THE PRIDE FACTOR: THE INFLUENCE OF INTERVIEW EXPERIENCES ON EMPLOYER BRANDING
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16950718Keywords:
pride, emotions, employer branding, perception, interview, interview rounds, studentAbstract
Interviews allow organizations to evaluate candidates’ capabilities while candidates simultaneously form impressions of the organization’s culture and reputation. Yet research rarely examines how candidates’ emotions during the interview process shape these perceptions. Drawing on Achievement Emotion Theory, this study investigates how specific aspects of interview design - particularly the level of difficulty and the number of interview rounds - influence candidates’ feelings of pride during the hiring process. A survey was conducted with 283 students who had completed multiple interviews. Regression analysis tested how perceived difficulty and the number of rounds affected pride. Candidates felt more pride during challenging interviews, but too many rounds weakened this effect. This study shows that pride matters in recruitment and employer branding. For scholars, it highlights an overlooked emotion. For practitioners, it suggests that fair, challenging interviews can enhance candidate pride and strengthen the company’s image.
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