Time: 13:30-15:00, Friday, November 13, 2026

Venue: Guoshun Campus, Room 410, Starr Building

Speaker: Professor Fabian Jintae Froese, Chair Professor of Human Resource Management, University of Goettingen

Moderator: Associate Professor Shengming Liu

Topic: When Technology Makes a First Impression: AI, Virtual Reality, and the Future of Recruitment

Abstract: Artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR) are transforming how organizations attract talent and engage with prospective employees. Yet, little is known about how these technologies influence applicant perceptions and recruitment outcomes. Drawing on affordance theory and signaling theory, this research examines the effectiveness of VR-based recruitment experiences incorporating AI avatars compared with traditional and AI-mediated recruitment approaches. Using a mixed-methods design comprising two experimental studies (N = 89 and N = 204) and 45 qualitative interviews, we investigate organizational attractiveness, job pursuit intentions, and applicant experiences. Our findings suggest that immersive VR experiences generate more favorable applicant reactions, particularly regarding organizational attractiveness and satisfaction, whereas AI-mediated recruitment received the lowest satisfaction ratings. Qualitative findings highlight focused attention, memorable experiences, and innovation signaling as key mechanisms underlying positive VR reactions. The study contributes to understanding how AI and immersive technologies shape applicant perceptions and offers insights into their effective integration into recruitment practices.

Bio: Fabian Jintae Froese is Chair Professor of Human Resource Management at the University of Goettingen, Germany, and Joint Appointment Professor of International Business at Yonsei University, South Korea. His research examines the future of global work, focusing on global mobility, virtual work, and artificial intelligence. His work has been published in leading journals such as the Journal of Applied Psychology, the Journal of International Business Studies, the Journal of Management, and the Journal of Management Studies. He is the author of Global Mobility and the Management of Expatriates (Cambridge University Press) and Managing a Global Workforce (Routledge). He serves as Associate or Senior Editor for the International Business Review, the Journal of Management Studies, and the German Journal of Human Resource Management.