A critical review of the literature pertaining to the networking behaviours of young jobseekers, in both offline and online environments. A model from information behaviour theory is proposed as a suitable theoretical framework for future research in this area.

1. The role of networking and social media
tools during job search: an information
behaviour perspective
by John Mowbray
@jmowb_napier
Co Authors:
Professor Hazel Hall
Professor Robert Raeside
Dr Pete Robertson
9th International Conference in the Conceptions of Library and Information Science, 20th to 22nd June
2016
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2. Structure of presentation
• Background
• Research questions
• Method
• Theoretical framework
• Findings
• Discussion
• Conclusion
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3. • 31% in the UK find jobs
via their social network
• A deeper understanding
of “networking” during job
search is required…
• Which (offline/online)
sources & behaviours are
associated?
Background
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4. Research questions
• What are the key offline networking
behaviours employed by young
jobseekers during the job search
process?
• How do social media tools support the
networking behaviours of the young
jobseekers during the job search
process?
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5. Method
• Information science journals reviewed systematically
– Information research, JASIST, Library and Information Science Research, The
Journal of Academic Librarianship
• Search extended to other databases + search engines
– E.g. Emerald Journals, Google Scholar, Sage Journals Online, Science Direct
• Findings drawn from analysis of 63 papers
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6. Theoretical framework
Theoretical framework
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7. Findings: themes identified from literature
• Social network theory
• Networking behaviours
• The adoption of social
media tools
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8. • Weak ties
• Propagate information
flow
• Provide access to “new”
information
• Strong ties
• Mobilise on behalf of
individual
• Used by young people
entering labour market
Social network theory: tie strength
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9. Social network theory: social capital
• Embedded within
network
• Can determine
quality of job
information
received
• Young people from
poorer
backgrounds at
disadvantage
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10. Networking behaviours: job search
• Largely quantitative
approach
• Personality traits predict
networking behaviours
• No focus on:
• young people
• social media
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11. Networking behaviours: information behaviour
• Largely qualitative approach
• Networking "integral
information seeking
behaviour"
• Various barriers identified
• Relates to “opportunistic
information acquisition”
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12. The adoption of social media tools
• Channels for weak and
strong ties
• SNS associated with
higher levels of social
capital
• Personality traits, age and
gender all impact on
usage
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13. Wilson’s model: context of information need
• The literature shows:
• network composition is key
• young people reliant on “ascribed”
contacts
• To be explored:
• socio-economic context
• environmental context (city, rural
etc.)
• Role-related context
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14. Wilson’s model: intervening variables
• Enablers/barriers from literature:
• Social capital
• Personality traits
• Demographics
• Enablers/barriers to be explored:
• Attitudes/motivations
• Access issues
• Digital literacy
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15. Wilson’s model: information seeking behaviour
• The literature shows:
• Networking is key ISB
• Job search measures of
networking are arbitrary
• To be explored:
• Online networking behaviours
• Passive search behaviours
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16. Conclusion
• Networks are crucial in job search
• Extant networking research limited in its scope and
methods
• More needs to be understood about social media tools and
job search
• An information behaviour perspective using Wilson’s model
could be useful for further research
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17. References
• Bell, D., & Blanchflower, D. G. (2010). Young people and recession: A lost generation?. In Fifty-Second Panel Meeting
on Economic Policy, Einaudi Institute for Economics and Finance, October, 22-23.
• Beaudoin, C. E., & Tao, C. C. (2007). Benefiting from social capital in online support groups: An empirical study of
cancer patients. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 10(4), 587-590.
• Ellison, N. B., Steinfield, C., & Lampe, C. (2007). The benefits of Facebook “friends”: social capital and college
students’ use of online social network sites. Journal of Computer‐Mediated Communication, 12(4), 1143-1168.
• Finlay, I., Sheridan, M., McKay, J., & Nudzor, H. (2010). Young people on the margins: in need of more choices and
more chances in twenty‐first century Scotland. British Educational Research Journal, 36(5), 851–867.
• Gibson, C., H. Hardy III, J., & Ronald Buckley, M. (2014). Understanding the role of networking in organizations.
Career Development International, 19(2), 146-161.
• Granovetter, M. S. (1973). The strength of weak ties. American journal of sociology, 1360-1380.
• Granovetter, M. (1974). Getting a job. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
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18. References (2)
• Kietzmann, J. H., Hermkens, K., McCarthy, I. P., & Silvestre, B. S. (2011). Social media? Get serious! Understanding the
functional building blocks of social media. Business horizons, 54(3), 241-251.
• Ofcom (2014). Adults’ Media Use and Attitudes Report. [Online]. Available at:
http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/research/media-literacy/adults-2014/2014_Adults_report.pdf [Accessed 20th
February 2015].
• Smith, S. S. (2005). Don’t put my name on it: social capital activation and job‐finding assistance among the black urban
poor. American Journal of Sociology, 111(1), 1-57.
• Valenzuela, S., Park, N., & Kee, K. F. (2009). Is there social capital in a social network site?: Facebook use and college
students' life satisfaction, trust, and participation. Journal of Computer‐Mediated Communication, 14(4), 875-901.
• Verhaeghe, P.-P., Van der Bracht, K., & Van de Putte, B. (2015). Inequalities in social capital and their longitudinal
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• Wanberg, C. R., Kanfer, R., & Banas, J. T. (2000). Predictors and outcomes of networking intensity among unemployed
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• Wolff, H. G., & Kim, S. (2012). The relationship between networking behaviors and the Big Five personality dimensions.
Career Development International, 17(1), 43-66.
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