Discovering the Use of Online Recruitment via Social Media of Student Internship

Abstract

Abstract Most students use social media in their daily lives. Social media depends on mobile and web-based technologies to create highly interactive platforms through which individuals and communities share, co-create, discuss and modify user-generated content. This study attempted to identify the methods used by students when seeking a placement for their internship and whether they find social media as an effective tool to apply for their internship placement. The study employed qualitative method and data was collected through several semi-structured interviews which probed the students’ use (or lack of use) of social media when applying for a placement for their student internship. The interviews were conducted with a small selected group of students who had undergone an internship program. It was found that while a few of the respondents used social media when applying for their internship placement, most did not. In terms of the implication of this study, organizations could be able to employ the best practices when selecting students for an industrial training in the organizations. While levels of awareness and adoption continue to develop both for recruiters and student's internship programmes, organizations must consider adding social media to their overall online recruitment strategy to meet the goals of being cost-effective, competitive, targeted and strategic when sourcing for top talents.