If you’re an accompanying partner planning to work when you relocate, you may be interested in some new research by the Employment Research Institute at Edinburgh Napier University, which bears out the commonly held belief that it’s who you know, not what you know, that is most important when you’re looking for a job.

The research, which examined the power of social networks, concludes that the more employed friends you have, the higher their job status, and the stronger your ties with them, the more likely you are to get a job yourself. It indicates that younger people (those under 50) in employment have a significantly higher number of contacts, and more regular interaction within their social networks, than those aged 50+. This offers a wider diversity, strength and quality of contacts.

 

Conversely, the findings show that people over 50, who generally have fewer qualifications, rely more heavily on their smaller social networks and word of mouth to get back into, or remain in, employment.

For the younger generation, the number of people they know overall is more important than whether those they know are employed or hold senior positions. Unemployed younger people also have much smaller long-term social networks than those in work, and relatively fewer contacts who are in employment.

Dr Kaberi Gayen, visiting researcher at Edinburgh Napier Employment Research Institute and co-author of the research, said, “With tight budgets and a tough economy, there are fewer jobs being advertised, and organisations are increasingly seeking the most cost-effective recruitment methods. The ‘who you know’ theory is as important as ever in the job hunt. Younger people tend to have wider networks, which could be due to their greater use of new information and communication technologies.

“Over 50s are the age group that is most likely to be out of employment. With the current ageing population, it is especially important to reduce barriers to older workers’ employment. With employers using social networks in hiring, unemployed older people may remain out of this searching process, and thereby out of work. Employment agencies, including Jobcentre Plus, have a responsibility to support and introduce older unemployed people to job opportunities.”