One in five jobseekers does not tell anyone they are job-hunting, an online YouGov survey of nearly 2,000 British adults has revealed. According to social career network BraveNewTalent.com, who commissioned the study, they are missing a trick.
The study revealed that the older jobseekers are, the less likely they are to share their job plans. While 7% of 18-24 year olds are prone to secrecy, this rises to over a third (36%) of those aged 55 years and over.
The survey also found that personal contacts are still one of the most effective ways to secure a new position. It discovered that 62% of online people have recommended a job to a family member, friend or colleague. Of those known to have applied, 57% landed the job.
Surprisingly, only 1 in 10 said they used online social networks to put the word out that they are looking for a job. This is despite the fact that a separate survey has found out that a growing number of employers (up to 98%) say they are using or will use social networks for recruitment*.
According to Charlie Duff, community manager at BraveNewTalent.com, the career social network used by companies like Tesco, Starbucks and IBM to build communities of potential employees, jobseekers are missing a trick.
“We know that 800 million people worldwide now use Facebook** and more and more employers are turning towards social networks to look for job candidates. So by not putting the word out online, people are losing out on a host of potential opportunities.”
The US has seen nearly a 50% increase in the number of people finding employment through social networks. A 2011 survey of 1,205 job candidates by jobs board Jobvite found that 16% of jobseekers found their current job through a social network, compared to 11% in 2010.
“Very often, where the US goes, we soon follow,” adds Charlie. “So we can expect many more people in the UK to find jobs through social media websites in the near future. There is obviously a growing need for a social network purely for professional networking: BraveNewTalent.com is exactly that.”
In order to help people make the most of their social networks, BraveNewTalent.com has created Talent Connections, a tool which helps jobseekers find career opportunities through their personal network and to keep their professional and private lives separate. It shows people where their friends work, opening up opportunities for referrals and introductions and providing useful information about potential employers.
Talent Connections shows a jobseeker which organisations their friends and second degree connections reach, and allows them to make contact, or request an introduction. They can then stay in touch with employers until a suitable opportunity comes up.
