Which option is NOT a spillover effect in recruitment?

• A. Increased brand loyalty from positive candidate experience
• B. Negative word-of-mouth from candidates about the firm
• C. Increased customer interest due to positive word-of-mouth from candidates
• D. Directly harming the hiring team's productivity without any external impact

Answer: (D)

Spillover effects in recruitment are outcomes that reach beyond the act of hiring itself, affecting things like employer brand, candidate perceptions, and even external stakeholders such as customers. Positive candidate experiences can build stronger brand loyalty, and negative experiences can generate damaging word-of-mouth about the firm. Similarly, when candidates share positive experiences, it can spark increased interest from customers or the public, expanding impact beyond the recruitment cycle. The option describing direct harm to the hiring team's productivity with no external impact doesn't fit this pattern—it is an internal, isolated effect on the team and doesn’t propagate to candidates, brand, or external audiences. Therefore it is not a spillover.