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Applicants' preference for impression management tactic in employment interviews by Transportation Security
Joseph N Scudder1, Kevin G Lamude
1Department of Communication Studies, Northern Illinois University, 211 Watson Hall, DeKalb, IL 60115-2854, USA. jscudder@niu.edu
Psychological Reports
|July 21, 2009
Summary
Job applicants surprisingly used more ingratiation tactics, like praising interviewers, than self-promotion. This study explored impression management strategies in Transportation Security Administration screening interviews.
Area of Science:
- Organizational Psychology
- Human Resources Management
- Industrial-Organizational Psychology
Background:
- Previous research suggests job applicants favor self-promoting impression management tactics in interviews.
- Impression management is crucial for applicant success in competitive job markets.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test the hypothesis that applicants prefer self-promotion over ingratiation in employment interviews.
- To investigate impression management tactics used by applicants for Transportation Security Administration screener positions.
Main Methods:
- Collected self-report data on impression management tactics from 124 job applicants.
- Participants were interviewed for screener positions within the Transportation Security Administration.
Main Results:
- Contrary to the hypothesis, applicants reported using more ingratiation tactics (praising the interviewer) than self-promotion tactics (highlighting personal achievements).
- The findings contrast with prior research on general employment interviews.
Conclusions:
- Specific job requirements (perceptual abilities for security roles) may influence tactic selection.
- The structured interview context within the Transportation Security Administration might also contribute to the observed preference for ingratiation over self-promotion.
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