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2011 Jobvite Job Seeker Nation Study
Methodology
The Polling Company, Inc. on behalf of Jobvite conducted a nationwide online omnibus survey of 1,205 adults (age 18+). The survey was fielded October 24-27, 2011; it included questions on current employment status and the use of social networks to find job opportunities.
Respondents for this survey were selected from an opt-in panel and had expressed prior consent to participate in online surveys such as this. Data were weighted so the demographics of this audience closely match the nationwide population of adults (age 18+) with respect to gender, age and region.
The first substantive question determined respondents’ employment situation and attitude toward future employment opportunities, thereby screening out non-employed, non-job seekers. This included those who were retired, and students and unemployed persons who said they are not looking for a job in the next year. This narrowed the sample size from 2,049 to 1,205 for the remaining four substantive inquiries on respondents’ behavior with respect to social networking and their most recent job search. Of the 1,205 adults completing the remainder of the survey, 831 were deemed to be “job seekers,” or individuals open to or actively pursuing a position.
When sample is based on a self-selected population and not a probability sample (in which everyone in the population has a non-zero chance of being selected), no conclusions can be drawn with respect to sampling error.
Audiences Defined
This report frequently compares the responses of various segments of the overall population participating in the survey. The following definitions are used throughout the report.
2 in 5 adults in the U.S. are open to or seeking a new job
Which of the following best describes your current employment situation, as well as your attitude toward a new job?
41%
TOTAL JOB SEEKERS
21% I Am Employed and Open to a New Job
12% I Am Unemployed and Currently Seeking a Job
8% I Am Employed but Currently Seeking a New Job
39%
TOTAL NON-JOB SEEKERS
22% I Am Retired
11% I Am Unemployed and Currently Not Seeking a Job
7% I Am a Student
18%
AM EMPLOYED AND NOT OPEN TO A NEW JOB
2%
PREFER NOT TO ANSWER
61% of employees are actively seeking or open to a new job
Which of the following best describes your current employment situation, as well as your attitude toward a new job?
Social network use is growing among the workforce
77%
31%
34%
Proactive Job Seekers using all networks at higher rates
Social network use by three segments of the workforce.
Facebook users build the largest networks of contacts
Approximately how many contacts do you have in each online social network? (All job seekers)
Proactive Job Seekers build larger networks on LinkedIn and Twitter
Approximately how many contacts do you have in each online social network?
Building substantial networks of contacts
Approximately how many contacts do you have in each online social network?
Super Socials use LinkedIn at higher rates than other segments
Social network use by Super Socials, job seekers with over 150 contacts on any network.
Referrals top the list of job finding resources —
and social networks move up
Which of the following resources did you use that directly led to finding your current/most recent job?
(Multiple responses from the entire workforce.)
Facebook most frequently led to current job
Which of the following online social networks did you use that directly led to finding your current/most recent job? (Multiple responses from the entire workforce; asked only of those who said social networks led to most recent job.)
Super Socials more engaged in using social networks for the job hunt
Which of the following online social networks did you use that directly led to finding your current/most recent job? (Multiple responses; asked only of those who said social networks led to their most recent job.)
Proactive Job Seekers more engaged with LinkedIn and Twitter as job resources
Which of the following online social networks did you use that directly led to finding your current/most recent job? (Multiple responses; asked only of those who said social networks led to their most recent job.)
Social network referrals are highly productive for job seekers
Job seekers who received job referrals on a social network — and credited that network with their most recent job.
Most likely to update Facebook with professional information? Super Socials.
Who has updated their Facebook profile with professional information in the last 12 months?
Job seekers are beginning to change online visibility with work in mind
Job seekers who modified privacy settings in the last year with work in mind.
Job Seekers are actively mining social networks for opportunity
Which career supporting/job hunting activities did you complete with each network in the last 12 months? Responses from all job seekers.
Proactive Job Seekers better positioned for success than Active Job Seekers
| Proactive Job Seekers |
Active Job Seekers |
|
| Updated profile with professional information | ||
| 24% | 17% | |
| 17% | 14% | |
| 14% | 7% | |
| Got a job referral | ||
| 18% | 14% | |
| 10% | 9% | |
| 7% | 4% | |
| Made new professional connections | ||
| 26% | 13% | |
| 17% | 8% | |
| 10% | 8% | |
| Shared a job opportunity with a contact | ||
| 22% | 12% | |
| 12% | 8% | |
| 9% | 8% | |
Super Socials use networks more for the job hunt
Which career supporting/job hunting activities did you complete with each network in the
last 12 months?
| All Job Seekers |
Super Job Seekers |
|
| Updated profile with professional information | ||
| 20% | 35% | |
| 15% | 58% | |
| 8% | 35% | |
| Got a job referral | ||
| 16% | 25% | |
| 9% | 43% | |
| 6% | 32% | |
| Made new professional connections | ||
| 20% | 34% | |
| 13% | 35% | |
| 9% | 36% | |
| Shared a job opportunity with a contact | ||
| 20% | 30% | |
| 8% | 36% | |
| 7% | 27% | |
Secrets of the Super Socials
Which career supporting/job hunting activities did you complete in a social network in the last 12 months? Those with 150+ contacts.
Career Supporting Activities
| Updated profile with professional information | 46% |
| Provided your profile on a job application or during an interview | 25% |
| Searched for jobs | 37% |
| Had contact with a recruiter | 25% |
| Connected with a potential employer | 29% |
| Modified privacy settings with work in mind | 41% |
Contact Development Activities
| A contact shared a job opportunity | 36% |
| A contact referred me for a job | 34% |
| A contact provided an employee’s perspective on a company | 30% |
| I asked a contact for help with a job search /career advice | 35% |
| I made new professional connections | 45% |
| I shared a job opportunity with a contact | 40% |
A closer look at Proactive Job Seeker demographics
About the Proactive Job Seekers — employed but open to a new job.
A closer look at Super Social Job Seeker demographics
About the Super Socials - those with over 150 contacts in any social network.
