Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0
Title: How to Attract Talent? Field-Experimental Evidence on Emphasizing Flexibility and Career Opportunities in Job Advertisements
Author-Name: Larissa Fuchs
Author-Email: larissa.fuchs@wiso.uni-koeln.de
Author-Name: Matthias Heinz
Author-Email: heinz@wiso.uni-koeln.de
Author-Name: Pia Pinger
Author-Email: pinger@uni-koeln.de
Author-Name: Max Thon
Author-Email: m.thon@wiso.uni-koeln.de  
Classification-JEL: M51, M52, D22
Keywords: beliefs, hiring, field experiments, survey experiment, job advertisements, gender

Abstract: 

Job advertisements are a key tool for companies to attract talent. We conduct a randomized
controlled trial (RCT) in which we vary the content of job advertisements for STEM positions
at one of the largest technology firms in Europe. Specifically, we examine how emphasizing
job flexibility and career advancement in job ads causally affects the firm's applicant pool. We
find substantial treatment effects for entry-level positions, but not for senior-level roles. Highlighting
job flexibility increases the total number of applicants – both female and male – while
emphasizing career advancement increases applications only from men. Notably, both effects
are entirely driven by applicants residing outside the federal state where the firm is located.
In a separate survey experiment conducted among STEM students, we find that the content
of job advertisements influences young professionals' perceptions of the work environment. In
particular, highlighting career advancement shifts beliefs toward better career benefits, but also
toward a lower work-life balance.

Note: 
Length: 49
Creation-Date: 2025-04
Revision-Date:
File-URL: https://www.crctr224.de/research/discussion-papers/archive/dp683
File-Format: application/pdf
Handle: RePEc:bon:boncrc:CRCTR224_2025_683