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The challenge on job hunting in the

Information Age

Raiders of the Large SalaryDaina BuchnerKate FitzgibbonDevonne FowlkesAntonn Harden Jr.Will Norris

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Defining the Problem Space

The Situation:

Job-hunting is a complex process further complicated by the economic downturn in 2008 that resulted in a high unemployment in many countries, including the U.S.

For many job seekers, a great search effort does not yield a job.

Why is this happening? Areas of InquiryHow can technologies be leveraged to

better job job seekers?

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What We (Think) We Know

The use of the Internet helps…

The use of Internet-based tools was been found to reduce an individual’s unemployment time by roughly 25 percent

However, only 20 percent of job seekers use the Internet for informal networking purposes.

…but so does Networking

Job seekers who spend more time networking, regardless of their use of other job search tactics, receive more job offers.

Yet, the composition of the network may have more to do with job search success than the mere use of it.

Social networks comprised of higher status individuals in terms of education and occupation provide “job seekers with more valuable job information” and “increase the likelihood of employment.

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Our Research Agenda

Four Key Questions

Target Audience: Who is our target job seeker, beyond being recent college graduates or professionals in transition?

Conventional Wisdom: How did they look for a job?

Best Practices: According to job providers, what should people do to look for a job?

Performance Gap Analysis: Why do job seekers engage in suboptimal job-hunting activities?

MethodsObservations Interviews Survey

5 10 48

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Who is our target user?Key Findings Personas

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Who is our target user?Key Findings Spectrums

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How do they look for a job?Key Findings

They are more likely to use the Internet for research purposes…

…but they get richer information by talking to people

“I learned more by talking to a colleague about what it meant to be a Product Manager than by reading a hundred PRODUCT MANAGER job postings.”

- Job Seeker

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Click Submit, Then QuitKey Findings

64%36% Yes

No

Do you follow up after you submit a job application?

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What SHOULD You Do?Key Findings

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Man vs. MachineKey Findings

How Did You Get Your Last Jobs?

41.5%

58.5%

Online Application

Another Person*

* Includes personal network, referrals, and recruiters

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No Time to be BashfulKey Findings

Where have you shared your desire to find a (new) job?

Facebook

Twitter

LinkedIn

Did not post publicly

16.7%

2.1%

8.3%

72.9%

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Suboptimal Job Hunting BehaviorKey Findings

ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS

Prolonged Job Search

Overreliance on Internet-based Job Search Aids

Why?

Poor Task Management

Outdated understanding of what they need to do

Lack of motivation to consistently assert effort

Reluctance to ask people for help

More value placed on the number of applications than the quality of each application

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Nepotism vs. PragmatismKey Findings

You are more likely to find a job through a friend than someone you know

Agree

Disagree

68.1%

31.9%

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Working Hard or Working Smart?Key Findings

How many hours a week did you spend on the following?

0-1 hours 1-2 hours 2-3 hours 3-4 hours Over 4 hours

6%

29%

15%

27%

21%

31%

25%

17%

8%

17%

Reviewing Job Post-ings

Networking

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An Emotional RollercoasterKey Findings

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What We Know…NowDiscussion

OLD THINKING REVISED THINKING

The Internet is a beneficial job research tool

Expand its use for networking and self-promotional purpose

But, it’s no substitute for human interaction, even when just doing research on companies and job responsibilities

Networking leads to more job offers

But you need to activate your loosely connected network (i.e, NOT friends and family) by wearing your employment goals on your sleeveAnd ignore the false promise the your friends/family provide the best source of job leads