Back to basics in human resource theorizing: A call for greater attention to jobs

Job categories and levels are a central part of human resource management, yet research often treats jobs as “noise” rather than fundamental to theory. We review the ways in which jobs connect to human resource strategy, as well as the role of jobs in influencing the outcomes of human resource strategy. Future researchers are encouraged to take job categories and levels into account as they develop theory and design studies in the field of human resource management. •Call for more theory development incorporating the role of job level and category.•Describe how job level and category influence the human resource management strategies.•Describe how job level and category are associated with the effects of human resource management strategies.