In a move to secure employment, students are required to engage their potential employers. In particular, the student interacts with the employer in normal conditions. The study entailed carrying out a pilot study to answer the question of how students pursuing B.A. degrees in Sociology prepare themselves for and engage in a job search with potential employers. It is important to note that the symbolic interactionist concepts used in shaping the study include idealized performance, impression management, and the reputation of the performer. Concerning the idealized performance concept, students pursuing a sociology degree experience pressure that stems from the conduct they expect from employees who occupy a given job role. Therefore, idealized performance helps to give the student the identity they need to secure a job position in the organization (Blake, 2009). On the other hand, impression management relates to the efforts the students put in a move to influence the perceptions of their potential employers. Besides, the ability of the student to control the influence they provide to their potential employer will have an impact on how they perceive them. Lastly, the study utilized the reputation of the performer to determine the student preparations when they engage with potential employers.
Methods
In conducting the study, five questions were used to conduct interviews with two participants. The questions asked are listed below.
o Do you consider supporting the business strategy as a way to impress potential employers?
o How can you encourage the sharing of information and other resources to improve performance outcomes?
o What are your insights when it comes to understanding the job role?
o Is it important to raise questions regarding the competencies of the job when meeting with the potential employer?
o How can one act responsibly when they are engaging with their potential employer?
The interview questions will be vital in answering the research question as they inquire about how well versed the participants are when it comes to their conduct while engaging the employers. In particular, the insights of the student concerning the job role will shed light on the preparations they make prior to meeting with a potential employer. Moreover, the opinion of the participant on how best they can improve the sharing of information, resources, and knowledge will act as an indicator of how they will protect their reputation. Lastly, the question inquiring about competencies will play a role in determining the preparations of the participant in impressing the potential employer.
Findings
The study included two participants who were pursuing B.A. degrees in Sociology. The findings from the study focused mainly on the preparations of students when they engage with potential employers. The data was collected through interviews. Concerning the readiness of the participant to support the business strategy of the organization when engaging with the potential employer, all the participants agreed that they prepared. Moreover, one of them suggested working in teams would encourage sharing of information whereas the other participant suggested that brainstorming in groups was a better option. Both of the participants considered that gathering insight on the job role was important during preparations to meet potential employers. Lastly, they all researched on how best they could uncover the competencies and the requirements of a job before engaging with employers. Therefore, the findings show that the students agree that there is the need to prepare adequately before engaging with potential employers as this will give them a good impression and the students will leave a remarkable reputation. Therefore, the students understand that employers need competitive employees and this can be possible if the one is conversant of the organizational details.
Discussion
Both of the participants saw the need to prepare adequately before interacting with potential employers. Goffman listed impression management as one of the symbolic interactionism concepts (Manning, 2005). In particular, impression management revolves around the verbal and non-verbal practices that will ensure the students present an acceptable image to the potential employers. On the other hand, when preparing for the engagement, students will need to conceal details that may portray them negatively to potential employers. Therefore, the preparations by students will determine their control over what they should say and what to avoid. Moreover, impression management is important when preparing to engage with potential employers as it will dictate the attitude of the students towards their employers. For this reason, the need to prepare as proved by the responses of the students plays a significant role in ensuring that they have the smooth functioning and predictable interactions and engagements with potential employers.
Secondly, the participants suggested the need to work in teams and brainstorming as a way of sharing information after engaging with potential employers. Goffman introduced the reputation of the performer as one of the symbolic interactionism concepts (Denzin, 2008). It is important to note that the interactions will involve employers from formal and informal settings. Moreover, some of the employers operate more institutionalized organizations than others. Goffman divided the performance of a character into the setting and the personal front. Concerning the setting, it is the scenery that forms the work environment where the students look forward to working. On the other hand, the personal front entails the expressive part of the job role that may include looks, clothing, posture, rank, or speech. Therefore, encouraging working in teams and brainstorming will play a significant role in ensuring that students prepare adequately before engaging with potential employers during a job search. Besides, the students will be better placed on how best they meet the requirements of the job role.
Lastly, the students considered it is important to gather insights about the job role and further contact close friends who occupy similar positions in a move to uncover the competencies required for the job role. Goffman explained the concept of idealized performance (Carter & Fuller, 2016). It is important to note that individuals need to have an ideal emotion or feeling to accomplish a goal they have set themselves to accomplish. For this reason, the students preparing adequately before meeting the potential employers during a job search will generate the emotion that proves to the employer they are ready to work. Therefore, there is a likelihood that the outcome of their job search will be successful. Besides, without preparing well for the engagement, the potential employers will have the impression that the students do not put the required effort when it comes to going for their goals. Despite the fact that an attempt to search for a job acts as a way of preparing one for future job searches, applying the idealized performance concept will see the students actively engaging their potential employers. Thus, they will be better placed to secure employment.
References
Blake, J. (2009). Employer engagement: the critical role of employee commitment. Human Resource Management International Digest, 17(5).
Carter, M. J., & Fuller, C. (2016). Symbols, meaning, and action: The past, present, and future of symbolic interactionism. Current Sociology, 64(6), 931-961.
Denzin, N. K. (2008). Symbolic interactionism and cultural studies: The politics of interpretation. John Wiley & Sons.
Manning, P. (2005). Reinvigorating the tradition of symbolic interactionism. Symbolic Interaction, 28(2), 167-173.
