Max Thon’s research on job advertisements featured in the German press
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We are pleased to share that research by Max Thon, together with Larissa Fuchs, Matthias Heinz, and Pia Pinger, has been featured in the German press. Their study, “How to Attract Talent? Field-Experimental Evidence on Emphasizing Flexibility and Career Opportunities in Job Advertisements,” examines how small changes in the wording of job advertisements can affect both the number and composition of applications.
Using a randomised field experiment with a large technology company in Germany, the study shows that prominently highlighting flexibility and career opportunities in job advertisements can meaningfully increase applications for entry-level STEM positions. Emphasising flexibility increased applications, particularly among women, while emphasising career opportunities increased applications, particularly among men and also attracted stronger applicant profiles.
The findings show that job advertisements do more than simply communicate information: they send signals that shape who applies. The study offers practical insights for employers seeking to attract talent in competitive labour markets, especially for early-career positions.
Read the paper here: How to Attract Talent? Field-Experimental Evidence on Emphasizing Flexibility and Career Opportunities in Job Advertisements
Congratulations to Max and his co-authors on this media coverage and important contribution to research on recruitment and labour markets.