Delineating and Reviewing the Role of Newcomer Capital in Organizational Socialization

Abstract

In this article, the organizational socialization literature is reviewed through the lens of newcomer capital. We give an overview of the socialization literature and examine established and proposed linkages among four components of newcomer personal capital: human, social, psychological, and cultural capital. Then, we theoretically explore and discuss how the socialization adjustment process, consisting of newcomer experience, role clarity, social acceptance, and self-efficacy, is affected by these types of capital for newcomers, veteran employees, and organizations. We hope that identifying and summarizing these links in one review article will help to advance research in both the capital and organizational socialization literatures.