Research position – Human Relations Research Group

The Human Relations Research Group, Faculty of Economics and Business of KU Leuven
is looking for a researcher:
Research position – Human Relations Research Group
Topic : The influence of cognitive misfit on organizational attractiveness.

Contract: Full-time
Period: Fixed-term
Place: Brussels
Apply before: September
25th, 2014

The Human Relations Research Group (HRRG) is part of the Faculty of Economics and Business of the KU Leuven, Campus Brussels. The HRRG is an interdisciplinary research team (management, economics, psychology, sociology…) and investigates several aspects of human relations within organizations and societies. We aim to disseminate research findings through seminars and conferences, seeking of external funding, and the collaboration on the following five core research topics: (1) Human Resources Management, (2) Justice, Diversity & Inclusion, (3) Marketing  Communication, (4) Relational Organizing, and (5) Quality of Labour.

Project
The research project will be part of a larger-scale research program, which aims to advance academic understanding of job search and organizational recruitment. Despite the current economic recession, organizations are involved in a talent hunt for good candidates. To be effective in this war for talent, organizations would like to choose from a rich pool of applicants. A neglected aspect that forestalls such a recruitment process from the part of the organization is a possible misfit between a potential candidate and the organization, i.e. highly qualified candidates may see a misfit with the organization, although they would be suitable for the job. For example, people who are strongly driven by intrinsic versus extrinsic values (Deci & Ryan, 2002), may not feel attracted towards a very competitive organization. Current research on person-organization fit has been biased by a strong focus on fit and a neglect of a possible misfit (De Goede, 2012).

Your job will consist of the following activities:

• Design and analyze a series of quantitative studies;
• Write scientific articles;
• Participate in (international) seminars and conferences;

The duration of the project will be 2 years, counting from the first day of employment. Extension of the contract to three or four years depends upon external funding and will allow the project to lead to a Ph.D.

Profile

• You hold a master’s degree in Psychology or Applied Economics with a preferable focus on Human Resources Management
• You have received at least two ‘honours’ (i.e., cum laude, distinction) over the course of your higher education;
• You have demonstrable experience with, or a strong interest in designing and executing quantitative studies;
• Your written and spoken English is good;
• You are an intellectually curious, analytical ‘idea person’, with a knack for academic research and a proactive, self-directed approach to work.

Offer
We offer employment as a full-time researcher in a stimulating environment, starting between October and December 2014, for a period of 2 years (pending positive evaluation after 12 months), under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Karin Proost (supervisor) and Prof. Dr. Anja Van den Broeck (co-supervisor).
More information on the terms of employment can be found on:
http://www.kuleuven.be/personeel/jobsite/en/working

Interested?
Contact Prof. Dr. Karin Proost for any questions you may have.
E-mail: karin.proost@kuleuven.be
Phone: +32 493 49 87 87

Interested candidates can send their Curriculum Vitae to karin.proost@kuleuven.be before September 25th, 2014. The application procedure will consist of an interview in which the necessary competencies for the job will be evaluated. Invited candidates will receive a short assignment to prepare for the interview.