Skills, signals, and employability: An experimental investigation

Marc Piopiunik, Guido Schwerdt, Lisa Simon and Ludger Woessmann

European Economic Review, 2020, vol. 123, issue C

Abstract: Because most skills of labor-market entrants are not directly observed by employers, individuals acquire skill signals. To study which signals are valued by employers, we randomize several skill signals on resumes of fictitious applicants among which we ask a large representative sample of German human-resource managers to choose. We find that signals in both studied domains – cognitive and social skills – have significant effects on being invited for a job interview. Consistent with their relevance, expectedness, and credibility, different signals are effective for apprenticeship applicants and college graduates. While GPAs and social skills are significant for both genders, females are particularly rewarded for IT and language skills. Older HR managers value school grades less and other signals more. HR managers in larger firms value college grades more.

Keywords: Signals; Cognitive skills; Social skills; Resume; Hiring; Labor market (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I26 J21 J24 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (26)

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Related works:
Working Paper: Skills, signals, and employability: An experimental investigation (2020)
Working Paper: Skills, Signals, and Employability: An Experimental Investigation (2018)
Working Paper: Skills, Signals, and Employability: An Experimental Investigation (2018)
Working Paper: Skills, Signals, and Employability: An Experimental Investigation (2018)
Working Paper: Skills, Signals, and Employability: An Experimental Investigation (2018)
Working Paper: Skills, Signals, and Employability: An Experimental Investigation (2018)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:eecrev:v:123:y:2020:i:c:s0014292120300064

DOI: 10.1016/j.euroecorev.2020.103374

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