Should You Hire [email protected]?: An Analysis of Job Applicants' Email Addresses and their Scores on Pre-Employment Assessments
Year: 2011
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: In an age where electronic mail is displacing traditional mail, email addresses are functioning as names, and names can be the basis of first impressions. What can be said about someone who applies for a job using an inappropriate email address (i.e. [email protected])? The aim of this study was to determine if there are differences in job qualifications (as determined by pre-employment tests) between individuals who use appropriate email addresses to apply for jobs and individuals who use inappropriate email addresses. This study analyzed applicant email addresses in two ways. First, subject matter experts (SMEs) subjectively rated each email address for appropriateness. Second, the SMEs coded each email for content based on whether the address contained antisocial/deviant themes or otherwise unprofessional themes. I found those who use Appropriate email addresses score higher than those who do not use Appropriate email addresses on the pre-employment measures of cognitive ability, conscientiousness, professionalism, work-related experience and overall score. Additionally, I found individuals who did not use either antisocial/deviant or otherwise unprofessional email addresses scored higher on each of the pre-employment tests with the exception of cognitive ability. Implications, limitations and ideas for future research are addressed as well.
Author: Evan Blackhurst
Language: English
Topic: Employer Branding and e-HRM
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W791346530