UGent @ Work seminarie #6

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Programme

15.00h–15.30h Presentation Kevin Pineda-Hernández
15.30h–15.45h Feedback other attendees

15.45h–16.10h Presentation Stijn Baert
16.10h–16.30h Feedback other attendees

Presentation Kevin Pineda-Hernández

Title: Moving-up The Social Ladder? Intergenerational Earnings Mobility Among Immigrants in Belgium

Authors: TBA

Abstract: As second-generation immigrants from developing countries represent an increasingly sizeable share of the working-age population in developed countries, their labour market integration attracts growing attention. Using a rich, matched employer-employee database for the Belgian private labour market between 1999 and 2016, our weighted multilevel linear regressions and reweighted RIF-OB decompositions indicate, on average, positive intergenerational earnings mobility among female and male workers from developing countries. Nonetheless, the overall wage gap between workers from developed countries and developing countries remains substantial across two generations. After accounting for a wide range of covariates (inter alia, demographics, human capital, occupations, and firm fixed effects), our estimates suggest that, although there is no evidence of an adjusted wage gap for second-generation male workers from developing countries, their female peers still face an important adjusted wage gap to an increasing extent across the wage distribution.

Slides: TBA

Presentation Stijn Baert

Title: Costly Mistakes: Why and When Spelling Errors in Resumes Jeopardise Interview Chances

Authors: Philippe Sterkens, Ralf Caers, Marijke De Couck, Michael Geamanu, Victor Van Driessche, and Stijn Baert

Abstract: Earlier research has associated spelling errors in resumes with reduced hiring chances. However, the analysis of hiring penalties due to spelling errors has thus far been restricted to white-collar occupations and relatively high numbers of errors per resume. Moreover, the mechanisms underlying the spelling error penalty have remained unclear. To fill these gaps in the peerreviewed literature, we conducted a scenario experiment with 445 genuine recruiters. Results show that, compared to error-free resumes, hiring penalties are being inflicted for both error-laden resumes (18.5 percent points lower interview probability) and resumes with fewer errors (7.3 percent points lower interview probability). Furthermore, we find substantial heterogeneity in penalties inflicted based on various applicant, job and participant characteristics. About half of the spelling error penalty can be explained by the perception that applicants who make spelling errors have lower interpersonal skills (9.0%), conscientiousness (12.1%) and mental abilities (32.2%).

Slides: click here