Nexus between Human Talent Attraction and Digital Recruitment: A Signaling Theory Perspective on Anticipatory Psychological Contract

Abstract

This study aims to examine the role of the degree of digitalization in the recruitment process on human talent attraction by increasing candidates’ intention to engage in and take part in the recruitment process. Using the signaling theory perspective, the study suggests that this relatedness is mediated by organizational attractiveness and the anticipatory psychological contract. The study analyzed data collected from 260 students from both government and private sector universities based in Karachi, Pakistan. The study revealed a positive relationship between the degree of digitalization in the recruitment process and candidates’ intention to apply through digital recruitment techniques as a means of talent attraction. The results are acquired using the Partial Least Square  Structural  Equation  Modelling (PLS-SEM) technique through smart PLS software. The results also illustrated that organizational attractiveness and anticipatory psychological contract mediates the relationship between digitalization in the recruitment process and candidates’ intention to apply. The study can help the management of organizations to foster the parameters so that human talent would get attracted and apply for a job at an organization. Furthermore, since the study is based on a sample collected from Pakistan, it contributes to the literature thread from developing countries.