Job search information behaviours: An ego-net study of networking amongst young job-seekers

Mowbray, John; Hall, Hazel; Raeside, Robert; Robertson, Peter J.

Abstract

Networking is considered an integral feature of job search, yet its behavioural manifestation has received little attention in the extant literature. Here this is addressed in a study of young job-seekers that adopted an egocentric network approach underpinned by Information Behaviour theory, with specific reference to Wilson's model of information needs and seeking. The analysis of data from semi-structured interviews reveals that job-seekers acquire a broad range of job search information from contacts in their networks, and that the contributions of such contacts extend beyond the sharing of job vacancy alerts. In addition, in cases where social media platforms are accessed by job-seekers, these facilitate crucial ties to industry contacts, and provide valuable informational opportunities to those who adopt them. These findings contribute to a widened understanding of the information behaviours that support the effective mobilisation of contacts within social networks during job search, and are of particular

Citation

Mowbray, J., Hall, H., Raeside, R., & Robertson, P. J. (2018). Job search information behaviours: An ego-net study of networking amongst young job-seekers. Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, 50(3), 239-253. https://doi.org/10.1177/0961000618769965

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 8, 2018
• Online Publication Date: May 9, 2018
• Publication Date: 2018-09
• Deposit Date: Jan 11, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 11, 2018
• Journal: Journal of Librarianship and Information Science
• Print ISSN: 0961-0006
• Electronic ISSN: 1741-6477
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 50
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 239-253
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0961000618769965
• Keywords: Employment; employability; information behavior theory; job-seekers; networking; policy; social capital; social media; social network analysis; young people
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/1025030
• Contract Date: Jan 11, 2018