Social Media for the workplace & progression March 2014
Snapshot
Snapshot Social media websites are used for work purposes across a significant proportion of professionals both in the US and in the UK US professionals are more engaged and are making the most use of social media within their working life cycle; not just at work but also to find new job roles Sharing knowledge via social media websites is used more commonly in the US than in the UK US professionals feel social media helps them being influential within their own organisation Social media websites play a significant role in making it easier to collaborate with people outside the workers own organization There is a widespread recognition of the fact that engaging in social media is an inevitable progression of the job market In the US workers are more career orientated and focused on growing professionally than in the UK 3
Management summary
Management summary social media and work 45% use social media websites for work purposes 1 in 5 use social media websites to look for a job engaging in social media is an inevitable progression of the job market for 1 in 2 perceptions around social media websites 7 in 10 separate between private and professional use of social media 1 in 2 reckons they ease collaboration with people outside organization 1 in 2 are given meaningful connections through social media social media play an important role in work done for 1 in 3 use social media websites for keeping in touch with people 58% keeping up to date with news 1 in 2 use it outside own organisation 1 in 3 use it inside own organisation 5
UK vs. US comparison use social media websites for working purposes use social media websites to look for a job have been approached on social media websites about a job are more inclined to apply for a job based on comments read on social media use social media websites to find out about organisations considered for work constantly seeking out for opportunities to learn new things and develop skills use social media websites to share knowledge with others social media makes it easier to collaborate within own organisation 38% 5 19% 24% 18% 29% 18% 27% VS. 19% 27% 56% 79% 39% 47% 24% 34% use social media websites for working purposes use social media websites to look for a job have been approached on social media websites about a job are more inclined to apply for a job based on comments read on social media use social media websites to find out about organisations considered for work constantly seeking out for opportunities to learn new things and develop skills use social media websites to share knowledge with others social media makes it easier to collaborate within own organisation 6
been approached on a job look for a job UK in a snapshot Usage of social media for work 62% Never 1 Several times a day 4% 2%4% 4% Once a week Less often than once a week 12% Perceptions around social media websites % Keep separate personal and professional use 72% Makes it easier to collaborate with people outside organisation 53% Gives me meaningful connections with people I would otherwise not know 50% Plays an important role in the work I do 32% Helps me to be more responsive to my customers/clients 3 Access during work allows to do job effectively 28% Allows to discuss aspects of work I would not discuss 26% Makes it easier to collaborate within organisation 24% Helps me be influential inside organisation 19% Top 5 activities done on social media websites for work Keep up to date with news 58% Usage of social media websites for job hunting 19% Yes Vs. Keep in touch with people outside my organisation Build my professional network Share knowledge with others 48% 40% 39% No 80% 18% Yes Learn more about areas of interest 37% No 8 7
been approached on a job look for a job US in a snapshot Usage of social media for work 49% Never 17% Several times a day Less often than once a week 13% 5% 6% 3% 6% Perceptions around social media websites % Keep separate personal and professional use 75% Makes it easier to collaborate with people outside organisation 55% Gives me meaningful connections with people I would otherwise not know 52% Helps me to be more responsive to my customers/clients 38% Makes it easier to collaborate within organisation 34% Plays an important role in the work I do 3 Access during work allows to do job effectively 3 Helps me be influential inside organisation 26% Allows to discuss aspects of work I would not discuss 23% Top 5 activities done on social media websites for work Keep up to date with news Keep in touch with people outside my organisation 48% 58% Usage of social media websites for job hunting No 75% 24% Yes Vs. Share knowledge with others Learn more about areas of interest 47% 45% 29% Yes Build my professional network 42% 70% No 8
Attitudes towards career progress
Attitudes towards career progression Practical experience is worth more on a CV than qualifications, accreditations or certifications I m constantly seeking out opportunities to learn new things and develop my skills % NET agree 56% 63% 66% 79% I know exactly where I want my career to be in five years time, and how I m going to get there If my employer doesn t offer me progression within an acceptable timeframe, I d prefer to move on rather than wait longer than I want to When I take part in personal development, the ability to add value to my CV is more important than the knowledge or skills I acquire My development isn t my responsibility, it s 8% something my employer should lead 5% 13% 14% 26% 34% 40% 55% 10 Base: All working adults UK (1,008), All US (1,407) Q80: To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements?
