Recruitment challenges in family firms: the effects of message content and type of applicant on organisational attractiveness

Abstract

Research suggests that family firms face big challenges when recruiting qualified non–family employees. In this paper we explore the effects of information about family ownership and organisational size on perceptions about a firm and attractiveness to a firm. One hundred and eighty seven participants (Undergraduate = 92, MBA students = 95) read one of four job advertisements created by manipulating information about organisational size (50 vs. 500 employees) and family ownership (explicit vs. implicit). Results indicate that explicitly communicating information about family ownership does not make a difference on perceptions about the firm and attractiveness to it. Information about organisational size affects applicant perceptions about job security, advancement opportunities, compensation, prestige, and organisational attractiveness particularly for MBA students. Implications of these results for research recruitment practices in family firms are discussed.