Looking for a new job? Facebook might be able to help you out.
Yesterday, the social networking platform launched its “Jobs” feature worldwide.
Facebook users in the GCC region can now search for opportunities, by clicking on the “Jobs” tab in “Explore”. Job seekers can then scroll through a list of postings and apply for any role, by clicking the “Apply Now” button on a posting. Employers can list vacancies by filling out the “Publish A Job Post”.
Previously, “Jobs” was only available in the US and Canada, but it’s now available to all Facebook users around the world.
Traditionally, LinkedIn has been used as the platform for professionals to find new career opportunities. Classified websites, like Dubizzle, were the destination for individuals looking for freelance, part-time or worker-type roles.
Facebook is clearly looking to meet somewhere in the middle. A quick scroll through the jobs listed in the UAE shows a mix of freelance work, part-time roles and retail jobs. Volunteer, contract and internship positions can also be listed on the platform.
In the past few years it hasn’t been uncommon for potential employers to share job vacancies in their Facebook statuses, and for job seekers to notify their friends that they’re looking for work on the platform. Other users would then tag their friends in the post who may suit the role, or share the status in their feed with their network on the platform.
“One in four people in the US have searched for or found a job using Facebook” Facebook’s VP of Local, Alex Himel, said to TechCrunch. “But 40% of US small businesses report that filling jobs was more difficult than they expected. We think Facebook can play a part in closing this gap.”
Would you apply for a job on Facebook? Let us know in the comments below…