Networking as a job search behaviour: A social network perspective

Although networking is typically recommended as a job search strategy in the popular press, research on networking as a job search behaviour is scarce. On the basis of social network theory, the present study investigated whether the structure and composition of job seekers' social network dete...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of occupational and organizational psychology 2009-09, Vol.82 (3), p.661-682
Main Authors: Van Hoye, Greet, van Hooft, Edwin A. J., Lievens, Filip
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Advertising
Biological and medical sciences
Conscientiousness
Employment
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Job hunting
Job loss
Job search
Job searching
Longitudinal studies
Networking
Occupational psychology
Occupations
Organizational behaviour
Psychology
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Social networks
Studies
Unemployment
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Summary:Although networking is typically recommended as a job search strategy in the popular press, research on networking as a job search behaviour is scarce. On the basis of social network theory, the present study investigated whether the structure and composition of job seekers' social network determined their networking behaviour and moderated its relationship with job search and employment outcomes. The data were collected in a large, representative sample of 1,177 unemployed Flemish job seekers, using a two‐wave longitudinal design. Job seekers with a larger social network and with stronger ties in their network spent more time networking, beyond individual differences in extraversion and conscientiousness. Networking explained incremental variance in job offers beyond job seekers' use of print advertising, the internet, and public employment services, but not in employment outcomes. Some evidence was found indicating that networking might be more effective for job seekers whose social network contains weaker and higher‐status ties.
ISSN:0963-1798
2044-8325
DOI:10.1348/096317908X360675