Flow Experiences During Online and Face-to-Face Meetings: A Two-Wave Study

Abstract

This paper aims to explain the effects of flow on organizational commitment in hybrid (online and face-to-face) job application settings. In detail, it investigates flow experiences of job applicants during the different phases of the application process. In addition, it explores whether situational factors like the attractiveness of a job application process per se and personal factors like a person’s occupational self-efficacy affect a person’s commitment towards the employer. Drawing on data of 166 job applicants over a period of up to six months, we find that job candidates who experience flow during the application process are more likely to be committed to their future employer. Furthermore, the study reveals that occupational self-efficacy and attractiveness of the application have a positive indirect effect on organizational commitment via flow. Combined, our study provides insights on how to facilitate organizational commitment right from the very first moment of a person’s contact with the organization.