Gender differences in involuntary job loss and the reemployment experience : Less there than meets the eye

Purpose – The study seeks to compare the experiences of job loss and reemployment experiences among female and male higher level managers and professionals. Design/methodology/approach – The paper compares data collected at two periods in time from ( n =120) females and ( n =184) males who completed two self‐report questionnaires. Findings – Relatively few gender differences were observed in the present study. The fact that females and males experienced the job loss and re‐employment process similarly was interpreted as a sign of progress. Main differences were found in networking and personality types, with men being more successful in networking and less agreeable types. Research limitations/implications – This is a self‐report study and somewhat smaller sample at time two. Secondly, some of the findings may not generalize to those outside of outplacement. Practical implications – Outplacement services may use these findings in guiding their counseling practice and focusing more on helping female executives in their networking efforts for example. Originality/value – This paper contributes to the gender literature by looking at experience of job loss and reemployment for a particular and rarely examined group of individuals. It offers new knowledge on gender differences among executives and higher level managers.