LinkedIn Launches Second Wave Of In It Together Campaign, Survey Highlights Social Media Habits Of UAE Residents

The majority of Generation C (the connected consumer who integrates technology into their daily routine)  respondents in the UAE believe that an outstanding resume, having a connection in the industry or company through family, friends or networking is advantageous when applying for a new job, revealed a new LinkedIn survey. This comes as part of the second wave of the In It Together campaign which celebrates LinkedIn members across the world, their motivations, ambitions and drive.

The Generation C survey, comprising over 1000 respondents, was conducted by YouGov on behalf of LinkedIn. While it does not refer to an age group, it focuses on a demographic that is connected, digitally-savvy and actively builds online communities.

Ali Matar, Head of LinkedIn Middle East and Africa, said: “There is a common thread that runs through our professional journeys – whatever your version of success, no man is an island and we all need others to help us meet our ambitions. Through the In It Together campaign, we celebrate the unique stories of members who have leaned on the LinkedIn community to support them in their professional journeys.”

He added: “Generation C forms a major part of today’s workforce and our community. With this survey, we hope to gain deeper insights into the connected demographics that are not defined by the usual characteristics or traits of a generation.”

Finding a job via social media

When asked how long it takes to apply for a new job – from updating a LinkedIn profile or resume, to the search process and to receiving a formal job offer, the answer was 42 days on average.

Respondents stated that top barriers hindering them from applying to a new job were mainly the stress that accompanies finding a new job (35%), current economic uncertainty (31%), and the fear of the application getting rejected or not considered (29%).

On the other hand, several respondents thought the process of finding the right job was too long. They cited a number of incidents, including: “I felt like it took me a long time to get referrals from previous employers”, “it felt like it took me a long time to find a role I want to apply for” and “the interview process took a long time.”

Social media usage and habits

Thirty-four percent of the Generation C respondents spend between two to five hours daily on social media platforms for leisure , and describe their usage to be engaging, interesting and useful. Meanwhile, 18 percent of those surveyed browse social media for professional reasons for two to five hours daily.

When asked about their social media usage in general, the most common social media activities were messaging friends and family (50%), watching videos (44%), learning new skills (38%), looking at friends’ and family members’ (37%) profiles and looking for jobs (32%).

In line with the theme of professional growth and progress, the In It Together global consumer-targeted campaign revolves around a central question: what are you in it for? This year’s theme focuses on real stories of members who found their job through LinkedIn. It follows the first wave of the campaign that launched in June 2018 across the UAE, the UK, France, and Germany, and used real member stories to tackle stereotypical definitions of success.