Weak Ties for a Weak Population: Expanding Personal Social Networks Among the Unemployed to Increase Job-Seeking Success

Moshe Sharabi; Javier Simonovich

doi:10.1002/joec.12047

Weak Ties for a Weak Population: Expanding Personal Social Networks Among the Unemployed to Increase Job-Seeking Success

Journal of Employment Counseling ◽

10.1002/joec.12047 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 54 (1) ◽

pp. 12-22 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Moshe Sharabi ◽

Javier Simonovich

Keyword(s):

Social Networks ◽

Weak Ties ◽

Job Seeking ◽

Personal Social Networks ◽

The Unemployed

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Job-Finding among the Poor

10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199914050.013.20 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Sandra Susan Smith

Keyword(s):

Social Networks ◽

Social Ties ◽

Poor People ◽

Weak Ties ◽

Job Seekers ◽

Job Seeking ◽

Job Information ◽

The Poor ◽

Job Finding

This article examines whether social ties play a significant role in job seeking by poor people. A number of studies provide evidence that in relative and absolute terms, the poor rely heavily on social networks for job-finding. Without networks, poor job seekers are significantly less likely to find work. After considering what kinds of ties help the poor get ahead, this article discusses the role of weak ties as a source of job information and influence. It then explores the link between employment outcomes and network structure and composition as well as how people make leveraging ties, and how might this process of tie formation inform our understanding of network inequality. It also asks why leveraging ties are effective and concludes with an assessment of conditions that facilitate social capital activation.

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Diffusion of Islam in the United States: Comparative Personal Conversion Social Networks

International Review of Social Research ◽

10.1515/irsr-2016-0024 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 6 (4) ◽

pp. 221-232

Author(s):

Şakin Erin

Keyword(s):

Social Networks ◽

New Technology ◽

The United States ◽

Weak Ties ◽

Muslim Community ◽

Strong Ties ◽

Two Cities ◽

Ann Arbor ◽

Mainstream Society ◽

Personal Social Networks

Abstract Conversion is one of the ways in which religion diffuses in society. Different than other diffusions, such as adopting a new technology or a fad, religious adoption can be riskier since it entails a life changing transition thereby making it a complex contagion. This study investigates whether Islam diffuses through weak ties or strong ties. By comparing conversion cases in Michigan, where there is a larger Muslim community, and Kentucky, where there is a less tangible Muslim community, I argue Islam is more likely to diffuse through what I call recessive or dominant weak ties in Michigan, whereas it is more likely to diffuse through strong ties in Kentucky. I collected personal social networks of 18 individuals who converted to Islam living in Michigan and 12 living in Kentucky. I found the research participants through mosques located in several cities in Michigan, including Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Flint, Detroit, Dearborn, and Canton, and two cities in Kentucky: Lexington and Louisville. Having investigated a set of egocentric conversion networks from both Michigan and Kentucky, I found that the existence of a Muslim community and how it is perceived by mainstream society is an ultimate factor in determining the strength of a tie to other Muslims. Thus, Islam is more likely to diffuse through weak ties where there is a Muslim community, but it is more likely to diffuse through strong ties where there is no such community.

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