Social Networking Information and Pre-Employment Background Checks: The Mediating Role of Sustainable Organizational Reputation

Abstract

This study was aimed at identifying the role of social networking information (SNI) on pre-employment background checks (PBCs) of job applicants involving a single mediating variable, sustainable organizational reputation (SOR). In addition to that, we conducted a multi-group analysis to examine whether the direct and mediating effects were stronger in terms of gender difference. For investigation, a structured questionnaire was utilized to collect data from 1138 respondents working as hiring professionals in Bangladesh applying purposive sampling. Finally, 798 valid samples were considered. Structural equation modeling was applied using AMOS 24 to test the hypothesized relationships. The results indicated that SNI is positively and significantly related to PBCs. Additionally, it was revealed that SOR can partially mediate the direct relationship between SNI and PBCs. Furthermore, the study did not reveal any noteworthy gender differences influencing these relationships. The paper is expected to assist academicians involved in investigating pre-selection background checks and hiring professionals looking for further academic references to formulate a proper social media background policy.