This is a presentation of interview findings which forms part of my PhD project, about how young people engage with their networks and use social media during job search to acquire information. The study was informed by Tom Wilson's model of information seeking (1981), and also included the use of the "name generator" approach to gather ego-net data. This facilitated the creation of ego-net visuals (or job search information networks), which were then analysed to understand the behaviours associated with networking during job search from a young persons perspective. It also provided evidence of how information acquired from people and organisations, both offline and via social media, can improve the quality of job search via access to higher levels of social capital.

1. Job search information behaviours: an ego-net
study of networking and social media use
amongst young jobseekers
Presented by: John Mowbray
Co authors: Professor Hazel Hall, Professor Robert Raeside, and Dr
Peter Robertson
Centre for Social Informatics, Edinburgh Napier University
i3 information: interactions and impact conference, Robert
Gordon University, Aberdeen, 27-30 June 2017
Tweet: @jmowb_napier
Email: j.mowbray@napier.ac.uk
Web: www.johnmowbray.org
1

2. Background
2

3. In the UK…
» 31% find their jobs
through a network contact
» 61% use social media
during the job search
» 79% of employers have a
social media presence
3

4. Literature
Review
4

5. The key concepts
are…
» Social networks
» Social capital
» Job search networking
» Social media adoption
5

6. 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 young
jobseekers during the job search
process?
6

7. Methodology
7

8. Three-stage exploratory design
Qualitative (interviews, focus group)
Quantitative (survey questionnaire)
Qualitative (focus group)
“...identify important variables to study quantitatively (...)
or to explore a phenomenon in-depth and measure its
prevalence (Cresswell & Clark, 2006, p.59)”.
8

9. Interviews were…
» Underpinned by Wilson’s
information-seeking
model
» Partly semi-structured, but
also…
» …used ego-net approach
to understand job search
networking
9

10. Framework
10
Job search networking
Adapted from Wilson’s 1981 information-seeking behaviour model (1999, p.252)

11. Ego-net data
gathered by…
» Name generator approach
» Asking about people &
organisations who provide
job search information
» Further probing questions
i.e. What, How, When?
11

12. 12
Qualitative data…
» Was analysed using
content analysis
» Networking data also
quantified and used to
create ego-net visuals
» Ego-net visuals called
“Job search information
networks”

13. Names Age Sex Location Education Status
Ashley 17 Female Edinburgh No qualifications Unemployed
Craig 17 Male Edinburgh No qualifications Unemployed
Michael 17 Male Moray National 4 Unemployed
Ross 19 Male Fife Higher National
Diploma
Full-time student
Steve 20 Male Fife Higher National
Diploma
Full-time student
Simon 23 Male Renfrewshire MSc Employed
Suzanne 24 Female Glasgow MSc Employed
Sample
13

14. Names Age Sex Location Education Status
Ashley 17 Female Edinburgh No qualifications Unemployed
Craig 17 Male Edinburgh No qualifications Unemployed
Michael 17 Male Moray National 4 Unemployed
Ross 19 Male Fife Higher National
Diploma
Full-time student
Steve 20 Male Fife Higher National
Diploma
Full-time student
Simon 23 Male Renfrewshire MSc Employed
Suzanne 24 Female Glasgow MSc Employed
Sample
14

15. Results:
Ross
15

16. 16
Ross in context…
» HND student planning
university next year
» Job searched daily
» Wanted internship in
industry or “back-up”
summer job
If you don’t have
experience you will
struggle to get a
job in the software
industry

17. 17
Blue = social media
Red = offline
= both
= formal contact
= informal contact
= formal & informal
= jobseeker
= passive info
= active info

18. 18
Ross acquired
information
about…
» Practical skills (15)
» Industry and job roles (19)
» Contacts and leads (2)
» Job opportunities (16)
I feel like it’s
continuous. If you
go on Twitter or
Facebook, you see
a post that might
interest you.

19. Results:
Steve
19

20. 20
Steve in
context…
» HND student planning
university next year
» Job “every so often”
» Wanted summer job
I’m pretty good for
money. I get
student loans. But
it would be ideal to
make my own
money. That’s
more secure

21. 21
Blue = social media
Red = offline
= formal contact
= informal contact
= jobseeker
= passive info

22. 22
Steve acquired
information
about…
» Practical skills (1)
» Industry and job roles
(3)
» Job opportunities (3)
There’s been a few
times I’ve been
scrolling past and
there are basic
entry level jobs for
games design

23. Results:
Barriers
23

24. 24
I didn’t even think
about using social
media until they
mentioned it
I don’t know what
to do when you
don’t know anyone.
I don’t get the
internet unless I’m
here. So I don’t get
to go on anything
social barrier
situational barrier
intrapersonal barrier

25. Discussion
25

26. 26
Context of information
need
» Situational context (proximity of
contacts) directs networking
behaviours
» Therefore social capital
accessed is largely ascribed in
nature (e.g. family contacts)
» Intrapersonal factors (e.g.
motivation) also have key
bearing on job search
networking

27. Information
behaviour (i.e. job
search networking)
» Includes active and passive
modes of search/acquisition
» Often sporadic and
unplanned
» Multiple information types
which potentially impact job
search quality throughout
process
27

28. 28
Information
behaviour (the role
of social media)
» Have a potentially profound
informational impact where
appropriated for networking
» Aids the development/use of
weak ties
» Can provide access to
higher level of
(informational) social capital
28

29. 29
Conclusion
» Networking is an important information behaviour during
job search, potentially impacting its quality
» Active job search networking varies substantially, mediated
by contextual factors and a variety of additional barriers
» Social media has the potential to provide access to a
larger network of weak ties and (informational) social
capital

30. Thank you
for listening!
30

31. 31
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