Poster #145 - Wiseguys or Wise Guys? The impact of high school equivalency credentials on appraisals of job candidates

• In Event: Saturday Poster Luncheon

Abstract

For over 27 million American adults who did not graduate from high school or earn an equivalent credential, high school equivalency (HSE) credentials provide an opportunity to meet the minimum requirements for many jobs or educational pathways. However, it is unclear whether or how HSE credentials help otherwise uncredentialed adults succeed in the workforce. This project will generate experimental evidence to answer the question of whether and how HSE credentials shape hiring managers’ perceptions of candidates applying for entry-level positions. Specifically, we run a survey experiment with 1,000 adults with managerial job experience in 5 U.S. states, comparing their evaluations of hypothetical job candidates with different resume characteristics. We assess whether managers systematically penalize or reward HSE credential-holders relative to their peers who do not report any educational credential, who report holding a traditional high school diploma, or who report enrolling in community college. Additionally, we examine whether a signal of high-performance in math or language arts moderates the link between reporting an HSE credential and third-party evaluations.

Author

• Blake H Heller, University of Houston
  Presenting Author