Holland: Good network is key to good job

People who are active in an association or for an organisation more often have a job with a higher salary and social status. The main reason for this is the network they have built up. This is the conclusion sociologist Stijn Ruiter draws in his PhD thesis, which he defended at theat the Radboud Univeristy Nijmegen. "It looks good on my CV", is the view of many students who are active in a student or study association. But are they right? "Participation in society leads to better jobs, but the most important explanation for it lies in the network you build up, and probably less in the fact that the employer looks at your CV", says Ruiter. Only for a first job is having had work experience with an association likely to be important, because for a person without any experience it is a unique selling point." For his thesis Ruiter used information from the 'Familie Enquete Nederlandse Bevolking 2000' (Family Survey of the Dutch Population 2000), a research conducted by the Sociology department of the Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen. In this survey more than 1500 Dutch people were questioned about, among other things, their job histories and participation behaviour. Using this information, Ruiter was able to show a causal connection between participation and getting a better job. Members of social organisations are likely to get better jobs than people with a similar education, background and job history who are not members of an organisation. Ruiter: "People with a good network have more access to relevant information. Networks tell you 'what is for sale' and increase your chances of meeting people with connections who can help you with your career." A remarkable thing is that it does not matter whether you are an active or passive association member. Active volunteers do not have better chances than ordinary members. "But it is wise to become a member of an association where people have a higher social status. Members of such organisations find better help than do members of other associations." [SB/transl.YV]//Univers.Tilburg University