Facebook is starting to let users apply for jobs directly through the platform, putting it in closer competition with business networks like LinkedIn. In a blog post published today, the company said it’s trying to make it easier for businesses to recruit the right employees directly through their pages.
Starting today, the company will let businesses post job openings on their pages or in a new jobs bookmark so Facebook users can apply directly through the website or app.
Page admins will be able to create a jobs post, track applicants or communicate with them via Facebook Messenger. They’ll also be able to promote jobs by paying to boost a post targeted at a particular audience. Applicants can find jobs in their news feeds while also bookmarking any they’re interested in. (The “Apply Now” feature even prepopulates an application with information from a user’s profile.)
“This new experience will help businesses find qualified people where they’re already spending their time—on Facebook and on mobile,” the company wrote in the blog post.
TechCrunch reported that Facebook has been testing features for the past few months that seem similar to those rolling out today. And according to Andrew Bosworth, Facebook’s vp of business and platform, the feature is a follow-up to others that debuted late last year and included ways to find places and events nearby.
“It’s early days, but we’re excited to see how people use this simple tool to get the job they want and for businesses to get the help they need,” Bosworth said in a statement.
So far, the feature is rolling out to page administrators and job seekers in the U.S. and Canada for iOS and Android apps and for the website version of the platform. For users who may be worried about privacy or revealing embarrassing photos, potential future employers will only be able to see info provided by the applicants—unless of course that info is public. (This might be a good time to check your privacy settings.)
