| Abstract: | One of the key elements of understanding mechanisms of social stratification in job market entry is looking at the ways in which groups learn about careers and seek jobs in early adulthood. Online resources for job seeking are growing, yet we know very little about the nature of young adults' use of the Internet for this purpose. Are there types of people who utilize the Internet more than others? If so, are these patterns unique to the Internet or are they the same as those for other sources of information? We address these questions using survey data of 1,060 college first-years at one of the most ethnically diverse universities in the United States. The survey includes extensive measures of demographics, academic achievement, Internet experiences, as well as job-seeking practices. We find that African Americans, Asians, and Caucasians who grew up speaking a language other than English are more likely than Caucasian native English speakers to use the Internet for investigating jobs and careers. We also look at other sources of information, but only with the Internet do we find significant effects for these groups. |
