Human Resources Management Commons^™

Human Capital Effects In The Job Search Process For New Labor Market Entrants: A Double-Edged Sword?, Jomel Wei Xuan Ng, Zhaoli Song, Filip Lievens

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Although traditional research on human capital shows that it enhances employment success, its role in the job search process is unclear. To explain its weak effects in previous studies, this study draws on goal system theory to propose that human capital may act as a double-edged sword: On one hand it facilitates the ease of gaining employment, on the other hand it may compromise the frequency of job search behaviors. We conducted a bi-weekly repeated survey study on new labor market entrants and measured human capital using academic achievement scores. Results confirmed that human capital, though instrumental for proximal job …