Do recruiters prefer applicants with similar skills? Evidence from a randomized natural experiment

Manuel Bagues and Maria J. Perez-Villadoniga

Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 2012, vol. 82, issue 1, 12-20

Abstract: In this paper we explore whether recruiters prefer applicants who are relatively strong in the skills in which the recruiters themselves excel. We analyze evidence from all entry exams to the Spanish Judiciary held between 2003 and 2007, where applicants are randomly assigned across evaluation committees. We find that applicants who excel in the same dimensions as recruiters are significantly more likely to be hired. Our findings have important strategic implications for both public and private sector recruitment practices.

Keywords: Hiring; Similar-to-me effect; Randomized natural experiment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J2 M51 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (20)

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Working Paper: Do recruiters prefer applicants with similar skills? Evidence from a randomized natural experiment (2009)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jeborg:v:82:y:2012:i:1:p:12-20

DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2011.12.004

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