Yahoo! is set to launch a new social networking site entitled Kickstart today (Monday, November 5th).The site, which is targeted at students and recruiters, is intended for use as a career networking tool, according to Scott Gatz, the senior director of Yahoo!'s Advanced Products division.
Commenting on Kickstart, Mr Gatz said: "It's a professional network with a purpose - to help college students and recent graduates build a professional network," CNET.com reports.
He clarified that Kickstart is not a competitor to Facebook because it focuses on career development as opposed to fun, adding that an initial "early preview" is focusing on professionals and alumni, with students being included next year.
Kickstart will enable students to connect with others in their situation, as well as with alumni and firms who may be able to help them along their career path. Users will be able to post a photograph along with a CV for others to view.
They will also be able to search for other people's profiles and make contact with them.
According to reports in the India Times, Yahoo! is providing a kick-start to the project by offering $25,000 to the university which can boast the greatest number of alumni profiles by the end of the year.
This further expansion of Yahoo! into social networking follows its launch in September of the site Mash, which is intended specifically for socialising purposes.
