We all know that Facebook is the most dominant social media site in the world. Will it also become the most dominant job site as well? Currently, that role is held by Linkedin. I have written may articles about how to use Linkedin to find your next job and they are growing their network exponentially at this point.
Let me get right to the point of this article. Do you think Facebook will eclipse Linkedin as the dominant social network for job seekers? I know what your are thinking…you are probably saying, “Facebook is more social and personal and Linkedin is more professional.” I definitely agree with you, but I will counter by saying that Facebook has 10 times more active users than Linkedin. Additionally, your connections on Facebook may be deeper and more established than your connections on Linkedin. A couple of months ago there was a game changing app that was introduced to the Facebook community. This app combined with the sheer number of Facebook users will help Facebook leap frog over Linkedin as the most important tool for job seekers (imho).
The app is called BranchOut and when you install it, it transforms Facebook into career networking super site.
I have just started using this application and it is very easy to use and I think when it catches on it will be Huge. Like the old saying goes, it is not what you know but who you know!
Hi,
I completely agree with you that Facebook will continue to grow in popularity of a job search tool beyond the traditional use of just a social site. In my mind there is one key reason, $$$$$$. Facebook’s power is the knowledge it has from user’s profiles and metrics show that members come back to Facebook and spend more time on it than LinkedIn. I too believe that many of the connections I have on Facebook are much “deeper,”as you put it, than some of my LinkedIn. I’m more liberal on LinkedIn as to who I connect with.
As more apps become available that capitalize on the data while still filling a need for the consumer (in a transparent way) it is inevitable that Facebook will continue to expand.
The VP o Recruiting for COMSYS recently wrote a blog post on how the new spaces feature of FB can also help a job seeker land the next job. Great read if you’re looking for more info.
http://connect.mypath.com/mypath/blogs/the-digital-networker/2010/09/02/is-facebook-a-curse-or-a-blessing-for-job-seekers
I would have to say that LinkedIn would be more important than FaceBook on a professional level. This is because LinkedIn is strictly for professional and networking purposes. FaceBook has features that make it seem more childish and less professional. The users are different for each website and I find myself typically annoyed with FaceBook users.
I think FB is more and more going to leave its roots of being just a social medium and begin offering services to its users. One trend that I already see coming is them selling facebook “domains” because entertainment groups have already started using facebook pages for promotion instead of spending the ten bucks to buy a lousy domain.
With a tool like Branch Out, I can see where it can maximize your reach in terms of job hunting…but why let go of one tool over the other? These days you have to use about every means (short of anything illegal) to get ahead in the job search.
It does look like a good tool to share and I would encourage others to give it a try!
Karen, The Resume Chick (on Google or Twitter for questions, comments or violent reactions)
A good point is made for facebook to replace LI for job searching. It has to do with
1) How close you are to your facebook contacts
2) The population of FB is 400 million while that of LI is 70 million (hardly 10 to one but still substantially larger)
3) New apps are making FB more capable of competing with LI.
My experience is very deep with both. Lindsey Vonn, the downhill Olympic Champion is not going to help me get a job.Serena Williams is not going to do a thing. Iliza Sclesinger my good friend and fantastic comic has no contacts to help me. Either are 100s of other social contacts and some I just follow.
The mentality of my contacts is probably 20% business and 80% social. But still 20% of 400 millions is still greater than 70 million on LI.
Now, why does it have to be either or. The average social network member is also part of at least four other sites.
So, I vote for an and and opposed to an only.
Great idea to bring this up.
Fred