Often when thinking of professional social networks, LinkedIn springs to mind. LinkedIn was recently evaluated at $1 billion based on its Series D funding. Their main source of revenue is subscription, jobs, sponsorships and membership fee.

Check out the Kwiqq team on LinkedIn

Similarly other social networks which deal with business/professionals in mind have sprung up:

Bighsight.org: It provides business users with a public professional homepage. The site looks nice and simple and the functionality is spot on, designers with flare for web 2ish designs will definitely like it. Example

YouNoodle: Strange name for a professional social network , its a professional to showcase startups/entrepreneurs. Example

Another social network which is different in the professional/recruitment social network field is Bluefuse.biz developed by Higham’s Group and us at Kwiqq.  Higham PLC are a specialist insurance recruitment agency.

Bluefuse.biz is designed to help candidates with getting a job. These candidates tend to be executives: CIOs, CTOs etc contract or permanent. It is a invitation only network, so candidates have to be invited to join the network.

Profile:

Once they are on the network, they have access to exclusive jobs

Industry News:

Further Higham’s consultants are available on the network who can improve core job related skills (through skype). Plus the opportunity to network with other users who might know a job to match your skillset or advice to improve our CV.

Recruitment agencies have a massive opportunity in the web 2.0 space. It really is upto the agencies to make the jump. I found an article on recruitment and social network from Dave Pye, CEO of Highams:

“In today’s social world you’ve got to take a risk and if you build a good community and serve it well, you should feel the benefit, too.”

Thoughts of Jack Fairhall, CEO Kwiqq:

“A lot of recruiters are looking at the concept and trying to figure out what they should do,” he says. “Your own social network pushes the brand and allows those in the sector to connect and communicate with each other.”

Tags: Professional, social network, linkedin, bigsight, younoodle, bluefuse, highams