E‐Recruitment: A study into applicant perceptions of an online application system

Little is known about applicant reactions to web‐based recruitment and selection procedures. This study examines applicant perceptions of web‐based procedures, based on a field study among 1360 applicants to a multinational financial services organization applying for jobs in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Belgium. With respect to the personal characteristics it was found that external (as opposed to internal), Belgian (as opposed to Dutch), and Internet savvy (as opposed to less savvy) candidates were more satisfied with the online application procedure and its features. However, it was found that features of the website, perceived efficiency and user‐friendliness, were by far the most important determinants of applicant satisfaction. Implications for organizations and future research on E‐recruitment are discussed.