Module 6: Talent Management from an International Perspective
Session Title: Web-Based Recruitment: Applicant Reactions and Organizational Practices in Europe
Neil Anderson
University of Amsterdam
Abstract: Many major organizations have implemented Web-based recruitment and candidate assessment procedures over recent years. Indeed, the growth in use of Internet-sites for recruitment and assessment has been extremely rapid, both in the North America and Europe. Yet, organizations commonly have notably little information on the impact of such new technology-based procedures in comparison to more traditional pen-and-paper based recruitment systems, or upon the reactions of applicants to Web-based procedures. This paper will present the key findings from a three-country study conducted within a major financial services organization in Europe with also a presence in the American market into applicant reactions. Applicant reactions were measured in the Netherlands, the UK, and Belgium, revealing interesting cross-country differences to identical screen-based information and prompts. Reactions from 1,360 respondents who actually applied to the organization over a 4-month period in early-2006 were generally positive to this mode of application, but a number of issues for design, validation, and impact were found.
This paper will present key findings, discuss critical aspects of the online recruitment process, will highlight international dimensions, and will highlight the national ‘barrier-less’ nature of recruitment via Web-based systems. Implications for the professional design of Internet-based Web sites for recruitment will be raised as will highly pragmatic issues over the layout, efficiency, and user-friendliness of Web-based recruitment systems.
Learning Objectives
- To gain an appreciation of the global growth in the use of internet-based recruitment websites.
- To learn from the findings of a major European organization using web-based recruitment systems over applicant reactions.
- To be able to describe the impact of cultural differences and cross-country differences on the likely impact of internet-based selection procedures
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