Finding the right match

Applying for a job or an internship is like dating, according to CMU Industrial/Organizational Psychology Ph.D. student, Shilpa Alamuri. The company and the applicant must mutually attract each other. Alamuri’s research focuses on discovering how applicant workload impacts their desire to work for an organization and accept a job offer. This topic has broad appeal as evidenced by Alamuri being named the first-place winner of the CMU 2025 Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) competition. Moreover, she just returned from the Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools conference where her short research presentation resonated with judges and she was named a regional finalist.  

Alamuri’s initial curiosity for this research topic was sparked by cultural experience. She is from India and noticed that Indian applicants seem to be more tolerant to extensive hiring processes. Alamuri designed her study, working with her mentor, Matthew Prewett, Ph.D. She created three applicant workload categories low, moderate, and high and after assigning participants to one of the categories she asked how they would feel during the hiring process. 

Alamuri found that applicants were most satisfied with a moderate workload. She said the explanation behind this effect was three-fold: fairness, trustworthiness, and emotional experience. When candidates go through a hiring journey, they’re not just looking to prove themselves—they’re asking three questions: 1) Can I trust this organization?, 2) Was I given a fair shot?, and 3) How did this whole process make me feel? The answers to these questions lead applicants to form an impression about the organization's professionalism.  

Overall, Alamuri concludes “Candidates are becoming more sensitive about what they're being put through for the sake of a job”. Alamuri hopes organizations can use this piece of research for improving their hiring processes.