THE MANAGEMENT OF THE IMPRESSION IN THE PERSONNEL SELECTION: BUILDING CONTEMPORARY LIFE STYLES

Abstract

The present article results from a research which discusses the relationship among the management of impression and the behavior of the applicants to the position of intermediate management and those of the applicants' selectors, during the selection process. It is an exploratory research performed in two human resources firms, involving thirty candidates applying to intermediate management position and four selection professionals. The data were collected through personal interviews, direct observation and documents. The analysis of the data were done according to the theoretical referential of authors such as Leary, Jones and Pittman, and Ralston e Kirkwood, e Guattari e Rolnik. The results indicate a homogenization of the orientations offered to the applicants, as well as of the their behavior during the selection process. Such homogenization results of subjective processes or ways of production of life styles which, due to the fear of exclusion provoked by the high rate of unemployment, build chameleon-like behavior to adapt to the marked demands.