Usage of social media for work purposes
Frequency of usage of social media for work purposes 62% Never Net daily 15% 1 Several times a day 4% 2% 4% Once a week 4% Less often than once a week 12% 49% Never Net daily 13% 17% Several times a day 23% 4 to 6 days a week Less often than once a week 2 to 3 days a week 5% 6% 3% 6% 12 Base: All working adults UK (1,008), All US (1,407) Q230: How often, if at all do you use social media services for work purposes?
Usage of social media for work purposes employment breakdown % users of social media for work 38% average 5 average Third sector (69) 32% (145) 52% Public sector (228) 32% (264) 56% Private sector - profit (706) 40% (959) 50% No mgmt responsibilities (272) 27% (205) 49% Junior management (179 34% (103 48% Middle management (120) 44% (183) 6 Senior management (206) 62% (441) 64% Self employed (143) 62% (283) 57% Part time (219) 29% (253) 44% Full time (789) 4 (1,154) 53% 13 Base: All UK (1,008), All US (1,407) Q230: How often, if at all do you use social media services for work purposes?
Activities done on social media for work purposes Keep up to date with news Keep in touch with people outside my organisation Build my professional network Share knowledge with others Learn more about areas of interest Keep in touch with people inside my organisation Build the profile of my employer/ organisation Build my own reputation Look for new job opportunities Generate revenue for my employer/ organisation Other 48% 48% 40% 42% 39% 47% 37% 45% 29% 38% 26% 23% 25% 2 23% 20% 12% 15% 8% 6% 58% 58% 14 Base: All using social media for work purposes UK (399), US (730) Q270: For which, if any, of the following reasons do you use social media for work purposes?
Perceptions around social media and work
Perceptions around social media at workplace I separate my personal use of social media from my professional use % NET agree 72% 75% Social media makes it easier to collaborate with people outside my organization Social media gives me meaningful connections with people I would otherwise not know Social media plays an important role in the work I do Social media helps me to be more responsive to my customers/clients I need to access social media during work to allow me to do my job effectively Social media allows me to discuss aspects of my work I would otherwise not discuss Social media makes it easier to collaborate within my organisation Social media helps me be influential inside my organisation 32% 3 3 38% 28% 3 26% 23% 24% 34% 19% 26% 53% 55% 50% 52% 16 Base: All using social media for work purposes UK (399), US (730) Q280: Thinking about using social media for work purposes, to what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements?
Engaging in social media is an inevitable progression of the job market - agreement 12% Tend to disagree 7% Strongly disagree 7% Net agree 50% 13% Strongly agree 1 Tend to disagree 7% 3% 16% Strongly Strongly disagree Net agree 53% agree Neither agree nor disagree 24% 37% Tend to agree 26% Neither agree nor disagree 38% Tend to agree 17 Base: All UK (1,008), All US (1,407) Q310: To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
Usage of social media for job hunting
Have you been approached about a new job via a social media website? Have you looked for a job via a social media website? Social media usage for job hunting reactive and proactive 19% Yes 24% Yes No 80% No 75% In the US social media are used more proactively to find a job 18% Yes 29% Yes No 8 No 70% 19 Base: All working adults who ever used social media UK (813), US (1,201) Q500: Thinking about social media websites, such as LinkedIn, GlassDoor etc, have you ever looked for a job or been approached about a new job on a social media website?
Usage of social media website to find out about organisations considered for new role 19% Yes, used No, not used 8 27% Yes, used 73% No, not used 20 Base: All working adults UK (1,008), US (1,407) Q600: Have you ever used a social media website to find out about an organization you were considering working at?
Influence of comments read on social media on applying for a job MORE inclined to apply LESS inclined to apply MORE +10 18% 8% MORE +16 27% 1 No difference 53% 46% Never applied for a job 2 17% 21 Base: All working adults who have been looking for a job/been approached on a job UK (209), US (368) Q610: Was your decision to apply for a job influenced by comments you have read on social media about the employer?
Influence of comments read on social media on accepting a job offer Never ben offered a job No difference LESS inclined to accept MORE inclined to accept 3 5 6% 13% MORE +7 24% 53% 7% 16% MORE +9 22 Base: All working adults who have been looking for a job/been approached on a job UK (209), US (368) Q620: Was your decision to accept a job offer influenced by comments you have read on social media about the employer?
Importance of social media as a job seeking tool 5% Very important 9% 40% Not at all important 32% 23 Base: All working adults UK (1,008), US (1,407) Q630: Overall, how important, if at all, do you think social media is as a job seeking tool?
