{"id":{"repo_id":"utc","oai_identifier":"oai:scholar.utc.edu:theses-1424"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/utc/oai:scholar.utc.edu:theses-1424","repository":{"repo_id":"utc","name":"University of Tennessee - Chattanooga","base_url":"https://scholar.utc.edu/do/oai/"},"display":{"title":"Competency-based versus task-based job descriptions: effects on applicant attraction","abstract":"In order for organizations to attract applicants, they need to ensure they are using attractive recruitment materials. Previous research has failed to examine the effect of varying types of job description formats on applicants’ level of attraction to an organization. This study examined applicants’ attraction to organizations based on competency-based and task-based job descriptions. A total of 258 participants were from a Southeastern university, representing three different majors. The job descriptions were individualized based on academic major. Participants read both competency and task-based job descriptions and rated their attraction to each organization. The Big Five and Love of Learning measures were administered, as these constructs could affect attraction to a particular job description. The results of this study suggested no difference in organizational attraction based on competencies or tasks. Love of Learning was not positively related to attraction to the organization with the competency-based description. Openness to experience was positively related to competency-based job descriptions for nursing majors. Implications and future research suggestions are discussed.","abstract_html":"In order for organizations to attract applicants, they need to ensure they are using attractive recruitment materials. Previous research has failed to examine the effect of varying types of job description formats on applicants’ level of attraction to an organization. This study examined applicants’ attraction to organizations based on competency-based and task-based job descriptions. A total of 258 participants were from a Southeastern university, representing three different majors. The job descriptions were individualized based on academic major. Participants read both competency and task-based job descriptions and rated their attraction to each organization. The Big Five and Love of Learning measures were administered, as these constructs could affect attraction to a particular job description. The results of this study suggested no difference in organizational attraction based on competencies or tasks. Love of Learning was not positively related to attraction to the organization with the competency-based description. Openness to experience was positively related to competency-based job descriptions for nursing majors. Implications and future research suggestions are discussed.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Hawkes, Candace Leann"],"institution":"University of Tennessee at Chattanooga","degree_name":null,"degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Weathington, Bart L.","Biderman, Michael D.; Cunningham, Christopher J. L.","College of Arts and Sciences"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":null,"date_issued":"","date_published":null,"updated_at":"2026-07-24T05:46:19Z","subjects":["Employees -- Recruiting"],"languages":["English","eng"],"rights":[],"rights_urls":["https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en"],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://scholar.utc.edu/theses/284","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Weathington, Bart L.","Biderman, Michael D.; Cunningham, Christopher J. 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S.; A thesis submitted to the faculty of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Science."]},{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["In order for organizations to attract applicants, they need to ensure they are using attractive recruitment materials. Previous research has failed to examine the effect of varying types of job description formats on applicants’ level of attraction to an organization. This study examined applicants’ attraction to organizations based on competency-based and task-based job descriptions. A total of 258 participants were from a Southeastern university, representing three different majors. The job descriptions were individualized based on academic major. Participants read both competency and task-based job descriptions and rated their attraction to each organization. The Big Five and Love of Learning measures were administered, as these constructs could affect attraction to a particular job description. The results of this study suggested no difference in organizational attraction based on competencies or tasks. Love of Learning was not positively related to attraction to the organization with the competency-based description. Openness to experience was positively related to competency-based job descriptions for nursing majors. Implications and future research suggestions are discussed."]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Competency-based versus task-based job descriptions: effects on applicant attraction"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Weathington, Bart L.","Biderman, Michael D.; Cunningham, Christopher J. L.","College of Arts and Sciences"],"dc:creator":["Hawkes, Candace Leann"],"dc:date":["2013-05-01T07:00:00Z"],"dc:description":["Dept. of Psychology","M. S.; A thesis submitted to the faculty of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Science."],"dc:description.abstract":["In order for organizations to attract applicants, they need to ensure they are using attractive recruitment materials. Previous research has failed to examine the effect of varying types of job description formats on applicants’ level of attraction to an organization. This study examined applicants’ attraction to organizations based on competency-based and task-based job descriptions. A total of 258 participants were from a Southeastern university, representing three different majors. The job descriptions were individualized based on academic major. Participants read both competency and task-based job descriptions and rated their attraction to each organization. The Big Five and Love of Learning measures were administered, as these constructs could affect attraction to a particular job description. The results of this study suggested no difference in organizational attraction based on competencies or tasks. Love of Learning was not positively related to attraction to the organization with the competency-based description. Openness to experience was positively related to competency-based job descriptions for nursing majors. Implications and future research suggestions are discussed."],"dc:identifier":["https://scholar.utc.edu/theses/284"],"dc:language":["English","eng"],"dc:publisher":["University of Tennessee at Chattanooga","Chattanooga (Tenn.)"],"dc:relation":["Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations"],"dc:rights":["https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en"],"dc:subject":["Employees -- Recruiting"],"dc:title":["Competency-based versus task-based job descriptions: effects on applicant attraction"],"dc:type":["Masters theses","Text"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T05:46:19Z"}