A Web of Applicant Attraction Person-Organization Fit in the Context of Web-Based Recruitment

• Published in: Journal of applied psychology Vol. 87; no. 4; pp. 723 - 734
• Main Authors: Dineen, Brian R, Ash, Steven R, Noe, Raymond A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Psychological Association 01.08.2002
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Cognition; Feedback; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Goodness of fit; Human; Human Computer Interaction; Human resources; Humans; Internet; Interpersonal Relations; Job Applicant Attitudes; Job Applicants; Job Description; Job Satisfaction; Male; Miscellaneous; Motivation; Occupational Interests; Occupational psychology; Occupations; Organization; Organizational Characteristics; Organizations; Personnel Recruitment; Personnel Selection; Psychology; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Recruitment; Regression analysis; Self Concept; Self-Esteem; Studies; World Wide Web; Human; Occupational environment; Self esteem; Personality; Internet; Staff recruitment; Adaptation
• ISSN: 0021-9010; 1939-1854
• DOI: 10.1037/0021-9010.87.4.723

Applicant attraction was examined in the context of Web-based recruitment. A person-organization (P-O) fit framework was adopted to examine how the provision of feedback to individuals regarding their potential P-O fit with an organization related to attraction. Objective and subjective P-O fit, agreement with fit feedback, and self-esteem also were examined in relation to attraction. Results of an experiment that manipulated fit feedback level after a self- assessment provided by a fictitious company Web site found that both feedback level and objective P-O fit were positively related to attraction. These relationships were fully mediated by subjective P-O fit. In addition, attraction was related to the interaction of objective fit, feedback, and agreement and objective fit, feedback, and self- esteem. Implications and future Web-based recruitment research directions are discussed.