Facebook Pages - Fad or Future?

Who knows where Facebook Pages could end up but after my last post where I suggested greater integration with your ATS and maybe using a Page instead of a Career Site(!) could the humble FB Page play a bigger part than we think?

I for one think Facebook will be around for a very long time and will continue to grow and whilst they are currently considered the "non-work" social network this like many other things will change.  I've heard the stories of the younger members starting to leave as Mum and Dad try to be their Friends but that's no different to choosing a different pub because your old farts are having a pint just behind you.  For what it's worth kids, we don't want to drink in the same pubs as you anyway :-)

But of course your online business listing is being helped along fantastically by Google as ever; check out Google Business Center (it does default to UK when country is selected).

So Facebook have plenty of competition in the business listing arena as the likes of Yellow/White Pages are not planning on going anywhere so this is where the recruitment aspect could play a big part in Facebook's future strategy.  Take the Hitwise latest job board stats below:

1. Jobcentre Plus    8.53%
2. Linkedin              6.20%
3. Reed.co.uk         4.06%
4. Jobsite UK          4.00%
5. Totaljobs.com     3.59%

Clearly Linkedin is creeping ahead as a year ago and as posted in Job boards or job networks they had 4.02% although the job boards have also gained market share at the expense of Jobcentre Plus and NHS Careers.  So, jobs would appear to be a good thing for social networks so maybe Facebook will add a jobs section.  Yes, they could buy Monster et al but why bother?  Google never have.  Imagine how quickly a Facebook Jobs section would grow; before you know it they would have the biggest job board in the World and jump ahead of the 500,000 jobs currently put onto Twitter.  You can of course already add Job Apps or use their advertising for jobs but a dedicated Facebook Jobs section makes sense to me.

But in lieu of this currently existing, as a minimum I would suggest any corporate recruitment department has a Facebook Page even if it is somewhat static.  I know, I know, if you are on Facebook you have to engage but let's be honest; job seekers can't engage via a normal career site so at least a Page would be a step in the right direction.  And maybe they'd get used to the idea of conversing prior to applying!  So let's not kill the idea before recruiters try it out and give them a break if they are not at the bar buying every round.  They have a job to do and as pointed out by Michelle Fischer; a lot of recruiters still have a way to go.