Social identity and applicant attraction: Exploring the role of multiple levels of self

Applicant attraction is a critical objective of recruitment. Common predictor variables of applicant attraction are limited in that they do not provide a comprehensive understanding of the process that shapes the perceptions and beliefs of job applicants about the firms for which they aspire to work...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Journal of organizational behavior 2016-04, Vol.37 (3), p.326-345
Main Authors:	Banks, George C., Kepes, Sven, Joshi, Mahendra, Seers, Anson
Format:	Article
Language:	eng
Subjects:	Applicants Aspiration Attraction Companies Compensation Group identity Identification identification processes Identity identity activation identity evaluations identity strength Identity theory Job applicants Job openings predictors of applicant attraction Recruitment recruitment strength Research Article Social identity Social identity theory Studies Variables
Online Access:	Get full text
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Summary:	Applicant attraction is a critical objective of recruitment. Common predictor variables of applicant attraction are limited in that they do not provide a comprehensive understanding of the process that shapes the perceptions and beliefs of job applicants about the firms for which they aspire to work for. Because individuals have the inherent desire to expand and enhance their social identities (e.g., personal, relational, and collective identities), they are likely to be attracted to organizations that allow them to do so. Building on recent work on levels of self, our paper suggests that social identities mediate the relation between currently established predictor variables of applicant attraction (e.g., compensation, type of work, and organizational image) and important applicant attraction outcomes. Common predictor variables of applicant attraction can lead to the activation, evaluation, and identification processes described by social identity theory. A theoretical framework is presented that illustrates the mediating influence of social identity on the relations between common predictor variables and applicant attraction outcomes. This framework may lead to more effective recruitment strategies.
ISSN:	0894-3796 1099-1379