Networking via LinkedIn: An examination of usage and career benefits

Even though networking has been identified as an important career self-management behavior, research to date has been limited to traditional channels of communication. With the advent of social media, networking opportunities have expanded to a new set of technology-based methods. However, very little is known about the benefits of using such social networking platforms, especially LinkedIn, which was designed for professional purposes. Integrating research on networking and careers with research on social networking sites, we introduce a model relating extraversion and protean career orientation via networking ability to social networking site usage (i.e., number of contacts and frequency of usage) and a variety of career benefits (e.g., career sponsorship). Using a mixed-mode survey, data were collected from 322 working professionals enrolled in business-related graduate programs, of which 133 used LinkedIn as their predominant professional networking tool. In addition, a subset of the sample using LinkedIn granted us permission to access their LinkedIn profile, which we coded for nine characteristics. In general, data from the survey responses as well as the LinkedIn profiles supported the proposed model. Results also showed that it was not the number of contacts one had, but the frequency of usage, that mattered for the receipt of career benefits. •This study develops a model of using social networking sites for career purposes.•Extraversion and protean career orientation predict networking ability.•Networking ability is positively related to usage of LinkedIn.•Frequency of LinkedIn usage, but not number of contacts, predicts career benefits.•Social networking sites are not a panacea for introverts when it comes to networking.