Job Hunt on the Internet, E-Recruitment and Labour Market Productivity

By

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to take this opportunity to thank my lecturer who has always shown confidence in me. He has offered his patience, remarks, propositions and understanding. Here I would also like to mention my parents who have always believed in me for all my hard work. My family, including my parents, brother and sister have endlessly supported me during my life and academics. This has helped me in making positive decisions for my life. I would also mention my peers and co-workers and appreciate their collaboration and expert advice on every circumstance. I am also grateful towards my University and my Department, the administrators, faculty members and fellow students for their support throughout this study.

DECLARATION

I declare that the material stated in this dissertation/thesis is original and does not present work of any other scholar or research study conducted in the past. Material in this study is not partially or completely published elsewhere and collected only for the purpose of this study. I also acknowledge that I have complete understanding of the requirements, guidelines, regulations and procedures of the University with respect to the endowment of higher education degree and my research work. Here, I would also like to take the opportunity to declare that I have almost exclusively followed the requirements, guidelines, regulations and procedures of the University regarding this research study.

I certify that the work presented in the dissertation is my own unless referenced

Signature: ____________________

Date: ___________________

ABSTRACT

The internet provides access to information and services worldwide through its global network of computers that enable the exchange of electronic data. The internet operates in cyberspace or in the world of online information and communication. The effective management of human resources has long been acknowledged by both scholars and practitioners as being a key component to the overall success of the business. In terms of the general literature on e-recruitment, advantages attributed to this source relate to its perceived cost-effectiveness, speed, geographic reach, and ease of use, whilst common disadvantages cited concern high application numbers, privacy and security issues, discrimination issues, and technology problems. The primary focus of the current study is to assess the effectiveness of the internet as a recruitment source. Whilst the research on source effectiveness has examined a broad range of recruitment sources, to date there has been minimal exploration on the effectiveness of the internet in comparison to its rapid uptake as a recruitment source.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTII

DECLARATIONIII

ABSTRACTIV

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION1

Background of the Study1

Research Objectives3

Structure of the thesis4

Chapter I: Introduction4

Chapter II: Literature Review4

Chapter III: Methodology4

Chapter IV: Analysis and Discussion5

Chapter V: Conclusion5

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW7

Overview of Recruitment7

Hiring on the Internet8

Overview of e-Recruitment11

Perceived advantages of e-recruitment15

Perceived Disadvantages of e-recruitment19

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY20

Sampling and Data Collection21

Likert scale21

Ethical Considerations22

CHAPTER 4: ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION23

Responses from the questionnaire Survey23

Questionnaire regarding HR manager's perception of E-recruitment23

Questionnaire regarding Job Seeker's perception of E-recruitment38

Discussion47

Effectiveness of Internet Job Search47

Effectiveness of Cyber-Recruiting48

The Benefits and Costs of Cyber-Recruiting to Employers48

Benefits49

Cost50

Cost benefit analysis50

CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION52

REFERENCES54

APPENDIX57

Appendix A: Consent form57

Appendix B: Questionnaire Survey58

Likert Scale Questionnaire Regarding ...