Geoff Gloeckler, staff editor at BusinessWeek and regular supplier of material for this blog, passed along an article on the new professional social networking and job search site, MyWorkster. At first glance, it seems like a university-centered version of the already-entrenched LinkedIn.com:
A professional networking site that connects students with alumni and allows members to search for contacts in their field who can give them an advantage over the competition.
However, this site offers something LinkedIn does not: job listings. My judgment is pending until I can set up an account and poke around a bit, which I’ll hopefully be able to do in the semi-near future. In the meantime, anyone already use MyWorkster? Give us your reviews if you do.
[And a question to throw out there: how much do users value job listings as part of a professional social networking site? The idea of networking, of course, is that it can eventually lead to finding out about job openings and then, ideally, finding a job. But the intrinsic purpose of networking is not to be trolling for job openings---rather it's to be trolling for connections. If a connection is made that leads to finding out about a job opening (and then even a job), that is terrific. But in fact if you only try to connect with folks who you perceive will be able to get you a job, rather than engaging those people with whom you share common interest and passion, then you're probably not going to be a successful networkers (people can smell bald self-interest from across the room, or across the internets, as the case may be).
So if networking is not primarily about locating job openings, but rather locating contacts, is it necessary to have job openings as part of a social networking site? On the other hand, networking and job searching can and should be done simultaneously, so if your social networking site is also your job search engine, does that just combine everything you need into one and make your life that much easier? I'd be interested to hear people's takes, based either on experience using social networking sites/job search engines or just complete conjecture. I'll accept both.]
Tags: MyWorkster, social networking
Hi!
I have to say I think it is a unique idea. I think the idea behind it (maybe I’m wrong) is that you don’t necessarily have to know people to network. Since it puts me in my University network, it sort of gives me the ability to reach out to people I don’t know by saying “hey, I went to [insert name] College also. Would you mind helping me out…?”
So maybe it is better at helping naturally poor networkers like myself
As for jobs, It seems to show me jobs first listed by my location and industry, which is a decent starting filter. I think it is nice to have them there because it helps you ease your way into networking. The jobs may pull people and then kind of bumps you right into networking….
I’m a positive thinker though. Hope it helps! LinkedIn is nice also…
After signing up for myworkster, I see how it’s different from LinkedIn. For example, I graduated from Columbia University and when I joined myworkster, the system kind of introduced me to everyone else who graduated from Columbia. I think it’s more like Facebook but professional rather than a LinkedIn competitor. I give myworkster an A+ rating.