IS THERE SUCH A THING AS 'OBJECTIVE RECRUITMENT’? Awareness of homosociality in the 'test tool’ industry

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore test tools as a generally accepted practice used as part of formalised recruitment processes. We strive to understand in which ways test tools aim to counteract discrimination when introduced in the Swedish labour market and the implications of their use. This project is approached from a perspective of homosociality and of how awareness of this influences the test tools. Theoretical Framework: perspective, building on the idea that people tend to orient themselves to others of the same gender. To further elaborate on this tendency, similarity theory is used to discern other prevailing attraction factors. In considering that homosociality often is inherent in organisational structures, the study is complemented with theories on gendered organisations, inequality regimes and intersectionality in order to critically explore and analyse the empirical findings. Methodology: A qualitative research design has been applied with material collected through indepth semi-structured interviews with professional test tool developers and consultants and the specialised documents which supports their work on test tools. The 10 in-depth interviews and 57 ich we approach the analysis of this study. Results: The results disclose awareness of homosociality - on an interpersonal level - among the test tool developers and consultants in this study. It is expressed that test tools aim to provide objective assessments and non-discrimination in the labour market. However, the findings reveal that there is still room for homosociality to occur even if test tools are used where migrant women are exposed to a higher risk of being discriminated. Amongst other factors, subjective timing of implementation phase among customers, western based development, subjective design of requirement profiles, selected language offerings, absence of results on test tools and digitalisation are shown to create and uphold inequalities in the labour market.