Users can now apply directly to jobs on Facebook

Aiming to help people find jobs and help local businesses hire the right people, Facebook now allows users to apply to jobs directly on the social network. The feature is currently available to over 40 countries with India following soon.

According to an online poll of 5,000 adults conducted by Morning Consult, one in four people in the US said they searched for, or found a job using Facebook.

Facebook introduced job postings on the social network in the US and Canada last year, and built features for businesses such as the ability to create job posts on mobile, manage applications, and schedule interviews. Job-seekers can also set up job alerts for the type of roles they are interested.

Finding a job is quick, easy and free. You can find jobs in the Jobs dashboard at facebook.com/jobs and the “Jobs” option in the “Explore” section on mobile, by clicking the Jobs icon in Marketplace, or visiting the Jobs tab of a business’ Page.

When you are ready to apply for a role, you can create an application, which will populate with job history and other information in your Facebook profile. You can edit your application before you submit it. Once you finish applying, a Messenger conversation will open with the business’ Page so you can have direct contact with the employer and confirm when your information has been received.

Businesses will only be able to see information you provide them directly, and what’s available publicly on your Facebook profile. To stay on top of the type of job you are interested in, you can also subscribe to alerts.

Page admins can create job posts directly from their Page with details like job title, job type (full-time, intern, part-time), salary and more. Job posts will appear in multiple places on Facebook, including on a business’ Page, in the Jobs dashboard, in Marketplace, and in News Feed.

Job posts can appear in News Feed similar to other Page posts, and businesses can choose to boost posts to reach the right candidates. Businesses can also manage their applications and communicate with applicants, including scheduling interviews and sending automated reminders, directly through Messenger.

Since 2011, Facebook has invested over $1 billion to help local businesses grow and help people find jobs. And in 2018, the company plans to invest the same amount in more teams, technology, and new programmes.