Beyond Networking: Does Social Comparison on LinkedIn Influence Job Search Anxiety by Reducing Career-Related Self-Efficacy of Graduate Students?

The landscape of career development is evolving constantly, and digital tools play an increasingly important part in exploring and finding a job. Social networking services (SNS) such as LinkedIn are becoming more influential with an increasing number of active users. There is a growing interest in understanding the impact of LinkedIn use on the individual’s mental health, particularly their self- efficacy and job search anxiety. Existing research offers conflicting perspectives on the role of social comparison in the context of LinkedIn, and it is debated whether viewing successes of peers promotes or decreases the belief in one’s abilities. This study aims at adding to this debate by providing insights through primary data from German graduate students currently looking for their first employment. Particularly, this research investigates to what extent social comparison on LinkedIn influences job search anxiety by affecting the career-related self-efficacy of graduate students. To address this research question, a quantitative approach is utilized to aggregate insights from a variety of respondents. The statistical analysis finds that, in contrast to other academic literature, social comparison on LinkedIn actually increases career-related self-efficacy, and significantly reduces job search anxiety at all stages of LinkedIn usage intensity. Based on these insights, the role of LinkedIn use amongst graduate students is highlighted, however, correct use is recommended to avoid negative impact on mental health. Therefore, one can suggest that universities and other academic institutions should increasingly include correct LinkedIn use into the curriculum of the study programs, to prepare their students better for the first step into the professional world. Future research should focus on expanding on the results of this study and confirm the generalizability and applicability of the found results. Here, particular focus should be given to qualitative research in the form of interviews, as well as longitudinal data to account for economic shifts, and enhance the overall quality of the insights. In conclusion, this research expands on existing literature streams and discovers an interesting dynamic between social comparison and job search anxiety through the use of LinkedIn.