Prevalent literature on the utilization of recruitment sources by jobseekers show that informal sources, in particular, networking (which includes employee referrals and the use of social networks on social media), are more effective for job search than formal sources. This paper suggests that more jobseekers employ networking than they do newspapers, company websites and online job boards in their job search activities. The way people use their social networks in job-hunting appears to be influenced by their collective culture and this culture may inspire the practice of favoritism in the recruitment process. Mixed-methods research was performed on a sample of 84 Nigerian jobseekers residing in Lagos State. The data and available recruitment literature both seem to agree that more jobseekers use their social networks in job-hunting than other methods. It also explains that Nigerian jobseekers perceive that favoritism is a rampant practice in the labor market and they believe that before a jobseeker can achieve employment within a recruiting organization, s/he needs to know someone within that organization who will help them in securing employment.

Acknowledgments    

Executive Summary   

Chapter One - Introduction    

Overview      

Purpose and Focus of Research  

Research Outline  

Summary     

Chapter Two - Literature review 

Introduction  

Review of Recruitment Source Literature 

Recruiting Sources     

Recruiting Source Classification     

The Behavior of a Jobseeker  

Formal vs. Informal     

Social Networks  

Theory of Social Networks  

Social Networks and the Media       

Culture and the Jobseeker  

Favoritism    

Summary     

Chapter Three - Methodology 

Introduction  

Mixed-Methods  

Data Collection Instruments 

Respondents Sample    

Data Collection   

Summary     

Chapter Four - Findings and Data Analysis    

Introduction    

Presentation of Quantitative Data 

Presentation of Qualitative Data 

Analysis of Results      

Jobseeker and job search 

Most Popular Source    

Social Networking      

Newspapers    

Employee Referral vs. Newspaper: an organization perspective       

Favoritism, Nepotism and Cronyism     

The Nigerian connection   

Summary    

Chapter Five - Discussion     

Overview      

Conclusion    

Recommendations      

Reflections    

References     

Appendix 1     

Questionnaire  

Appendix 2