Recent News

March 10, 2006

Social capital and career success

~ written by Celia D. Crossley, Celia D. Crossley & Associates, Ltd.

The key element we stress in job and career search is developing and utilizing a network of human resources for advise and information. Using your network is critical to finding a new job or making a career choice. This is further emphasized in two research studies, one recently published and Mark Granovetter's studies in his book Getting a Job.

In a recent study published in the Academy of Management Journal, 2001, Vol.44, No.2, 219 -237, the authors gathered data from 448 respondents all graduates of business, engineering or MBA programs with an average age of 35. The authors found that social capital is directly related to career success. The social networks that one develops and the associated access to information, resources and career sponsorship are related to the number of promotions, the current salary and a person's satisfaction in her career.

In Granovetter's research studies, he details how the informal sources for finding jobs versus formal sources such newspaper advertisements, are more the way in which professional and managerial people find work. In both studies, it was noted that the farther one is in relationship to the network source, family versus friend of a friend, the more likely the source can lead to a satisfying job.

What does all this mean in today's job market? The informal network and spanning your net far and wide is more important than ever. With 80 percent of the jobs available not published in any periodical, newspaper or even on the web, the network commands respect and attention in a job search or to further your career horizons. Reaching out for advice and information is the road to finding those jobs in the hidden, informal job market.

Celia D. Crossley & Associates provides guidance, coaching and consulting to organizations and individuals. crosworks@aol.com