebook (FB), with the enthusiastic backing of the Department of Labor, just revealed a new job-board application to help many of the social network's 1 billion-plus users get back to work. 


The platform -- which partners with Monster.com, BranchOut, and Work4 Labs, among others -- aggregates 1.7 million openings from recruiters, allowing job-hunters to sift through listings by location, industry, and skill, or share job openings through their network. 


Facebook insists that it's not entering the recruiting industry, a statement that "appears far-fetched given the capability of the application," says J.J. Colao at Forbes. 


And of course, Facebook's expansion could spell bad news for LinkedIn (LNKD), a site for professionals that, with 187 million users, has apparently faced some growth concerns from investors. 


Will Facebook's job board kill LinkedIn?


This could be trouble for LinkedIn: "LinkedIn must be worried,"says Donna Tam at CNET. The new Facebook app's many launch partnerships, not to mention the social network's "attractive" pool of 1 billion users, highlight how much better Facebook is at the core task of social jobs recruiting. That's "LinkedIn's bread and butter," and clearly, Facebook is moving in.


But Facebook's app is barely functional: This could be "first-day-of-school​ jitters, but [Facebook's] app is returning unexpectedly inappropriate results for some searches," says Jolie O'Dell at VentureBeat. For instance: A query for writing jobs in the Bay Area yielded no results. Huh? Overall, the app is "not as well designed or as cohesive as one might like." For the time being at least, LinkedIn and other competitors are safe.

 

Plus, LinkedIn and Facebook appeal to different audiences: Look at it this way, says Forbes's Colao. Facebook's "varied demographics" differ from LinkedIn's "older, college-educated users." Work4 Labs, for instance, focuses on entry-level and hourly positions over the salaried openings that LinkedIn advertises. In any case, this much is clear: "The future of recruiting is decidedly social."


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20Comments
V_L
Nov 15, 2012 10:47PM
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Social networking is a failure. Linked in and Facebook are toxic. Twitter is now being used to blog war data. None of these will be here after the New Year, or we won't.
WS6 Trans Am
Nov 15, 2012 8:09PM
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SInce Facebook helped to get you fired now they feel they will make it up to you by helping you find a new job that you can get fired from by doing stupid stuff on FB. 
Wrkingwm
Nov 15, 2012 6:37PM
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Yup, no one should want to incorporate their hopefully locked down facebook profile (private settings people so only your friends can see stuff!) into job hunting. I use both facebook and Linked In. I don't need employer's seeing my private, non-work time interactions with friends and family. It's none of their business.
Q Tip Assassin
Nov 15, 2012 6:11PM
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So facebooks 1 billion users don't work?

 

 

"just revealed a new job-board application to help many of the social network's 1 billion-plus users get back to work. "


Juan Carlos Alsar
Nov 15, 2012 5:41PM
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Is very good  Facebook open one spot for search jobs and opportunities. After four years in unemployment situation,temporaly jobs,etc,is other tool for help people like me. But more taxes,more regulations,more autocratic and technocratic positions,is terrible mix for increase the Economy of USA. My hope is high the reality is other.
Juan Carlos Alsar
Nov 15, 2012 5:30PM
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Is very important to me Facebook open this spot for search jobs,etc. After four years in unemployment situation,temporaly jobs,etc is other tool for any person like me. More taxes,more regulations is the platform for recession on economy of USA. My hope is tide the reality is other.
stonecoldcory
Nov 15, 2012 5:20PM
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What kind of loser looks for a "writing job" in the Bay Area? Go back to school and do something that will actually pay you.

gypsyg
Nov 15, 2012 5:14PM
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This is all well and good and they will probably work out some of the kinks eventually but I won't hold my breath.  I want to know when they are going to start removing the military HATE pages, the CHILD PORN sites and others like this that thousand upon thousands have petitioned to have removed.
olganese groves
Nov 15, 2012 5:12PM
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only time will tell if this is a winner.

 

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thanks

wiscobob
Nov 15, 2012 5:08PM
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I thought Facebook was the place people went to tell the world what they were having for dinner? Look for a job on Facebook? Talk about lack of initiative. People waste far too much time on that stuff. Some seem more attached to their Facebook account than they do their spouse or children.
notvinmylife
Nov 15, 2012 4:55PM
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Another haven for scammers offering non existant jobs,
Babycham21
Nov 15, 2012 4:35PM
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Nice try facebook, but due to your lack of comprehensive privacy features and the fact that they change on a near daily basis no one in their right mind is going to use their facebook page when applying for jobs.  
Phil Rosenberg
Nov 15, 2012 3:54PM
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This was a first attempt by Facebook, but a lame first attempt.  Facebook will really have to up their game to compete with Linkedin, based on their first efforts.  See my analysis in "Will Facebook's New Job Board Help Your Job Search?" at https://recareered.i​nfusionsoft.com/app/​hostedEmail/13477177​/ab764e4c7889849d
shownnomercy3
Nov 15, 2012 1:54PM
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sorry I had to finish my post. i especially distrust them since they went after the 12 and under market i read to increase their number of users. Does anyone remember the days of kids playing outside?
defpotec
Nov 15, 2012 1:50PM
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This is a great filtering device for employers. Potential employees who spend their day with their noses buried in Facebook, and use an App to apply for work, are not sending signals that they are devoted and conscientious  workers who will be giving 100% of their time to their jobs - reject...
shownnomercy3
Nov 15, 2012 1:46PM
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has linkedin thought about working on relationships to help with posting on various sites???  I went to sell a property and I had to have a facebook account to even list my home.  I'm not sure but would it be possible for a reputable social networking site such as linkedin to form similar relationships.  Sorry I'm not a big lover of FB!! lol
Obscuris vera involvens
Nov 15, 2012 1:24PM
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Anyone who uses their FB walls in a job application is a fool.
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