Up until early 2017, Facebook was seen by the majority of users as a network that's all about their personal lives and connections. But that's all about to change with the network's new feature: Jobs on Facebook (currently in the U.S. and Canada only).

What's the Deal?

Facebook Jobs

Job search on Facebook wasn't exactly unheard of before. But it's definitely about to be revolutionized with the new feature coming in. Facebook now allows companies to post job openings on their Facebook page, and users apply for these positions by filling in a simple form.

The feature is completely free for both job seekers and job posters. However, Facebook allows businesses to pay to boost the reach of their listings to specific demographics.

How It Works

The search and application processes couldn't be simpler:

  • To begin the search, go to facebook.com/jobs on your computer or to the Jobs tab in the More section of the mobile app.
  • Select your location. You can set your search radius to be from 2--100 miles of any location from the list.
  • Choose the desired position(s).

There's a wide range of industry categories you can use to sort the list. From business opportunities to non-profit organizations, as well as beauty, fitness, consulting, and professional services. You could choose to only see jobs in the restaurant, real estate, and education spheres. They've got full-time, part-time, and contract vacancies, as well as internships and volunteering opportunities.

When you find a position you're interested in, click or tap the "Apply Now" button. You'll be asked to fill in a simple form.

Jobs on Facebook on mobile

The pop-up form comes pre-populated with the information you've provided to Facebook. That includes your name, phone number, and email address, together with any education and employment information that's public on your profile. You can edit this information before submitting it.

The only real typing you have to do is to answer the simple question of why you are the best person to do the job in 1,000 characters (about 250 words).

After that, hit Send. That's it. Once you complete and send the form, it goes straight to the employer's Messenger.

Wait, What?

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Did you just send a message to a potential employer from your personal Facebook account? The one you use to complain about your cat's bad habits? What about all the party pictures that friends tag you in?

Yes, your future employer will now know that you have a profile on the world's most popular social network. But according to Facebook, employers can only see what you've made public on your page.

On the plus side, it removes the question of whether or not a prospective employer will check out on your Facebook page (yes, they will). One less worry, right?

Facebook vs. LinkedIn

We're all used to thinking Facebook is for fun and LinkedIn is for business. Jobs on Facebook might change that perspective.

Unlike LinkedIn, Facebook is primarily targeting people who are looking for hourly or part-time jobs and might not be highly skilled professionals. The Jobs on Facebook feature is also for people who might not be actively searching for a job at the moment but, would be interested in a better, higher-paying job when they see one.

LinkedIn vs. Facebook
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Another big difference is the simplicity of the application process on Facebook. LinkedIn focuses on qualifications and education, which might scare away job seekers that don't know what kind of job they want for certain. Facebook allows for a broader search without having to spend a significant amount of time filling in your profile.

Additionally, even with LinkedIn being a leading employment social network, Facebook still has 1.86 billion users that come back every day. That's almost two billion potential employers, employees, and professional connections waiting to happen.

What's on Offer

Facebook Jobs screenshot

It's true that medium- and highly skilled job seekers might be better off on LinkedIn, Glassdoor, Indeed, and other job listing sites. However, that doesn't mean that Jobs on Facebook is all about part-time jobs for college students.

Five minutes of searching for vacancies around New York City brings up a variety of companies looking for all sorts of professionals, from a performing arts school looking to hire a hip-hop teacher to a manufacturing plant looking for welders. A part-time vacancy for barista  shows up next to a full-time contract for a financial credit counselor. One thing Jobs on Facebook doesn't lack is diversity.

What I felt was missing at this stage is a little more structure and relevance. You can end up scrolling through the openings for hours at a time even if you know what kind of job you're searching for.

How to Get the Most Out of It

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The good news is that Facebook's planning to do more relevancy sorting of job posts and add a tab to show people roles that match their education level or work experience. Before that happens, though, here are a few tips you can use to make the search for opportunities easier.

Stay on Top of Your Privacy Settings

Your application will be sent straight to the prospective employer's Messenger. It makes it that much easier for them to check out your profile and see any public posts.

To make sure you're happy with everything your future boss will see, take the time to complete a Facebook Privacy Check-Up and view your profile as "Public" before responding to a listing.

Use Existing Features to Narrow Down Options

Save yourself time and trouble by applying the right filters when  you're searching. Right now there are only three filters available: job type, industry, and location radius.

Start with the obvious, and choose the right job type according to your availability. Then apply the "industry" filters to get the relevant vacancies. Star with the location radius at a minimum and slowly increase it to get more results.

Like Your Desired Employer's Page

Show your interest in a company by liking their page or posting a comment there. While it might go unnoticed, it could also earn you some bonus points and take you ahead of your competitors.

Pros and Cons

Jobs on Facebook is still a very new feature, and at the moment it's hard to tell how well it will do in the long run. Opinions on whether the feature is a hit or miss are divided.

Things that people find appealing include the huge number of potential job seekers and recruiters, the simplicity of the application process, and the minimal time and effort required.

What people find off-putting is the lack of relevance and structure in job listings, inability to attach a résumé or any other media, and the merging of one's personal and professional online presences.

Jobs on Facebook: Yay or Nay?

It's up to Facebook users to decide whether this new feature is going to do well or fail miserably. It could be the best job search engine out there... or it could fall flat. And we want to hear what you think.

Have you tried job searching or recruiting using the new feature? What did you find useful and what was disappointing? Share your experience in the comments below!