Social Networks

One of the fascinating things I have learned from both my anecdotal observations of people and review of literature is the nature of social networks. Whether one considers a job search campaign, the development of a new business, the growth of a new political campaign or party or a community initiative, social networks provide the foundations through which change does (or does not) happen! In order to understand how the Web2.0 is revolutionizing career management, we need to start by understanding the power of social networks.

What are Social Networks?

Social networks are a way of both describing and understanding how people interact and affect change. In 1973 sociologist Mark Granovetter published a paper called The Strength of Weak Ties. In it, he described his research which showed that people get jobs, not from people close to them, but from casual acquaintances he called "weak ties".

What often seems to happen is that people form into groups where everyone talks to each other but they do not talk to people outside the group. That means that ones friends and people close to them probably know all the same people and job opportunities. To get new information a person has to go outside of the group and thus an acquaintance (a weak tie) is often be the link that helps the person to succeed.

These links can be "running into someone you used to work with you haven't seen for a while" or "meeting someone in the shopping line". Social networks bridge the world with people working, attending school and communicating with each other in every country in the world. We are just a few links from almost anyone.

A great way of visualizing social networks is to search Google Images.

Much of our day to day life is interaction with other people and the patterns of interaction influence so much of the events around us, especially our careers.