Recruitment & Selection of Candidates

Recruiters may conduct phone screenings to determine who to invite to full interviews.

The recruitment and selection of candidates for a job covers the employment process from job description creation and job posting all the way up the offer of employment to the desired candidate. Recruitment represents one of the most important parts of the employment process due to the difficulty of addressing cultural fit, skill match and other factors after a candidate becomes an employee.

Why Recruitment Matters

Robust recruitment efforts help ensure that the best possible cross-section of individuals know about an opening and consider applying for the post. Recruitment also provides an opportunity to make current employees aware of an opening in the event they want to post for it, which is beneficial for morale. Effective recruitment strategies can also help an organization meet any legal or moral obligations, for example those related to employee diversity. Beyond recruiting for current positions, strong recruitment efforts help build a pool of talent for consideration regarding future positions.

Job Description

An accurate job description helps cut down the number of over-qualified and under-qualified candidates. A job description should include the main duties of the job and a sense of how the position fits within the organization. Titles should be checked to ensure that they're comparable to that of other companies and then included in the posting. The posting should also have the amount of experience needed as well as particular educational requirements, certifications or memberships. Employers should only require specific education when it is legitimately needed to successfully complete the job responsibilities. Otherwise, employers may run the risk of discrimination claims.

Posting and Advertisements

Once the job description is complete, employers begin finding potential candidates. Employers may post positions in newspapers, with online employment sites, and on the company's website. Some companies also still allow paper applications and may have them available at office locations. Referral programs, which encourage employees to refer qualified friends and family members, are also popular as they may lead to better cultural fit. Depending on the type of job, employers may post positions through professional associations or may attend events such as trade shows and job fairs.

Interviews

After resumes have been collected, a recruiter or other HR professional will sort out individuals who are clearly over-qualified or under-qualified. Candidates in the middle may be given a call for an initial screening to see if they're appropriate for a full interview. After any screenings, all potentially qualified candidates are scheduled for interviews. Interviews may be on on one or may include one candidate and multiple organizational representatives, such as members of HR, managers, and even current staff members.

Human Resources may prepare interview questions or review a manager's questions to ensure the organization complies with Equal Employment Opportunity Commission regulations. For example, questions about children or plans to have children aren't allowed. Managers and HR evaluate all interviewed candidates to determine top selections. Reference checks, background checks and drug tests occur at this step at many employers.

Selection and Offer

After reference checks and any other necessary tests, the HR team and management team select the individual they think would best fit for the job. An offer is provided to the individual, generally over the phone. If the candidate accepts the offer, a formal offer letter with full details may be mailed. If the offer is not accepted, the employer may counter-offer or reach out to an alternate candidate. Once a qualified candidate has accepted, the employee is scheduled for his first day of work, which may include an orientation. All applicants not offered employment should receive a form letter announcing the closing of the job and thanking them for their interest, at or before the end of this process.

References

• HRWorld: Essential Guide Recruiting New Employees
• HRWorld: How to Write a Job Description that Will Get Qualified Candidates
• Recruitment -- Naukrihub: Importance of Recruitment