Job applicants’ use of online job banks: The impact of transaction cost factors and psychological variables

In this study, we investigated the effects of transaction cost factors and psychological variables on job seekers’ use of online job banks. Participants were 366 job applicants in Taiwan. The research results showed that information completeness, trust, and the asset specificity of online job banks had a significantly positive effect on job applicants’ attitudes toward them. Of all the factors at play, asset specificity was found to have the strongest effect on job applicants’ attitudes. We conclude that when job applicants establish a strong asset specificity relationship with online job banks, it enhances their attitude toward future job bank use.