Thefacebook co-founder creates networking site

Students who spend countless hours avoiding homework on http://thefacebook.com now have a more productive Web-surfing option -- rather than adding "friends" to their lists, students will be able to add companies. \nEduardo Saverin, co-founder of Thefacebook, teamed with a handful of students from Harvard, Dartmouth and Boston universities to create www.joboozle.com, a Web site devoted to connecting students with potential employers. \nKwame Osseo-Asare, president of university and media relations for Joboozle, said the site's main goal is to make job searching less intimidating for students. \n"We don't want people to be stressed," he said. "Searching for a job should be somewhat fun and engaging." Although the Web sites are not affiliated, Joboozle's setup is aesthetically similar to Thefacebook, allowing students to create a profile that includes a photo, job experience and personal information. Students can find contact information, workplace descriptions and employee descriptions for more than 2,600 companies, which are broken down by category. \nAdditionally, academic information for all students at each university is anonymously compiled and graphed so students can see where they stand compared with fellow classmates. \nOsseo-Asare said there are many aspects of the site that set it apart from rivals such as www.monster.com. \n"You can go on the Web site, look up past interns and say, 'OK, these three people were interns. I have an interview coming up, and I can talk to them to discuss the interview process,'" he said. "You can see the average GPA for students who get internships at certain companies, and you can see where you stand." \nThe Web site, which is a combination of the words "job" and "bamboozle," was launched two weeks ago, although it has been in the works for almost six months. The creators paid for the site "out of pocket" to keep it free for both students and companies. \n"Advertising helps to fray the cost, but it's definitely kind of expensive," Osseo-Asare said. \nAlthough the goal of the site is to make the interview process more personal than typical recruiting procedures, Mike Burdick, an Edwards Jones investment representative who recruits students in person, said the Internet has limitations. \n"From my point of view, meeting face-to-face provides better insight into a candidate's character and potential than a blurb off of the Internet," Burdick said. \nThe site also features student forums, which allow students to read and make posts regarding interview tips, networking, résumé tips, job offers, etiquette and career fairs. Joboozle is open to 65 schools, and Osseo-Asare expects to see that number, as well as the features of the site, expand.\n"It'd be great to see this as one of the premier recruiting sites for companies in the United States," he said. "We hope to see a lot of growth." \nJunior Jon Levey, executive vice president of the Business Careers in Entertainment Club, which helps IU students obtain jobs and internships, encourages students to take advantage of Joboozle. \n"The hardest part of getting a job is getting your foot in the door," he said. "I know some students have trouble networking, and if this will help those students, I think it's a great way to do so ... I'm definitely going to look into it." \n-- Contact Staff Writer Hannah Lodge at hjlodge@indiana.edu.