How long are newcomers new? A review of the organizational socialization literature

Keywords: Organizational socialization, newcomers, duration, review

Abstract: As a change process, organizational socialization research depends on understanding the time frame marking the process of adjustment. Yet, the duration of any socialization process is a matter of socially constructed, rather than objective time (Zaheer, Albert, & Zaheer, 1999). This makes identifying the duration of “new” more challenging. The aim of this paper is to review scholarly recommendations regarding specification of time in research, and to compare these recommendations with how empirical studies are actually conducted. We review of the organizational socialization literature and discuss the implications for future research, particularly for multinational and occupational differences.