RECRUITERS’ STRATEGIES FOR CANDIDATE ATTRACTION - A qualitative analysis on technical recruiters’ individual strategies for attracting candidates at the first recruitment meeting in Turkey

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine recruiters’ potential to play a role in candidate attraction, from the perspective of the recruiter, in the recruitment processes, by looking at recruiters’ individual strategies at the first recruitment meeting. Theory: In order to study the phenomenon as a performance of the recruiter, symbolic interactionism theory was utilized to approach social interactions in which candidates and technical recruiters meet for the first time for a job interview. Goffman’s impression management theory contributed as a guideline to give insight into which type of strategies that recruiters employed through abductive approach. Method: A qualitative research design was employed to examine the purpose of this study, on 5 observations and 10 semi-structured interviews. Respondents were in- house technical recruiters, who have 3-5 years of experience and working at small and medium size technology companies in Turkey. Result: In order to appear more appealing to candidates, particular adjustments are done as a result of considering the first job interview as the performance of the recruiter. Different from the previous studies, this study offers a performative approach on recruitment, an abductive approach to data analysis, an insider perspective on HRM, and touching upon Turkey as a market that is unexplored.