The role of social media in the professional development The individual and institutional perspective Paulina Barczyszyn Jacek Nożewski, Róża Smolak, Waldemar Sobera Wrocław, 16.06.2016r.

Content The subject of research. Idea and aim of presentation. Hypothesis and research questions. Research methods. Selected results. Conclusions.

The subject of research students social media HR departments

Idea and aim of presentation The aim is to present the current state of activity of students of Wroclaw public universities in the process of job search and career development through social media. Assumed research perspective also allows you to specify the use of social media by experts in the field of HR in their daily work.

Hypothesis and research questions Hypothesis: Students of Wroclaw public universities do not use social media for professional development. the awareness of the possibilities of social media in shaping own image the role of social media in HR work the use of the materials on professional development, which are published in social media

Research methods Quantitative method: survey– 33 questions (open and closed-end), divided into 5 categories. Research sample (300 students of public universities in Wroclaw) estimated on the basis of: Report of Central Statistical Office of Poland (GUS) 2014, Regulation of the Minister of Science and Higher Education dated 8 August 2011 in the areas of knowledge, fields of science and art, and scientific and artistic disciplines. Figure 1: Students by fields of science (%), N300; Source: authors

Research methods 2. Qualitative method : in-depth interviews – 20 interviews, including 10 students from the public universities in Wroclaw and 10 specialists in the field of Human Resources. Both groups responded to 12 questions. 3. Desk research – also use the scientific literature and secondary data from reports and studies. time period: January 22 - the 27 April 2016

Frequency of use Figure 3: Frequency of social media use during the week, N=300; Source: authors I use both Facebook and all kinds of trade forums dealing with a greater or lesser degree of my interest or mere hobby. [SH2, M]

Popular social media Entertainment and staying in touch with friends were more important than the professional activity. Table 1: Social networking sites used by students (%), N=300; Source: authors

Objectives of use and usefulness Figure 10: Aims to use social media, 1-5 scale (1- useless, 5-very useful), N=300 ; Source: authors

Job search Figure 13: The validity of specific factors in job search, 1-5 scale (1- not important, 5-very important), N=300 ; Source: authors

Finding a job through social media 33% of students found a job through social media Picture 1: The percentage of students who found a job through social media (%); Source: authors 4% of students publish links and information about their profiles on social networking sites in CV

HR and social media Figure 16: „Do you think that HR professionals use social media to look for workers?” (%), N=300; Source: authors Figure 17: „Do you think that HR professionals use social media in order to verify potential employees?” (%), N=300; Source: authors

HR and social media We have diversified social media which we use: for professionals and managers is communication via GoldenLine and LinkedIn, and when it comes to communication and any action in order to gain other employees, at the moment it is on Facebook. [HR5, K] (...) a lot depends on the location. For example the Warsaw area - people very actively check and answer the messages, but when I recruit managers in other cities it shows that people have the account, but didn’t use it for long time and I get the answer after a few weeks. [HR5, K] Many companies conduct so-called screening, which check whether the specialist – the employee graduated from a school as he declared or worked in a particular place. [HR1, K]

Impact on professional development (…) the part of the decisions regarding the choice of the employer or employee is based on information gained through social media, it seems to me that, yes. Especially when it comes to young people, because they mainly use these sites. [ST2, M] Figure 19: Do you think that social media can have an impact on your professional development? (%), N=300 ; Source: authors

Activity in social media Picture 2: User activity in social media - professional aspect (%), N=300; Source: authors

Conclusions The hypothesis was partially confirmed. Students positively evaluated the usefulness of social media in achieving career goals. They use social media more frequently for entertainment purposes than professional. The level of activity and involvement of students in social media is diverse. Students are aware of using social media by employers. HR professionals often seek and verify employees through social networking sites.

Thank you for attention