E-recruitment and the benefits of organizational web appeal

• Published in: Computers in human behavior Vol. 24; no. 5; pp. 2384 - 2398
• Main Authors: Thompson, Lori Foster, Braddy, Phillip W., Wuensch, Karl L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.09.2008; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Job seeker attitudes; Occupational psychology; Organizational websites; Orientation. Selection. Evaluation; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Relative weights analysis; Signaling theory; Web-based recruitment; Website characteristics; Job seeker attitudes; Organizational websites; Signaling theory; Web-based recruitment; Website characteristics; Relative weights analysis; Human; Attitude; Theory; Job search; Work; Internet; Staff recruitment; Web site
• ISSN: 0747-5632; 1873-7692
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chb.2008.02.014

This study examined the influences of website design on prospective job seekers. A total of 182 participants accessed and reviewed an online job ad. Afterwards, they rated: (a) the attractiveness of the ad’s formatting, (b) the usability of the website, (c) overall evaluations of the organization’s web appeal, (d) impressions of the organization, and (e) willingness to pursue employment with the hiring organization. Although both the formatting attractiveness and usability of online recruitment materials influenced participants’ inclinations to pursue jobs, formatting was more important than usability. Moreover, impressions of the employer mediated the relationship between satisfaction with the website and willingness to pursue employment with the organization. Overall, this research advances knowledge by applying signaling theory to the web-based recruitment domain and by testing a mediated relationship implied therein. In addition, this is the first study to introduce relative weights analysis to the recruitment literature.