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Candidates’ reactions to job application rejections at different phases of the recruitment process: The impact of employability and communication delays on perceived fairness and recruitment selection outcomes

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: This study investigates the impact of communication delays and recruitment selection stages on candidates’ perceptions of fairness and recruitment selection outcomes and explores the moderating role of employability. Employing a mixed-method approach across two independent studies involving 264 and 259 mid-level position candidates, two variables – communication timeliness and recruitment stages – are manipulated, while employability is investigated as a moderating variable. Our results indicate that timely communication of rejection, especially during the initial selection stages, significantly enhances candidates’ satisfaction, fairness perceptions, intentions to reapply, and intentions to recommend the organisation to others. Employability moderates the relationship between perceived fairness and recruitment outcomes, strongly influencing the likelihood of peer referrals and reapplication intentions. These findings underscore the importance of strategic communication management in recruitment selection processes to enhance employer branding and the job candidate experience.

Source: Journal of Management & Organization

DOI: 10.1017/jmo.2025.11

Authors: Massimiliano Barattucci, Angela Russo, Jaroslaw Grobelny, Giuseppe Santisi, Tiziana Ramaci

Institutions: University of Bergamo, University of Catania, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

Language: English

Topic: Employer Branding and e-HRM

Subfield: Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management

Field: Business, Management and Accounting

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Reduced inequalities, Decent work and economic growth

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,550