Analysis of HR consultants and French recruiters activity on LinkedIn. In between work resource and quest of identity development

• Main Authors: Hélène HOBLINGRE, Jacques AUDRAN, Emmanuelle CHEVRY PEBAYLE
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Etudes Scientifiques Spécialisées Appliquées aux Communications Humaines, Economiques, Sociales et Symboliques 2016-12-01
• Series: Essachess
• Subjects: Professional skills; network; development; self-centered usage; work resource
• Online Access: http://www.essachess.com/index.php/jcs/article/view/345/393

This article investigates usage of LinkedIn by HR professionals. Based on twelve HR consultants and recruiters interviews, LinkedIn usage analysis highlights that this tool is used in a mix of private and professional practices. It sheds a light on the tension of using LinkedIn as a business tool versus LinkedIn as a tool to develop personal projects. Using LinkedIn in a professional context implies following norms and guidelines that impact user freedom. As a consequence, this prevents user from benefiting from all LinkedIn developmental capabilities. Eventually, our results stress the need for an individual to use LinkedIn as a reflective practitioner. This should be done in the light of building purpose to professional activities and accommodating functional usage with strategic practices.