Κατηγορία: Research

Research

Νέο άρθρο: Social Networking Web Sites in Job Search and Employee Recruitment

Ioannis NikolaouΣχολιάστε

Το ακόλουθο άρθρο που δημοσιεύτηκε στο International Journal of Selection & Assessment περιγράφει τα αποτελέσματα δύο ερευνών που πραγματοποιήσαμε στην Ελλάδα πρόσφατα σχετικά με την χρήση των ιστοσελίδων κοινωνικής δικτύωσης στην εξεύρεση εργασίας (από τους υποψήφιους) και στην αναζήτηση-επιλογή των υποψηφίων (από τους recruiters).

Περίληψη:

The use of professionally and nonprofessionally oriented social networking Web sites (SNWs), such as LinkedIn and Facebook, has become widespread from both sides of the Atlantic. The current paper presents and discusses the results of two surveys conducted in Greece exploring the role of SNWs among employees–job seekers and recruiters–human resource professionals. The first study explores how SNWs are used during job search activities and the second how recruiters use them in the attraction recruitment and screening process. Special note is given in the relationship between SNWs and the more established Internet job boards. Our results showed that job seekers still seem to use job boards more extensively than SNWs. It is interesting to note that the association between LinkedIn usage and its effectiveness, on the one hand, and time spent on SNWs and LinkedIn effectiveness, on the other, is stronger for ‘passive’ candidates, demonstrating the important role of SNWs for attracting ‘passive’ candidates. HR professionals are more engaged in LinkedIn than Facebook and were considering the former as more effective than the latter in the recruitment process. The current study sheds more light in the use of SNWs, being one of the first studies conducted in a non-English speaking country.

Research

New paper published: The Role of Job Seekers’ Individual Characteristics on Job Seeking Behavior and Psychological Well-being

Ioannis NikolaouΣχολιάστε

The Role of Job Seekers’ Individual Characteristics on Job Seeking Behavior and Psychological Well-being

via International Journal of Selection and Assessment.

The job search process is considered a complex and intensive procedure requiring investment in time and effort on behalf of job seekers. Our study attempts to explore further the effects of a number of individual characteristics on job search behavior, effort, job search outcomes, as well as, on psychological well-being. We examined these relationships using a daily diary methodology with the participation of 79 recent university graduates–job seekers in Greece at the beginning of the recent financial crisis. Our results did not support the importance of these individual characteristics on job search behavior, effort, and job search outcomes, but it supported their role of daily psychological well-being, especially their self-esteem. We discuss implications for job seekers to cultivate these skills that are related to these individual characteristics helpful in maintaining a positive psychological state during the job search period.

Research

New paper published: Exploring the role of social influence in promise beliefs and information acquisition among newcomers

Ioannis NikolaouΣχολιάστε

This study investigates the role of social influence in newcomer promise beliefs and promise-related information by co-workers. During their first month on the job, 85 new recruits completed both a one-shot questionnaire and a diary booklet for 10 consecutive workdays. We examined two information sources: contract makers (e.g., managers) and facilitators (e.g., senior colleagues). Two information-gathering processes that newcomers use were also assessed: direct communications and monitoring. Newcomer’s reciprocation ideologies (creditor ideology and reciprocation wariness) were also assessed. Participants reported daily the promises received along with their sources and the information-gathering processes involved. A total of 601 promissory interactions were assessed. Analysis using multilevel random coefficient modelling demonstrated the importance of line managers and direct communication in promise beliefs. Both reciprocation ideologies related negatively to employer promises. Implications for theory, research, and practice are discussed.

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/1359432X.2012.665227

Research

Job Search Depressing You? Try A Little Harder

Ioannis NikolaouΣχολιάστε

Όπως λέω πολύ συχνά τελευταία. Η αναζήτηση εργασίας είναι full-time job και απαιτεί ανθεκτικότητα, αντοχή (resilience) και υπομονή…

Το ακόλουθο άρθρο είναι από το Forbes:

A new study by Connie Wanberg, Associate Dean at the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management and three other academics, takes a look at what happens to people’s mental health when they lose their jobs, and how their mental states fare in the 20 weeks that follow. From a low right after getting laid off, most people experience a steady improvement in their sense of well-being. Then, if they haven’t found a job 10-12 weeks into their search, the trend reverses and they start feeling rejected and depressed.

Wanberg tracked 177 unemployed  people over the course of 20 weeks by sending them weekly online surveys. Those who engaged in more intense job searches exhibited better mental health than those who were more relaxed about looking for work. The researchers measured mental health by asking respondents to rate themselves on a six-point scale in response to questions like, “have you felt downhearted and blue?”

The study, which is published in the current issue of The Academy of Management Journal, underlines what is most difficult about looking for a job. It is a lonely, unpredictable process with no rules, no guarantees, no supervision and a huge amount at stake. As Professor Wanberg writes in the paper, “Looking for a job is an unfolding task that is highly autonomous, self-organized, loosely structured, and ill-defined. Individuals must decide on their own how and how often to search, and they rarely receive feedback about the effectiveness of the job-search activities and the strategies they are using.” In other words, both motivation and reward must come from within. When rejections start to pile up, it can be incredibly difficult to keep slugging.

One intriguing statistic from the study: Though career professionals say that job seekers should treat their search like a full-time job, participants in the study spent only 17 hours a week on their search at the outset. That declined to 14 hours a week at week 15, and then ticked up slightly after that. The lesson here, say the researchers: Track the amount of time you spend on your search and bump up your effort if you find it lagging.

A piece of good news: even in this depressed job climate, 128 or 72% of the study participants found a job within the 20-week study period.

The biggest lessons from the study: Not only is finding a job in your own hands but so is your mental health, which is directly linked to your ability  to push ahead with your job search. Though looking for a job can be one of the toughest tasks in life, especially when you’re feeling down, it’s incredibly important to soldier on. Remaining jobless and not trying to find work takes a toll on self-esteem and overall mental health. Networking and going on informational interviews is horribly tough when you’re feeling low, but it pays off in self-esteem and ultimately, in your ability to land a job.

As I’ve written many times, job seekers should limit their time online and make an effort to get out and meet people face to face. Most people still find work through people they know.

Source: Forbes