Test of a multidimensional model linking applicant work experience and recruiters' inferences about applicant competencies

Abstract

Previous research have shown that applicants' work-experience information influences recruiters' hiring recommendations. This study extends previous research by proposing and testing the relationship between applicants' work-experience dimensions (i.e. job tenure, job breadth, leadership experience and challenging job experience) and recruiters' perceptions of applicants' job competencies (i.e. professional knowledge, interpersonal skills, general mental ability and trait conscientiousness). Results from a policy-capturing experiment partially support our hypotheses and show that recruiters use different aspects of applicant work experience to infer different dimensions of applicant job competencies.

Keywords::

• general mental ability
• job competency
• personnel selection
• trait conscientiousness
• work experience