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Concept of Recruitment
Defined by
“Recruitment means searching finding and recruiting the best talent for an
open job vacancy within the organization in specific time and cost.”
Thus, it is the process of finding and attracting capable applicants for employment.
The process begins when new recruits are sought and ends when their applications
are submitted. The result is a pool of applications from which new employees are
selected.
Recruitment is the continuous process whereby the firm attempts to develop a pool
of qualified applicants for the future human resources needs even though specific
vacancies do not exceeds. It is the function preceding the selection, which helps to
create a pool of prospective employees for the organization so that the
management can select the right candidate for the right job from this pool.
Sources of Recruitment
The searching of suitable candidates and informing them about the openings in the
enterprise is the most important aspect of recruitment process. The candidates may
be available inside or outside the organization. There are two sources of
recruitment i.e., internal and external sources.
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Best employees can be found within the organization. When a vacancy arises in
the organization, it may be given to an employee who is already on the pay roll.
Internal sources include promotion, transfer and in certain cases demotion. When a
higher post is given to a deserving employee, it motivates all other employees of
the organization to work hard. The employees can be informed of such a vacancy
by internal advertisement.
1. Transfers:
Transfer involves shifting of persons from present jobs to other similar jobs. These
do not involve any change in rank, responsibility or prestige. The numbers of
persons do not increase with transfers.
2. Promotions:
responsibilities and more pay. The higher positions falling vacant may be filled up
from within the organization. A promotion does not increase the number of persons
in the organization. A person going to get a higher position will vacate/empty his
present
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3. Present Employees:
The present employees of a concern are informed about likely vacant positions.
The employees recommend their relations or persons intimately known to them.
Management is relieved of looking out prospective candidates.
The persons recommended by the employees may be generally suitable for the jobs
because they know the requirements of various positions. The existing employees
take full responsibility of those recommended by them and ensure of their proper
behavior and performance.
1. Improves morale:
When an employee from inside the organization is given the higher post, it helps
in increasing the morale of all employees. Generally, every employee expects
promotion to a higher post carrying more status and pay (if he fulfills the other
requirements).
2. No Error in Selection:
3. Promotes Loyalty:
It promotes loyalty among the employees, as they feel secured because of chances
of advancement.
4. No Hasty/quick Decision:
The chances of hasty decisions are eliminated as the existing employees are well
tried and can be relied upon.
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The existing employees are fully aware of the operating procedures and policies of
the organization. The existing employees require little training and it brings
economy in training costs.
6. Self-Development:
(iii) For posts requiring innovations and creative thinking, this method of
recruitment cannot be followed.
(iv) If only seniority is the criterion for promotion, then the person filling the
vacant post may not be capable.
All organizations have to use external sources for recruitment to higher positions
when existing employees are not suitable. More persons are needed when
expansions are undertaken.
1. Advertisement:
2. Employment Exchanges:
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Employment exchanges in India are run by the Government. For unskilled, semi-
skilled, skilled, clerical posts etc., it is often used as a source of recruitment. In
certain cases, it has been made obligatory for the business concerns to notify their
vacancies to the
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employment exchange. In the past, employers used to turn to these agencies only
as a last resort. The job seekers and job-givers are brought into contact by the
employment exchanges.
The present employees know both the company and the candidate being
recommended. Hence, some companies encourage their existing employees to
assist them in getting applications from persons who are known to them.
5. Factory Gates:
Certain workers present themselves at the factory gate every day for employment.
This method of recruitment is very popular in India for unskilled or semi-skilled
labor. The desirable candidates are selected by the first line supervisors. The major
disadvantage of this system is that the person selected may not be suitable for the
vacancy.
6. Casual/unplanned Callers:
Those personnel who casually come to the company for employment may also be
considered for the vacant post. It is most economical method of recruitment. In the
advanced countries, this method of recruitment is very popular.
A file of past applicants who were not selected earlier may be maintained. In order
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to keep the file alive, applications in the files must be checked at periodical
intervals.
8. Labor Unions:
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9. Labor Contractors:
In case employees have been laid off or have left the factory at their own, they may
be taken back if they are interested in joining the concern (provided their record is
good).
Apart from these major sources of external recruitment, there are certain other
sources, which are exploited by companies from time to time. These include
special lectures delivered by recruiter in different institutions, though apparently
these lectures do not relate to recruitment directly.
Then there are video films, which are sent to various concerns and institutions to
show the history and development of the company. These films present the story of
company to various audiences, thus creating interest in them.
Various firms organize trade shows, which attract many prospective employees.
Many a time advertisements may be made for a special class of work force (say-
married women) who worked prior to their marriage.
Internal sources, sometimes, may not be able to supply suitable persons from
within. External sources do give a wide choice to the management. A large number
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of applicants may be willing to join the organization. They will also be suitable as
per the requirements of skill, training and education.
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The selection of persons from outside sources will have the benefit of new ideas.
The persons having experience in other concerns will be able to suggest new things
and methods. This will keep the organization in a competitive position.
