Digital Badges and Employer Interest

Abstract

Digital badges are becoming more prevalent in the credentialing sector yet there is limited understanding of how digital badges influence the hiring process. The researcher conducted a type of field experiment called a résumé audit study. In the late Spring of 2019, the investigator applied to 1,848 unique entry-level jobs using one of three versions of a fictional résumé. One résumé displayed badges in business skills, another résumé showed identical skills but without badges, the third résumé was a control with no added business skills. The results show that a recent college graduate without a business degree significantly increases the likelihood of employer interest if digital badges associated with business skills appear on the applicant’s résumé.