Characteristics of Rejection Letters and their Effects on Job Applicants
- 1 October 1984
- journal article
- research article
- Published by SAGE Publications in Written Communication
- Vol. 1 (4) , 387-406
- https://doi.org/10.1177/0741088384001004001
Abstract
This study attempted to describe the structural and content characteristics of actual employment rejection letters (following job screening interviews). Their impact on applicants' feelings about themselves (self-concept and self-satisfaction) and about letters (perceptions of letter clarity, “personalness” and appreciative tone) are assessed. Results provide a profile of the “typical” rejection letter and indicate that while few of the letter characteristics affected applicants' feelings about themselves, a number of these attributes were related to applicants' perceptions of the letters.Keywords
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