3. Economical:
1. Demoralization:
When new persons from outside join the organization then present employees feel
demoralized because these positions should have gone to them. There can be a
heart burning among old employees. Some employees may even leave the
enterprise and go for better paths in other concerns.
2. Lack of Co-Operation:
The old staff may not co-operate with the new employees because they feel
that their right has been snatched away by them. This problem will be serious
especially when persons for higher positions are recruited from outside.
3. Expensive:
The process of recruiting from outside is very expensive. It starts with inserting
costly advertisements in the media and then arranging written tests and conducting
interviews. In spite of all this if suitable persons are not available, then the whole
process will have to be repeated.
4. Problem of Maladjustment:
There may be a possibility that the new entrants have not been able to adjust in the
new environment. They may not temperamentally adjust with the new persons. In
such cases, either the persons may leave themselves or management may have to
replace them. These things have adverse effect on the working of the organization.
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Concept of Selection
The Selection is the process of choosing the most suitable candidate for the vacant
position in the organization. In other words, selection means clearing out
unsuitable applicants and selecting those individuals with essential qualifications
and capabilities to fill the jobs in the organization.
Most often, the selection and recruitment are used interchangeably but both have
different scope. The former is a negative process that rejects as many unqualified
applicants as possible to hire the right candidate while the latter is a positive
process that attracts more and more candidates and stimulates them to apply for the
jobs.
Byers and Rue: “Selection is the process of choosing from those available
individuals who are most likely to perform successfully in a job”.
Importance of Selection
Selection means to choose the person from among the prospective candidates to fill
in the vacant posts in the organization. The success of the organization depends
upon the quality of personnel selected for the job. Thus, selection of personnel is
the most important function of the personnel management. The importance of
selection may be judged from the following facts:
Selection of skilled personnel also facilitates the expansion in the size of the
business.
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Recruitment attracts many applicants to a particular job, which may prove difficult
to manage, but selection reduces applicants to a manageable number. Candidates
who have applied for a job during the recruitment stage are screened in the
selection stage. Those who prove suitable for the job are selected, and unsuitable
ones are rejected.
A good selection procedure saves time in the recruitment and orientation processes
because the applicant is expected to have been introduced to some aspects of the
organizational culture, such as the dress code. No time is wasted trying to train the
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new recruit with various aspects of the organization's culture and norms. The
employee is given an adequate picture of what the new job entails, thus eliminating
wasting time doing unnecessary tasks that are not part of his job description.
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Selection Process
The criterion finalized for selecting a candidate for a particular job varies from
company to company.
Receiving
Physical Final selection
&evaluating
Examination decision
application forms
Employment
Selection Test
interview
Brief details of the various steps in selection procedure are given as follows:
1. Receiving &evaluating application forms
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2. Preliminary interview
3. Selection Test
Candidates those who have passed preliminary interview are called for selection test,
these are written test conducted by the organization to collect different information about
candidates. On the basis of nature of job and task to be accomplished there are different
types of tests can be conducted by the organization; which are aptitude test, ability test,
personality test etc. which helps HR manager to know either the candidates have got
potential of being selected or not
4. Employment Interview:
The candidates are asked several questions about their experience on another job,
their family background, their interests, etc. They are supposed to describe their
expectations from the said job. Their strengths and weaknesses are identified and
noted by the interviewers, which help them to take the final decision of selection.
5. Reference analysis:
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Generally, at least two references are asked for by the company from the candidate.
Reference check is a type of crosscheck for the information provided by the
candidate through their application form and during the interviews. Reference
analysis involves examining previous employment records, educational record,
credit record, civil record, union affiliation record, character, value, attitude,
criminal and other records. It is necessary to gain necessary insight about the potential
employee from the people.
6. Physical examination:
Physical strength and fitness of a candidate is must before they takes up the job. In-
spite of good performance in tests and interviews, candidates can be rejected based
on their ill health.
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Final selection is done from the pool of candidates who have passed from the
above all selection process. Only those candidates who perform better then others
are selected by the human resource specialist. After the selection, the candidate is
given the appointment letter to join the organization on a particular date. The
appointment letter specifies the post, title, salary and terms of employment.
Generally, initial appointment is on trial and after specific time it becomes
permanent.
8. Employment Contract:
This is a final step, after issuing appointment letter certain documents are to be
signed by the organization and employee. Generally, employment contract is the
list of information about rules, regulations, duties, salary, benefits, working hours,
mode of payments, provision of leaves, work holiday etc. it is done to benefit both
the organization and employee. It generally tends to bound both organization and
employee, until and unless the changes are to be made it is valid till the date
mention in the contract.
Selection Test
Organizations may use a variety of tests to assist them in assessing the suitability
of applicants, as well as their potential for success in the tasks that will be
expected. A test is a standardized objective measure of the behavior of a candidate
for the selection purpose. Organization needs to select the qualified and competent
candidates. There are different types of selection tests can be administered
depending on the needs of organization and the nature of job. An organization can
perform test as:
1. Ability Test
2. Aptitude Tests
3. Attitude Test
4. Situational Tests
5. Interest Tests
6. Personality Test
7. Graphology Test
8. Polygraph Test
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Ability test: These tests measure whether an individual has the capacity or hidden ability to
learn a given job if given adequate training. c focuses on theoretical and practical ability of a
person to perform a certain task effectively and efficiently.
