Advice‐seeking and advice‐utilization for hiring decisions: An investigation of a partially outsourced recruitment process for rank‐and‐file managers

We study a large‐scale, partially outsourced recruitment process. A specialized consultancy assesses applicants' soft‐skills on behalf of a client firm, who retains agency over the hiring decision. We conceptualize this collaboration as an advice‐seeking, advice‐utilization process and analyze the effectiveness of hiring recommendations provided in influencing the client's hiring decisions. Two external HR specialists not only differ in their...