Working Paper: NBER ID: w30886
Authors: Emma Wiles; Zanele T. Munyikwa; John J. Horton
Abstract: There is a strong association between writing quality in resumes for new labor market entrants and whether they are ultimately hired. We show this relationship is, at least partially, causal: in a field experiment in an online labor market with nearly half a million jobseekers, treated jobseekers received algorithmic writing assistance on their resumes. Treated jobseekers were hired 8% more often. Contrary to concerns that the assistance takes away a valuable signal, we find no evidence that employers were less satisfied. We present a model where better writing does not signal ability but helps employers ascertain ability, rationalizing our findings.
Keywords: algorithmic writing assistance; jobseekers; resumes; hiring; field experiment
JEL Codes: M5; J0; J64
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| writing quality (L15) | hiring probability (M51) |
| writing quality (L15) | hourly wages (J31) |
| employer satisfaction (M51) | hiring outcomes (M51) |
| algorithmic writing assistance (C87) | hiring probability (M51) |
| algorithmic writing assistance (C87) | hourly wages (J31) |