Information Seeking Behaviour in Recruiting: Examining the Background and Motivation of Job-Seeking Employees in their Search for Job Content and Job Context Information

Abstract

of a thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Abstract Information Seeking Behaviour in Recruiting: Examining the background and motivation of job-seeking employees in their search for job content and job context information by Noor Awanis Muslim Recruitment involves number of decisions; some are made by the organization and others by individual job seekers. If done well, recruitment can lead to success for organizations and job satisfaction for job holders. If done poorly, organisational success suffers, and individuals can be dissatisfied with their job, make poor decisions, and perhaps leave the firm. Job dissatisfaction occurs when jobs fail to meet the individuals' expectations or fulfil their needs. Such job dissatisfaction often leads to a new job search.In the job search literature, the type and attributes of the job information available are important for job seekers. However, the most valued specific job-related information varies across potential employees. This variation exists because the search for specific job-related information differs among individuals, influenced by individuals' needs and expectations. The process of matching individuals' needs and expectations with the selection of specific job-related information may help avoid job dissatisfaction and turnover.This research combines theory from the context of individuals (backgrounds of potential employees), the theory of motivation to search (for jobs), and the theory of job information into a new research framework. This research will examine the relationship between job dissatisfaction, motivation to search and specific job-related iii information to search. Though job dissatisfaction appears to differ among jobseekers, it is analysed in terms of job categories such as engineers, technicians, managers and clerical staff. The second construct, motivation to search, is dependent on individuals' needs for improvement in terms of salary, Results show that no differences were found in the relationship between job supervision responsibility levels and specific job-related information. However, between job search motivation and specific job-related information, employees with different employee motivational perspectives were found to seek different specific information.