Does Greenwashing Perception Influence the Job‐Seeking Intention of Business Students? The Role of Perceived Green Corporate Image and Recruitment Buzz

ABSTRACT Drawing on the Affect‐Behavior‐Cognition (ABC) model, this study examines how greenwashing perception shapes the job‐seeking intentions of final‐year business students in Ghana. Specifically, the study theorizes and tests the moderating role of perceived green corporate image and recruitment buzz. Data from 179 final‐year business students at the University of Ghana Business School were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS‐SEM). The findings reveal that green‐washing perception positively and significantly influences the intention to apply for jobs. Importantly, perceived green corporate image amplifies this effect, indicating that a strong green reputation heightens applicants' sensitivity to greenwashing signals. Conversely, recruitment buzz attenuates the relationship, suggesting that compelling recruitment communications can offset greenwashing skepticism. The study contributes to the nascent literature on green employer branding and recruitment by offering rare evidence from a Sub‐Saharan African context, and carries actionable implications for HR practitioners, corporate communications professionals, and policymakers in developing economies.