Getting a Job

This study of how 282 men in the United States found their jobs not only proves "it's not what you know but who you know," but also demonstrates how social activity influences labour markets. Examining the link between job contacts and social structure, the author recognizes networking as the crucial link between economists' studies of labour mobility and more focused studies o...

This study of how 282 men in the United States found their jobs not only proves "it's not what you know but who you know," but also demonstrates how social activity influences labour markets. Examining the link between job contacts and social structure, the author recognizes networking as the crucial link between economists' studies of labour mobility and more focused studies of an individual's motivation to find work. The text also includes Granovetter's influential article - "Economic Action and Social Structure: The Problems of Embeddedness".

Mark Granovetter is professor of sociology and organization behavior at Northwestern University and Kellogg Graduate School of Management.