Veteran Status and Job Candidate Assessments in U.S. Local Governments

Justin M. Stritch*, Ulrich Thy Jensen, David Swindell, Michelle Allgood, Allegra H. Fullerton

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaperJournal articleResearchpeer-review

Abstract

Advocates often present veterans as an untapped resource for local governments to boost the public service workforce. However, there is a lack of understanding of how human resource (HR) professionals value military experience when assessing candidate preparedness for a managerial career in public service. We examine how veteran status affects U.S. city and county HR directors’ evaluations of candidates for entry-level managerial positions in local government. Using an experimental design, we randomly assign candidate characteristics of veteran status and gender, and we observe HR directors’ assessments of candidate preparedness. Our findings reveal a premium on veteran status for candidate assessments relative to similar private sector experience in assessments of candidate experience. At the same time, the results are less conclusive when compared to similar public sector experiences. In addition, we find no clear evidence of disparate assessments of candidate preparedness as a function of candidate gender.

Original languageEnglish
JournalReview of Public Personnel Administration
Volume44
Issue3
Pages (from-to)493-515
Number of pages23
ISSN0734-371X
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2024

Keywords

  • applicant evaluations
  • bias
  • gender
  • human resource management
  • veterans

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