Brenda Berkelaar

Cyber-vetting and Workplace Decisions: How Evaluations of Online Information Influence Careers, Human Capital, and Social Boundaries

Abstract: Interest in recruiting and retaining graduate students remains a primary focus of many graduate schools (Council of Graduate Schools, 2008). Providing services that improve the quality of life of students through social support and professional preparation and that help improve job prospects on completion can improve retention and recruitment and student rankings of programs (Council of Graduate Schools, 2008; Nerad, Rudd, Morrison, & Picciano, 2009). Fewer people will be interested in graduate school if there is not an employment payoff on the other side. Through empirical research, this project examines cyber-vetting, an emerging online information seeking strategy used in employee selection, retention, and promotion. Given the potentially changing nature of workplace decisions in this relatively new information technology environment, understanding the types of information sought and attributions made can help in providing relevant and strategic career strategies for graduate students. These recommendations, in turn, can enhance the quality of graduate student life, improve students candidacy for future positions, and increase likely interest in the pursuing graduate degrees. Findings will be employed to create training materials and programs and to pursue additional funding. Findings will be disseminated to university leaders, the broader scholarly community, and to current and prospective employees. This project provides useful data to enhance the quality of student life, which in turn, can improve recruitment and retention, and can offer the promise of future funding.