Who is attracted to socially responsible organizations? Roles of job applicants' volunteer experience and motives

PurposeBased on the multiple domain perspective and self-identity theory, this study aims to investigate the effect of job applicants' volunteer experience on their attraction to organizations that engage in corporate social responsibility (CSR). Moreover, it examines the mediating effect of the CSR work role definition in this relationship and proposes a moderated mediation model of how the effect of volunteer experience on organizational attractiveness through the CSR work role definition differs according to other- and self-oriented motives.Design/methodology/approachHypotheses were tested with a moderated mediation model using a scenario-based questionnaire with a sample of 146 undergraduate students in South Korea.FindingsJob applicants' volunteer experience was positively related to attraction to socially responsible organizations, and the CSR work role definition mediated this relationship. The conditional indirect effect of job applicants' volunteer experience on their attraction to socially responsible organizations through the CSR work role definition was significant only for job applicants with lower other- and self-oriented motives.Practical implicationsThe study findings suggest that organizations performing CSR should examine whether job applicants have experience with volunteering activities and the motives behind their participation in such activities.Originality/valueThis study contributes to a comprehensive understanding of how job applicants are attracted to organizations that perform CSR and when such attraction is significant by considering their perception of the CSR work role definition and motives for volunteering activities.