the role of networking and social media tools during job search: an information behaviour...

The role of networking and social media tools during job search: an information

behaviour perspective

by John Mowbray (@jmowb_napier)

Supervisors:Prof Hazel Hall

Prof Robert RaesideDr Pete Robertson

1234567891011121314151617181920

Research funded by

1234567891011121314151617181920

What role do social media tools play?

1234567891011121314151617181920

• 43% of jobseekers use social media every day

• 17% of jobseekers have received a job offer through social media

(Adecco Group, 2014)

1) What are the key offline networking behaviours employed by the Scottish youth labour force during the job search process?

1234567891011121314151617181920

1234567891011121314151617181920

2) How do social media tools support the networking behaviours of the Scottish youth labour force during the job search process?

1234567891011121314151617181920

3) How can the knowledge from (1) & (2) be incorporated into careers services in order to improve individual employability levels of young jobseekers in Scotland?

The importance of tie strength

12345678910111213141516171819

Weak tieWeak tie(bridge) (bridge)

Strong ties

20

The role of social capital

1234567891011121314151617181920

Jason Pollock, Lee Krasner with friends and family, ca. 1950 © Photo by: Unknown. (1950) Web: https://goo.gl/WpILzq Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/legalcode

Networking and job search

1234567891011121314151617181920 3D Social Networking © Photo by: Potter, C. (2012) Web: www.stockmonkeys.com Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/legalcode

• Associated with more job offers

• Extraversion significantly associated

• Needs contemporary research

Networking and info behaviour

1234567891011121314151617181920 3D Social Networking © Photo by: Potter, C. (2012) Web: www.stockmonkeys.com Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/legalcode

• ICTs encourage networking behaviours

• Opportunistic information acquisition related to networking

Social media adoption and use

1234567891011121314151617181920 Social Media apps © Photo by: Howie, J. (2013) Web: https://goo.gl/kynW66 Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/legalcode

• Channels for weak and strong ties

• SNS associated with higher levels of social capital

• Personality traits, age and gender all impact on usage

1234567891011121314151617181920

Method

1234567891011121314151617181920

• QUAL > QUAN > QUAL

• Scoping interviews w/ young jobseekers & careers professionals

• Survey of young jobseekers • School leavers• Business graduates• Users of careers services

• Follow up interviews with young jobseekers

• Focus groups with careers professionals

Scoping interview: early analysis

1234567891011121314151617181920

• Strong network ties (e.g. family) have big impact for younger jobseekers

• The jobseeker’s context has a big impact on their networking behaviours

Scoping interview: early analysis

1234567891011121314151617181920

•Facebook is used most predominantly, with few other tools mentioned

•Social media tools particularly facilitate passive job information acquisition

Scoping interviews: impact on survey design

1234567891011121314151617181920

• Focus on context of information need, e.g.:• Motivation of jobseekers• Environment of jobseeker• Usefulness of family contacts

• Focus on specific networking behaviours offline and on• Facebook• Twitter• LinkedIn

Difficulties and challenges

1234567891011121314151617181920

1. Broad topic, many disciplines

2. Attaining a sample

3. Ethical clearance

Thanks for listening!!

Find out more at:

www.johnmowbray.org

1234567891011121314151617181920