Survey: Facebook is nearly twice as successful over Linkedin for getting hired

By Mike Flacy November 19, 2011

Facebook-founder-Mark-Zuckerberg-hi-res

According to a recent survey of approximately 1,200 adults conducted by recruiting software company JobVite, Facebook is the dominant platform for searching job listings and finding employment. While over half of job seekers used at least one social network to search for a new job, Facebook is the clear favorite for proactive and active job seekers with over 18 million Americans crediting Facebook for getting hired. Proactive job seekers are described as employed, but open to a new job and active job seekers are described as employed or unemployed, but actively looking for a job. The study also identifies users that have more than 150 contacts on any social network as a “Super Social” job seeker.

When JobVite asked only the people that successfully used a social network to find a job, about 78 percent stated that Facebook led to landing their most current job while only 40 percent gave LinkedIn that credit. Even Twitter ranked higher than LinkedIn at 42 percent. When the same question was directed at the Super Socials, the percent of users that landed a job with Facebook when up to 85 percent. Regarding job referrals, 42 percent of respondents credited Facebook with quality referrals, 34 percent choose Twitter and 25 percent picked LinkedIn.

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The study also found that proactive job seekers are typically in a better position to find a new job than active job seekers as the group took more care in paying attention to social networks. Proactive job seekers ranked higher with updating profiles more frequently, getting job referrals, making new professional connections and sharing job opportunities with a contact on a social network. Specific to Facebook job seekers, 64 percent are under 40 years old, 56 percent are male, 42 percent are college graduates and 36 percent earn a yearly salary of more than $75,000. In addition, 37 percent of Facebook users are identified as Super Social and have more than 150 professional contacts on social networks.

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