Abstract
Purpose
The outbreak of COVID-19 has caused a slowdown of economic activity across the globe, which has resulted in high levels of disruption to labour markets. This study seeks to examine how the outbreak of COVID-19 has impacted the search strategies of students seeking for an internship, and whether these have changed since the start of the pandemic. The study utilises the strength of weak ties hypothesis, social capital theory and status attainment theory to explore the changes in securing a position since the outbreak of COVID-19.
Design/methodology/approach
This study draws on data from two cohorts of MBA students seeking to secure internships: one before the outbreak and one during. A multinomial regression is employed to examine how students have used network ties to secure internships and how this has changed since the outbreak of COVID-19.
Findings
The multinomial regression results indicate that there was little difference in the strategies employed by students before the crisis compared to those that secured them during, potentially indicating that students are unwilling to deviate from typical job search strategies, especially in times of uncertainty.
Originality/value
This study provides insights into how network ties are used by job seekers during a period of economic and environmental uncertainty.
The outbreak of COVID-19 has caused a slowdown of economic activity across the globe, which has resulted in high levels of disruption to labour markets. This study seeks to examine how the outbreak of COVID-19 has impacted the search strategies of students seeking for an internship, and whether these have changed since the start of the pandemic. The study utilises the strength of weak ties hypothesis, social capital theory and status attainment theory to explore the changes in securing a position since the outbreak of COVID-19.
Design/methodology/approach
This study draws on data from two cohorts of MBA students seeking to secure internships: one before the outbreak and one during. A multinomial regression is employed to examine how students have used network ties to secure internships and how this has changed since the outbreak of COVID-19.
Findings
The multinomial regression results indicate that there was little difference in the strategies employed by students before the crisis compared to those that secured them during, potentially indicating that students are unwilling to deviate from typical job search strategies, especially in times of uncertainty.
Originality/value
This study provides insights into how network ties are used by job seekers during a period of economic and environmental uncertainty.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 723-739 |
| Number of pages | 17 |
| Journal | International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy |
| Volume | 44 |
| Issue number | 7-8 |
| Early online date | 15 Apr 2024 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 24 Jun 2024 |
Keywords
- COVID-19
- Job search
- MBA internships
- Multinomial regression
- Social capital
- Strength of weak ties
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Economics, Econometrics and Finance(all)
- Sociology and Political Science