Job Search Strategies of University Graduates: Prevalence and Effectiveness

Job Search Strategies of University Graduates:
Prevalence and Effectiveness


Varshavskaya E.Ya.

Dr. Sci. (Econ.), Prof., Department of Organizational Behavior and Human Resources Management, Graduate School of Business, HSE University, Moscow, Russia evarshavskaya@hse.ru

ID of the Article: 7735


For citation:

Varshavskaya E.Ya. Job Search Strategies of University Graduates: Prevalence and Effectiveness. Sotsiologicheskie issledovaniya [Sociological Studies]. 2019. No 7. P. 56-66




Abstract

The article is aimed to analyze the prevalence and the relative effectiveness of job search methods and strategies by Russian universities graduates. Empirical analysis is carried out on sample data from the federal survey of Russian university graduates who completed their studies in 2010–2015 embracing 20 551 graduates. Our results show that the most common job search strategies are combined, including both formal and informal methods, as well as relatives’ and friends’ help and/or direct contact with possible employers. Average of search channels used is 3. More vulnerable graduate groups use more job search channels. Most effective strategies include job search with the help of relatives and friends, direct contacting enterprises and assistance of educational organizations. According to the results, the job search strategies choice and the popularity of search channels are mainly connected with total effectiveness of these search methods. The main determinant in the search channels choice is the expected return in terms of, above all, probability of finding a job. This fact confirms the rationality of the search strategies choice.


Keywords
job search; graduate labor market; school-to-work transition; higher education

References

Васильев Д.С., Рощин С.Ю., Солнцев С.А. Эволюция технологий поиска работы на рынке труда в интернетэпоху. Препринт WP15/2016/02. М.: ВШЭ, 2016. [Vasilyev D., Roshchin S., Solntsev S. (2016) Evolution of Job Search and Recruiting in the Internet Age. Working paper WP15/2016/02. Moscow: VShE. (In Russ.)]

Государственные и частные службы занятости на рынке труда / Под ред. В. Кабалиной, И. Козиной. М.: РОССПЭН, 2000. [Kabalina V., Kozina I. (eds) (2000) Public and Private Employment Services on Labour Market. Moscow: ROSSPEN. (In Russ.)]

Козина И.М. Реструктурирование рынка труда и каналы мобильности // Занятость и поведение домохозяйств: адаптация к условиям перехода к рыночной экономике в России / Под ред. В. Кабалиной, С. Кларка. М.: РОССПЭН, 1999. С. 172–200. [Kozina I. (1999) Labor Market Restructuring and Mobility Channels. In: Kabalina V., Clarke S. (eds) Employment and Household Behavior: Adaptation to the Transition to a Market Economy in Russia. Moscow: ROSSPEN: 172–200. (In Russ.)]

Матвеенко В.Д., Савельев П.А. Стратегии поиска работы на российском рынке труда и роль государственной службы занятости // Социальная политика: реалии XXI века. Вып. 2. М.: Поматур, 2004. С. 65–103. [Matveenko V., Savelev P. (2004) Job Search Strategies in the Russian Labor Market and the Role of the Public Employment Service. In: Social Policy: The Realities of the XXI Century. Iss. 2. Moscow: Pomatur: 65–103. (In Russ.)]

Рощин С.Ю., Маркова К.В. Выбор каналов поиска работы на российском рынке труда. М.: EERC, 2004. [Roshchin S., Markova K. (2004) Choice among Different Job Search Channels: The Evidence from Russian Labor Market. Moscow: EERC. (In Russ.)]

Якубович В. Институты, социальные сети и рыночный обмен: подбор работников и рабочих мест в России // Экономическая социология: новые подходы к институциональному и сетевому анализу / Под ред. В. Радаева. М.: РОССПЭН, 2002. С. 210–251. [Yakubovich V. (2002) Institutes, Social Networks and Market Exchange: The Selection of Workers and Jobs in Russia. In: Radaev V. (ed.) Economic Sociology: New Approaches to Institutional and Network Analysis. Moscow: ROSSPEN: 210–251. (In Russ.)]

Albert C., Davia M. (2018) Job Search Strategies and Underemployment in Recent Graduates First Jobs in Spain. Revista de Economía Aplicada. Vol. 26. No. 78: 1–21.

Blázquez M., Mora T. (2010) Overeducation and Job Mobility: Evidence from Young Recent Graduates in Catalonia. Revista de Economia Laboral. Vol. 7. No.1: 63–83.

Carroll D., Tani M. (2015) Job Search as a Determinant of Graduate Over-education: Evidence from Australia. Education Economics. Vol. 23. No. 5: 631–644. DOI: 10.1080/09645292.2014.908164.

Franzen A., Hangartner D. (2006) Social Networks and Labour Market Outcomes: The Non-monetary Benefits of Social Capital. European Sociological Review. Vol. 22. No. 4: 353–368. DOI: 10.1093/esr/jcl001.

Jackson D. (2014) Factors Influencing Job Attainment in Recent Bachelor Graduates: Evidence from Australia. Higher Education. Vol. 68. No. 1: 135–153. DOI: 10.1007/s10734-013-9696-7.

Mau W.C., Kopischke A. (2001) Job Search Methods, Job Search Outcomes, and Job Satisfaction of College Graduates: A Comparison of Race and Sex. Journal of Employment Counseling. Vol. 38. No. 3: 141–149.

McGuinness S., Whelan A., Bergin A. (2016) Is There a Role for Higher Education Institutions in Improving the Quality of First Employment? The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis and Policy. Vol. 16. No. 4: 12–23. DOI: 10.1515/bejeap-2016-0174.

Piróg D. (2016) Job Search Strategies of Recent University Graduates in Poland: Plans and Effectiveness. Higher Education. Vol. 71. No. 4: 557–573. DOI: 10.1007/s10734-015-9923-5.

Sagen H., Dallam J., Laverty J. (1999) Job Search Techniques as Employment Channels: Differential Effects on the Initial Employment Success of College Graduates. The Career Development Quarterly. Vol. 48. No. 1: 74–85. DOI: 10.1002/j.2161-0045.1999.tb00276.x.

Schomburg H., Teichler U. (2006) Higher Education and Graduate Employment in Europe. Results from Graduates’ Surveys from Twelve Countries. Dordrecht: Springer.

Strayhorn T. (2008) Influences on Labor Market Outcomes of African American College Graduates: A National Study. The Journal of Higher Education. Vol. 79. No. 1: 28–57. DOI: 10.1080/00221546.2008.11772085.

Try S. (2005) The Use of Job Search Strategies among University Graduates. The Journal of Socio-Economics. Vol. 34. No. 2: 223–243. DOI: 10.1016/j.socec.2004.09.009.

Content No 7, 2019