Higher Business Management - The Stages in Recruitment and Selection

This is an often asked exam question which to be honest is not always answered that well, yet as you will see it is throwing away reasonable marks!

1. IDENTIFY JOB VACANCY

Is there a job at all? Reasons for vacancies could be retirement, promotion, people leaving or quitting, or a new job being created.

2. CONDUCT A JOB ANALYSIS

A study of what the job entails will be conducted to see if a new job has to be advertised or whether existing people can take part of the remit.

3. WRITE A JOB DESCRIPTION & PERSON SPECIFICATION

If a job is needed, then we need to write the 2 recruitment documents that applicants will need. The job description outlines what the job entails: the job title, the duties and responsibilities of the said job etc...

Person specification is more about the qualities needed by the ideal candidate. It is divided into essential and desirable qualities.

4. ADVERTISE JOB INTERNALLY OR EXTERNALLY

Once the recruitment documents are ready to make up the recruitment pack, then you have to decide whether to advertise internally or externally. Both have advanatges and disadvantages, but that is a whole other post!

5. SEND OUT RECRUITMENT PACKS (APPLICATION FORMS and/or CVs)

Potential applicants will phone up or email to receive the recruitment pack. They have to complete and return by a certain deadline.

6. FILTER APPLICATIONS AND PREPARE THE LEET

The panel will go through the application forms and quickly filter out the useless ones and select the ones that show potential. The leet is prepared - this means the candidates being invited for interview.

7. SELECTION METHODS (INTERVIEW MOST COMMON!)

Normally most jobs are decided upon by interview.

Though make sure you know all about:
TESTS (IQ, Psychometric, Attainment, Fitness, Aptitude)
ASSESSMENT CENTRES (for Graduate or Managerial jobs)
GRAPHOLOGY (ridiculed in the UK and US, but big in France and Poland!)

8. INFORM SUCCESSFUL AND UNSUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES

Letters are sent out informing the lucky person who got the job, and also to all the people who will have to try again.