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Mar 07, 2022The International Journal of The Book
- Published Year : 2009
- Author : Dr. Lau Pui Yan Flora
ABSTRACT
This presentation is based on an in-depth study of the job market in the UK publishing sector.
Conventional sociological studies on social ties and labour market outcomes either neglect the
perspective of the recruiter and the referrer or fail to explore the mechanisms by which social
ties bring about job market outcomes. This research fills these gaps. Based on semi-structured
interviews with 40 interviewees who were working in different roles (e.g. editorial, design and
production) and levels (e.g. senior and junior) in Oxford- and London-based publishing houses, I
examine different aspects of the job market process. Regarding recruitment methods, I found
that whether recruiters use formal or informal (word of mouth) methods depended on the level of
uncertainty of recruiting a wrong person and the cost of making such mistakes. The greater the
uncertainty and the cost, the more likely recruiters are to use social ties. Social ties serve to
provide information about the availability of suitable employees. I also found that professional
skills are a must but not enough in themselves. Recruiters use informal method at the final stage
of selection to ensure the recruits possess the relevant qualities. Reputation of the recruit is
emphasized, which is another distinctive nature of the information that flows through social ties.
Regarding job-hunting, I found that while most newcomers use formal methods to get into
publishing, people at managerial level almost entirely got their job through informal channels.
Social ties have different functions as people rise through the different levels: whereas
newcomers use social ties to obtain information about job opportunities, senior level staff carry
with them reputation of their fitness to fill a particular position.
