During which stage do new employees compare their expectations with actual job experiences?

The Encounter stage is critical in the employee socialization process, as it is the phase where new employees actively compare their expectations formed during the Attraction stage with the actual experiences they face in their new roles. During this stage, individuals begin to learn about the organization's culture, their specific job responsibilities, and the dynamics of their relationships with colleagues and supervisors. It’s a transitional period that often involves adjusting to the realities of the workplace, which can either confirm or challenge their initial expectations.

While the Understanding and Adaptation stage involves further integration into the company and solidifying relationships, and the Attraction stage pertains primarily to the initial feelings before employment, the Encounter stage is specifically focused on the discrepancies between expectations and reality. Reality shock, while related, refers more to the emotional response to those discrepancies rather than the stage itself where the comparison occurs. Thus, the Encounter stage is the correct answer because it captures the process of new employees evaluating their experiences against their preconceived notions.