David D. Clare

Esteem Support Messages Received during the Job Search: A Test of the CETESM

The current study extends research on the Cognitive-Emotional Theory of Esteem Support Messages (CETESM) and examines the role of esteem support during the job search. Unemployed, underemployed, and/or displaced job seekers (N=197) recalled an esteem support message they had received during their job search. Messages were coded using a scheme derived from the CETESM. Results indicate that helpful messages (i.e., those that enhanced state self-esteem related to the job search) were significantly more likely than unhelpful messages to contain message features predicted by the CETESM. Helpful messages were also associated with greater job search activity than were unhelpful messages. Theoretical implications, as well as pragmatic implications for those who wish to support job seekers, are discussed.

Message Characteristics in Online Product Reviews and Consumer Ratings of Helpfulness

Consumers often rate online product reviews in terms of helpfulness. To explore the linguistic features that may contribute to helpfulness ratings, a linguistic inquiry and word count analysis compared 377 helpful and unhelpful Amazon.com product reviews, showing that helpful and unhelpful reviews differed across 23 of 67 linguistic categories. Results also suggested a consumer preference for messages that contain objective characteristics and high-quality arguments. A follow-up study tested hypothesized relationships among helpfulness ratings and review relevance, descriptiveness, and evaluation discrepancy. The data showed that descriptive reviews were rated as helpful. Implications, limitations, and directions for future research are discussed.

The Differential Impact of Social Support Types in Promoting New Entrant Job Search Self-Efficacy and Behavior

The current study examines how the receipt of different types of supportive communication affects the job search. New entrant job seekers (N = 175) reported on their receipt of four types of social support (informational, instrumental, emotional, and companionship support) and their perceptions of job search self-efficacy and job search behavior. Emotional support and companionship support exerted the strongest unique effects on job search self-efficacy, and informational support and emotional support exerted the strongest unique effects on job search behavior. Implications of the findings are discussed.

Assessing the Role of Job-Search Self-Efficacy in the Relationship between Esteem Support and Job-Search Behavior among Two Populations of Job Seekers

Two studies are reported that test a model in which job-search self-efficacy mediates the relationship between received esteem support and job-search behavior. Esteem support refers to messages intended to enhance how recipients feel about themselves and their attributes, abilities, and/or accomplishments. New-entrant job seekers (N = 208, Study 1), as well as unemployed, underemployed, and/or displaced workers (N = 254, Study 2) completed a survey assessing their reception of esteem support messages, job-search self-efficacy, and job-search behavior. Both studies revealed that job-search self-efficacy mediated the relationship between esteem support and job-search behavior, but the effects were more pronounced among new-entrant job seekers.