Type of Document	Master's Thesis
Author	Boutte, Michael L.
Author's Email Address	mboutt1@lsu.edu
URN	etd-02152006-093546
Title	Variation in Job Search Strategies: Job Search Strategies and Job Retention in Louisiana
Degree	Master of Arts (M.A.)
Department	Sociology
Advisory Committee	Advisor Name Title Joachim Singelmann Committee Chair Mariano Sana Committee Member Tim Slack Committee Member
Keywords	job search employment job retention social networks
Date of Defense	2005-12-19
Availability	unrestricted
Abstract The majority of sociological research on job search strategies has focused primarily on social networks with little attention given to all other forms of job search. Also, much of the existing literature focuses on outcomes of a job search as opposed to the search itself. This paper seeks to expand the job search literature by focusing on the characteristics that determine which job search method an individual will use and then predicting job retention as a result of the job search method. Using data from the Louisiana Job Search Survey (2002) I find that network structure has an effect on choosing personal contacts as a job search method. Particularly, having a higher proportion of weak ties in the network leads to higher probabilities of using personal contacts. I also find that job search methods vary by metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. I do not find that the job search method a person uses has an effect on job retention. The overall findings suggest that job search is not determined by personal characteristics, but instead seems to be related to the situations that surround job searches.
Files	Filename       Size       Approximate Download Time (Hours:Minutes:Seconds)     28.8 Modem   56K Modem   ISDN (64 Kb)   ISDN (128 Kb)   Higher-speed Access    Boutte_thesis.pdf 85.23 Kb 00:00:23 00:00:12 00:00:10 00:00:05 < 00:00:01