Employment interview satisfaction of applicants within the context of a developing country: The case of Turkey

This paper develops a deeper understanding of applicant interview satisfaction by examining the construct of 'applicant satisfaction', and then by using a presented model, exploring whether some individual-level factors might affect the level of applicant interview satisfaction and whether applicant satisfaction influences the results of interviews. First, an original measurement instrument was developed using qualitative and quantitative approaches. Next, data were collected from real applicants to obtain the final measurement instrument. Finally, the hypothesized relationships were tested using structural equation modelling. The two-dimensional applicant satisfaction scale is statistically meaningful, valid and reliable, whereas hypothesized relationships mostly lead to results parallel to theoretical expectations. Since applicant interview satisfaction has not yet been formally conceptualized and operationalized by academicians, this research will reveal an opportunity for recruiters to obtain deeper understanding of applicant perceptions and also to improve their ability to attract candidates to their organizations.