LinkedIn should probably worry now that Facebook has apparently decided to copy a key element of the business website – its resume and CV feature.
Facebook is notorious for blatantly copying services and apps made popular by other social media competitors, most notably Snapchat. The social networking site has already cloned Snapchat’s Lens filters and Story format.
Now the social media titan is testing a new Resume/ CV feature that allows users to share their work history and experience with friends. The new feature builds on the typical “Work and Education” page. However, the user’s credentials and work information are not displayed publicly. This could be an indication that Facebook is thinking of making this feature available only to headhunters.
Report: @facebook is testing new features that mimic much of what you’d see on @LinkedIn. pic.twitter.com/eYpMD38OtR
— FOX Business (@FoxBusiness) October 18, 2017
The new and dedicated CV field lets users list their educational background and professional data in more detail. Users can also select the exact dates they started and left specific companies.
The trial feature was first noticed by Jane Manchun Wong of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. The computer science undergrad shared screenshots of the resume feature with The Next Web’s (TNW) social media director Matt Navarra. He subsequently shared the screenshots on Twitter.
Wow, I really didn’t expect it to blow up like that. This is like the Ripple Effect in action https://t.co/PY5ZwtoniU
— Jane Manchun Wong (@wongmjane) October 16, 2017
A spokesperson from Facebook had already confirmed that the social networking site is indeed testing out a new feature. According to the spokesperson, Facebook is “always building and testing new products and services” and that they’re “currently testing a work histories feature to continue to help people find and businesses hire for jobs on Facebook.”
The Resume/ CV feature appears to be limited to a select group of users. TNW staffers in Amsterdam have no access to the feature but some users in the United States reportedly do. However, it’s not uncommon for Facebook to do a trial run on a small demographic first before rolling it out to more users.
It’s also unclear how Facebook users will take to this new feature. After all, most would rather keep their social media profiles away from potential employers. If that’s the case, LinkedIn might not have to worry about Facebook encroaching on its territory.