An organizational recruitment simulation was conducted to examine the extent to which applicants' initial impressions of the organization are a function of the extent to which their highly valued needs are addressed and the realism of the portrayal in a job preview. Tailoring the content of job previews to the individual's needs raised applicants' expectations about most work factors in the organization. However, realism in the job preview lowered expectations about the organization as well as anticipated job offer acceptance rates and commitment to the organization.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
DugoniB. L.IlgenD. R. (1981) Realistic job previews and the adjustment of new employees. Academy of Management Journal, 24, 579–591.
2.
GouldS. (1979) An equity-exchange model of organizational involvement. Academy of Management Review, 4, 52–62.
3.
GreenhausJ.SeidelC.MarinisM. (1983) The impact of expectations and values on job attitudes. Organizational Behavior and Human Performance, 31, 394–417.
4.
HornerS. O.MobleyW. H.MeglinoB. M. (1979) An experimental evaluation of the effects of a realistic job preview on Marine recruit affect, intentions, and behavior. Center for Management and Organizational Research, University of South Carolina.
5.
JurgensenC. E. (1947) Selected factors which influence job preferences. Journal of Applied Psychology, 31, 553–564.
6.
JurgensenC. E. (1978) Job preferences (what makes a job good or bad?). Journal of Applied Psychology, 63, 267–276.
7.
KanangoR. N. (1982) Measurement of job and work involvement. Journal of Applied Psychology, 67, 341–349.
8.
McEvoyG. M.CascioW. F. (1985) Strategies for reducing employee turnover: a meta-analysis. Journal of Applied Psychology, 70, 342–353.
9.
MowdayR. T.PorterL. W.SteersR. M. (1982) Employee-organizational linkages: the psychology of commitment, absenteeism, and turnover. New York: Academic Press.
10.
O'ReillyC. A.CaldwellD. F. (1980) Job choice: the impact of intrinsic and extrinsic factors on subsequent satisfaction and commitment. Journal of Applied Psychology, 65, 559–565.
11.
PremackS. L.WanousJ. P. (1985) A meta-analysis of realistic job preview experiments. Journal of Applied Psychology, 70, 706–719.
12.
RynesS. L.HenemanH. G.IIISchwabD. P. (1980) Individual reactions to organizational recruiting: a review. Personnel Psychology, 33, 529–542.
SchiemannW. A. (1983) Changes in U.S. managers' work attitudes: dismal signs for productivity. Paper presented at the 91st Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, Toronto, Canada.
15.
SchmittN.CoyleB. (1976) Applicant decisions in the employment interview. Journal of Applied Psychology, 61, 184–192.
16.
SteersR. (1981) An introduction to organizational behavior. Santa Monica, CA: Goodyear.
17.
VroomV. H. (1964) Work and motivation. New York: Wiley.
18.
WanousJ. P. (1980) Organizational entry: recruitment, selection, and socialization of newcomers. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.
