THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AGE AND JOB-PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS FOR ENTRY-LEVEL PROFESSIONALS

This study examined the relationship between age and job performance e valuations for newcomers recently hired into entry-level positions in public accounting firms. We predicted and found a negative relationshi p between age and job performance evaluations. This relationship was e liminated after controlling for undergraduate grade average and prior work experience, operationalized as the number of jobs that a newcomer had previously held. Results are discussed in terms of the possibilit y of negative age effects in entry-level positions and the potential r easons for such findings. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.