Effects of realistic job previews on hiring bank tellers.

Abstract

Abstract : A field experiment was conducted to assess the effects of three types of job previews (realistically general, and no preview) on newly hired bank tellers. The N=249 new hires were monitored for 43 weeks after entry into the bank. The Specific Job Preview clearly and significantly lowered initial job expectations compared to the other two groups. There were no significant differences among job preview groups in terms of their initial attitudes toward the organization, nor their job performance. The major criterion of interest, overall job survival rates, was also unaffected by previews. However, the rate at which turnover did occur was significantly different. Among those who ultimately left the bank, those in the Specific and General job preview groups tended to leave during the first three weeks (during formal, off-the-job training), whereas the No Preview leavers departed more often during the first 20 weeks after training (during the acquisition of job competence up to standard). (Author)