The role of social media in e-recruitment process: empirical evidence from developing countries in social network theory

Purpose - This study aims at demonstrating how social media shape the recruitment and selection processes of individuals in developing countries. It further explores the impacts of social media on business productivity, cost efficiency, widening of search, less employee turnover and competitive advantage mediated by adopting e-recruitment processes. This research adopts social network theory to discuss the findings and highlight the new mechanisms that legitimise business manipulation in e-recruitment process by exploring the usage of social media. Design/methodology/approach - Secondary data based on literature review is triangulated with 37 semi-structured qualitative interviews with managerial and non-managerial members of staff. Findings - The findings show that e-recruitment has immense advantages to businesses. However, the authors also consider the dark side of social media and e-recruitment process by considering social network theory as a manipulation tool in organisations of developing countries. Originality/value - Having adopted the social network theory, this research highlights the new mechanisms that legitimise business manipulation in e-recruitment process. Thus, it demonstrates technological advancements that reshape the dynamics of social networks and recruitment processes.