ReadWriteWeb features a new job search tool called PaidInterviews–a site with a more Web 2.0 oriented approach than older competitors like Monster.com or HotJobs, as RWW notes.

Among the sites innovations are a matching algorithm (like a dating site) and a feature to facilitate a "success bonus" (based on a percentage of yearly salary) for the searcher in return for interviews that work out well. This, in conjunction with things like a "water cooler" area (basically a forum to discuss relevant topics) make this site look a lot more like an innovative social network than a traditional job search site. Near the top of their piece, RWW disavows the intuitive comparison with the growing business-oriented social network LinkedIn:

And before the LinkedIn comparisons start up, remember that his site is designed solely to connect potential employees with employers – a feature that’s only one aspect of what LinkedIn offers. PaidInterviews is more focused on "careers" than "contacts."

This doesn’t mean that paidinterviews won’t have to compete with LinkedIn. There’s an apt comparison to the relationship between the dating services that paidinterviews shares some features with and facebook (despite a recent tirade against that site). Dating sites are focused on romantic social relationships and the facebooks is focused on social relationships generally; PaidInterviews is focused on employment business contacts LinkedIn is focused on business contacts generally. However, people use facebook to pursue romantic interests as well–perhaps not by being paired with people they don’t know, but certainly by interacting with people they’ve met. Similarly, LinkedIn might not match job seekers to potential employers that they hadn’t considered, but within existing communities and circles of contacts there are interactions that certainly might lead people to new opportunities or to have an interview.

RWW is right to praise PaidInterviews for innovating in a space that had gotten somewhat stale. But, as this site approaches being a social network it begins confronting a new sort of obstacle: getting users to actively participate in it as a social network rather than conduct that activity on LinkedIn. As LinkedIn grows, it continues to cement its status as "the facebook for business"–it’s only going to get harder to encroach on their territory. Being focused on employment doesn’t put PaidInterviews in a seperate category of activity, just as a dating site that offered social networking tools would still be competitng with facebook, MySpace, and others for a share of time that users dedicate to social networking activities.