PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between positive emotion, self-efficacy, job satisfaction and turnover intention in the context of resource building during the socialization process of new faculty members, particularly in the context of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.Design/methodology/approachThe study utilizes a quantitative research design and employs purposive sampling to obtain 554 valid questionnaires. The study analyzes the relationship between positive emotion, self-efficacy, job satisfaction and turnover intention and examines the influence of strategic human resource management (SHRM) on these variables.FindingsThe results of the study reveal that SHRM positively influences positive emotion and self-efficacy, which, in turn, positively impact job satisfaction. However, positive emotion is negatively related to turnover intention.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the existing literature on human resource management (HRM) by examining the impact of strategic HRM on the socialization process of new faculty members. The findings of the study have significant practical implications for the implementation of HRM in research-oriented universities.