Activities done on LinkedIn in last month Professional networking Keeping in touch generally Joining a group of professionals in my sector Promoting myself Job search Promoting my company/organization Joining a discussion Hiring Other None of these 37% 36% 35% 29% 23% 23% 20% 16% 1 19% 4% 4% 2% 8% 8% 59% 56% 5 69% 25 Base: All working adults who are active users of LinkedIn UK (234), US (480) Q720: Which of the following, if any, do you use LinkedIn for?
Perceptions around LinkedIn % NET agree I think LinkedIn will prove to be a useful tool when looking for future employment 53% 59% The majority of my contacts on LinkedIn are in the same industry that I work 47% 55% I think having a LinkedIn account is very useful for my career 38% 49% The majority of my contacts on LinkedIn are non-work related 1 20% 26 Base: All working adults who are active users of LinkedIn UK (234), US (480) Q780: To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements?
Appendix Usage of social media for job hunting
Social media usage to LOOK for a job employment breakdown % Yes 19% average 24% average Third sector (51) 24% (130) 27% Public sector (189) 13% (236) 23% Private sector - profit (570) 20% (803) 24% No mgmt responsibilities (211) 15% (183) 33% Junior management (153) 16% (89) 28% Middle management (98) 3 (166) 27% Senior management (170) 24% (373) 2 Self employed (119) 25% (230) 20% Part time (174) 17% (210) 19% Full time (639) 20% (991) 25% 28 Base: All working adults who ever used social media (813), US (1,201) Q500: Thinking about social media websites, such as LinkedIn, GlassDoor etc, have you ever looked for a job?
Social media usage for been APPROACHED ON employment breakdown % Yes 18% average 29% average Third sector (51) 17% (130) 27% Public sector (189) 7% (236) 2 Private sector - profit (570) 2 (803) 3 No mgmt responsibilities (211) 13% (183) 30% Junior management (153) 16% (89) 32% Middle management (98) 3 (166) 38% Senior management (170) 26% (373) 35% Self employed (119) 23% (230) 28% Part time (174) 7% (210) 23% Full time (639) 22% (991) 30% 29 Base: All working adults who ever used social media (813), US (1,201) Q500: Thinking about social media websites, such as LinkedIn, GlassDoor etc, have you ever been approached about a new job on a social media website?
Social media used to LOOK for a job An in-house platform for my organization 2 22% 5% 12% 2% 1 5% 4% 5% 8% 3% 6% 2% 3% 3% 2% 68% 73% Number 1 social media website used to look for a job Don t know/can t remember Other 2% < 1 10% 2% 8% 30 Base: All working adults who looked for a job on social media UK (160), US (281) Q510: Which of the following social media websites have you used to LOOK for a job?
Users of LinkedIn who LOOK for a job employment breakdown 68% average 73% average Third sector (12) Base too low to show (36)* 90% Public sector (25)* 59% (46)* 44% Private sector - profit (121) 69% (192) 78% No mgmt responsibilities (36)* 7 (56) 85% Junior management (28)* 72% (25)* 72% Middle management (32)* 80% (43)* 86% Senior management (40*) 72% (76) 69% Self employed (29)* 66% (41)* 60% Part time (27)* 4 (45)* 58% Full time (133) 78% (236) 76% 31 Base: All working adults who looked for a job on social media UK (160), US (281) Q510: Which of the following social media websites have you used to LOOK for a job? * Caution low base
Social media APPROACHED ON about a new job An in-house platform for my organization Don t know/can t remember Other 10% 6% 3% 5% 2% 5% 0% 3% 3% 2% 3% 0% 2% 0% 2% 0% 0% 0% < 5% 5% 9% 23% 72% 85% Number 1 social media website been approached on 32 Base: All working adults who have been approached about a job on social media UK (163), US (353) Q520: Which of the following social media websites have been APPROACHED ON about a new job?
Users of LinkedIn been APPROACHED for a job employment breakdown 85% average 72% average Third sector (9) Base too low to show (32)* 79% Public sector (13) Base too low to show (45)* 57% Private sector - profit (140) 86% (256) 75% No mgmt responsibilities (32)* 92% (59) 85% Junior management (29)* 77% (31)* 65% Middle management (35)* 95% (66) 76% Senior management (47)* 87% (120) 72% Self employed (29)* 82% (59) 60% Part time (15) Base too low to show (55) 49% Full time (148) 86% (298) 77% 33 Base: All working adults who have been approached about a job on social media UK (163), US (353) Q520: Which of the following social media websites have been APPROACHED ON about a new job? * Caution low base
For more information contact: Gavin Ellison Director, Public Services and NFP E: gavin.ellison@yougov.com Ian Neale Associate Director E: ian.neale@yougov.com