Professional and Non-Professional Social Media as Recruitment Tools: The Impact on Job Seekers’ Attraction and Intention to Apply
Electronic HRM in the Smart Era
ISBN: 978-1-78714-316-6, eISBN: 978-1-78714-315-9
Publication date: 9 August 2017
Abstract
Purpose
This chapter explores different strategies implemented by three companies using professional (LinkedIn) and non-professional (Facebook) social networking websites (SNWs) as a recruitment tool and investigates the influence of their perceived usability and attractiveness on job seekers’ attraction and their intention to apply.
Methodology/approach
First, a laboratory experiment involving 171 MBA students compares the effectiveness of three different social recruitment strategies. Second, a survey among 110 job seekers focuses on the most effective strategy in terms of attraction as an employer and the influence of perceived usability and attractiveness of professional SNW pages on job seekers’ intention to pursue the job.
Findings
The laboratory experiment confirms the key role of LinkedIn as an e-recruitment practice. The survey shows that the overall company image, the usability of the LinkedIn page and the interaction between the attractiveness of the page and the overall company image positively influence job seekers’ intention to pursue the job.
Social implications
The research offers insights on job seekers’ reactions to 2.0 Internet-based recruitment. Companies should focus on and invest in professional social medias, paying attention to the usability of their SNWs pages.
Originality/value of the chapter
Recruitment is a strategic HRM practice to attract talents; however, research lags behind practice and little is known about job seekers’ perceptions and reactions to Internet recruitment. This chapter sheds light on the use of social media for recruitment and identifies two features that contribute to an effective e-recruitment strategy.
Keywords
Citation
Mochi, F., Bissola, R. and Imperatori, B. (2017), "Professional and Non-Professional Social Media as Recruitment Tools: The Impact on Job Seekers’ Attraction and Intention to Apply", Bondarouk, T., Ruël, H.J.M. and Parry, E. (Ed.) Electronic HRM in the Smart Era (The Changing Context of Managing People), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 109-135. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-78714-315-920161005
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2017 Emerald Publishing Limited