The effects of work experience on interpretations of recruitment advertisements and organizational attraction
ISSN: 1935-5181
Article publication date: 1 April 2019
Issue publication date: 5 July 2019
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate potential differences in experienced and inexperienced workers’ interpretations of recruitment ads.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper uses a between subjects design to compare responses to recruitment advertisements. The advertisements varied in terms of compensation information.
Findings
Work experience did not alter perceptions of organizational culture but it did affect levels of organizational attraction. The implication is that all workers interpret recruitment advertisements in a similar manner but more experienced workers prefer different work environments than less experienced workers.
Research limitations/implications
The results generally support the use of student populations or inexperienced workers in recruitment research. The study was limited to perceptions of pay statements. Other forms of recruitment information needs to be investigated.
Practical implications
Companies seeking to recruit experienced workers need to be attentive to how those workers will view the company’s culture based on information in their recruitment advertisements.
Originality/value
This study is one of a very limited number of organizational attraction studies comparing experienced and inexperienced workers. It is important because it helps clarify the underlying mechanisms impacting organizational attraction based on work experience.
Keywords
Citation
Yockey, M. (2019), "The effects of work experience on interpretations of recruitment advertisements and organizational attraction", American Journal of Business, Vol. 34 No. 2, pp. 58-74. https://doi.org/10.1108/AJB-09-2017-0027
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited