CareerBuilder Building Network Aimed At LinkedIn

Taking direct aim at LinkedIn, CareerBuilder has launched a social network for job seekers named BrightFuse.

"Online networking is an important piece of the puzzle for workers wishing to build professional relationships," said Liz Harvey, senior director of online products for CareerBuilder.

Positioned as a "free talent community for workers of all levels and industries to showcase their talents," BrightFuse encourages members to show off their talents and experience with customizable profiles, which can include recommendations from contacts, community activities, and Twitter updates as well as RSS feeds to a blog or Web site.

In defense of BrightFuse, CareerBuilder released the results of a study of some 4,200 workers -- 16% of whom report having used a social network as a part of their job search mix. What's more, 45% of employers reported using social networking sites to research job candidates. Last year, about half -- 22% -- of employers said they had used a social network for such purposes.

Due to the success of social networking among professionals, LinkedIn is attracting rivals left and right. With the help of sister company Slingshot Lab, The Wall Street Journal is reportedly developing its own social network called WSJ Connect.

Thanks to CareerBuilder's existing market presence, BrightFuse is launching with more than 1.6 million users, according to Harvey.

By contrast, according to a recent study by Anderson Analytics, LinkedIn currently has 11 million regular users.

The site's features include a Facebook application, which allows users to publish the main elements of their BrightFuse profile as a tab on their Facebook profiles; tools to publish one's portfolio of work; and the ability create groups.

"Workers of all levels can use BrightFuse to have that important open dialogue -- while promoting themselves and recommending others," Harvey added.

Owned by Gannett, Tribune Company, The McClatchy Company, and Microsoft, CareerBuilder claims more than 23 million unique visitors domestically.

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