Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: This study examined the effect of job applicants’ smiles on recruitment decisions using Chinese participants. In an experimental study, 305 Chinese participants were requested to rate the smiling behaviors of male and female job applicants at six different smile intensities. This study showed that perceived credibility is an important moderator of the effect of smiles on hiring. During the job interview process, job applicants’ emotional displays, such as smiles, play a crucial role in making a positive impression. Earlier investigations have explored the influences of genuine emotional expressions on service satisfaction, but empirical research on the joint effects of smile intensity and job applicant gender is scarce, especially in China. To address this gap, this research examined the impact of this interaction on job applicants’ perceived reliability. Our results showed that bright smiles were perceived as more reliable when job applicants were female (but not male). In contrast, faint smiles were more consistent with male stereotypes, leading to higher perceptions of reliability. This study further suggests that perceived credibility is a psychological mechanism that can explain the link between smile intensity and recruitment decisions.
Authors: Fei Xu, Xueqin Zhang, Junho Lee
Institution: Hoseo University
Language: English
Topic: Employer Branding and e-HRM
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4409400795