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Facebook continues to march towards being our internet overlords and the latest way the social media behemoth is attempting to branch out is a new feature that allows you to apply for jobs on the network. On Wednesday, Facebook announced that they have a new job posting feature to connect job seekers and employers. LinkedIn, you had better watch your back.
Facebook said the new employment tool would be available on the platform in more than 40 countries. The free service will allow local businesses to advertise job postings on their Facebook page. But the service is just not job postings, employers will also be able to manage applications and schedule interviews through Facebook. For job seekers, they will be able to create a profile and Facebook will alert them when a job opening pops up that fits their interests such as job type, salary, and location. Once a connection between a business Page and a job seeker are made, they can then conversate via the Facebook Messenger.
As of January 31, 2018, Facebook has over 2.13 billion monthly active users. With that massive user base at their disposal, Facebook instantly becomes a threat to established job recruitment websites such as LinkedIn, Glassdoor, and Monster. While LinkedIn focuses on college-educated opportunities, Facebook could appeal to lower-skilled job seekers. LinkedIn earned $1.1 billion in revenue in the fourth quarter of 2017. Before rolling out the job posting feature, approximately one in four people in the U.S. have said they searched for or found a job using Facebook. You had best make your profile private or delete those embarrassing and highly inebriated photos from last year’s Halloween party before you apply.
[Forbes]