Aptitude test: It helps to determine individual’s potential of detail learning in assigned
area of job. Aptitude test can be classified as intelligence test, mechanical test,
psychomotor test and visual test. Intelligence Tests: These tests in general measure
intelligence quotient of a candidates. In detail, these tests measure capacity for
comprehension, reasoning, word fluency, verbal comprehension, numbers, memory and
space. Though these tests are accepted as useful ones, they are criticized against
deprived sections of the community. Further, it is also criticized that these tests may
prove to be too dull as a selection device. Mechanical Aptitude Tests: These tests
measure the capacities of 4-D visualization, perceptual speed and knowledge of
mechanical matter. These tests are useful for selecting apprentices, skilled, mechanical
employees, technicians etc. Psychomotor Tests: These tests measure abilities like
motor ability and eye-hand coordination of candidates. These tests are useful to select
semi-skilled workers and workers for repetitive operations like packing, watch
assembly. Visual test: focuses on eye-sight strength of individuals
Personality Test: It tends to measures the employee’s motivation to do activities in a
specified working environment. The personal ability of a person such as self-sufficient,
sociability, introversion, extroversion, locus of control, self-confidence is also checked
in this test. These tests prove deeply to discover clues to an individual value system,
his emotional reactions and maturity and characteristic mood. They are expressed in
such traits like self-confidence, tact, emotional control, optimism,
decisiveness/certainty, sociability, conformity, objectivity, patience, fear, distrust,
initiative, judgment dominance or submission, impulsiveness, sympathy, integrity,
stability and self-confidence.
Interest Test: Individual preferences in job is known by the help of this test. It helps to
know individual willingness to do work in that environment. These tests are inventories
of the likes and dislikes of candidates in relation to work, job, occupations, hobbies and
recreational activities. The purposes of this test is to find out whether a candidate is
interested or disinterested in the job for which he is a candidate and to find out in which
area of the job range/occupation the candidate is interested. The assumption of this test
is that there is a high correlation between the interest of a candidate in a job and job
success.
Validity
Validity in general means that a test can measure the strength part of result of test.
Validity test helps to predict whether an individual will be successful in a job. There
are four types of types of validity test: content validity; it is done to find how
effectively the content of test represents the job requirements. If the content of test
represents the job requirement, then it can be said that test is content validity.
Predictive validity; it is done to indicate how effectively prediction can be made by the
test. It is the process of knowing future behavior of candidates towards job.
Concurrent validity; it is done to know how would the candidate behave in present.
Construct validity; it is the extend to which a candidate behave to hypothesis
constructed by the help of test.
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Concept of Interview
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According to
Scott and An interview is a purposeful exchange of ideas, the answering of
others questions and communication between two or more persons
Bingham conversation with a purpose
and
others
It is a process of collecting some information whether the candidates like the job or not.
Under these processes, job seekers invited to appear at the interview board with their
relevant academic and other qualification records. Interview is generally taken by one
member committee several managers at different places, and several persons sitting in a
board.
Process of Interview
Preparatio
Conduction Completion Evaluation
n
Preparation
It is the first step in the interview process. Here the initial preparation of interview, what
are the questions to be asked, where to be conducted, who would be taking the interview
etc. are prepared by the organization. It will help the organization to collect more
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Conduction
It is the step of interacting with the candidates. Here actual and factual information is
collected from the candidates. The main purpose of this is to know overall personality of
candidates and to evaluate the suitability for specified posts. It helps in knowing the
complete ability of candidates which ultimately helps in final judgments.
Completions
Evaluation
After the completion of interview, another step is to evaluate the candidates by the group
of human resource manager, top level executives etc. For this purpose it is necessary to
maintain balance between both strength and weakness of candidates.
Methods/Techniques of Interviews
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One to
One
Methods
/techniques of
Interviews
Group Panel
One to One Interview: This is designed to ask well prepared questions to the
candidates. Here generally human resource manager ask different question and collect
information from the candidate.
Group Interview: This is designed to see how the candidates react to and against each
other. All the candidates may be brought together in the office and they may be
interviewed. The candidates may, alternatively, be given a topic for discussion and be
observed as to who will lead the discussion, how they will participate in the discussion,
how each will make his presentation and how they will react to each other’s views and
presentation.
Types of Interviews
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Structured
Unstructure
Semi-Structure
Stress
Unstructured Interview
Questions are not prepared in advance. They are made up during the interview
moment. Questions are unpredictable and differ as per candidates. It encourages
applicant to talk as much as possible. It is straight method and may over looked
important aspects of job or applicant’s background. Here the questions are asked to
know either the candidates have knowledge about their surroundings or not.
Semi-structured Interview
Major questions to be asked are broadly planned. However, the interviewer has
flexibility in asking specific questions for detail enquiry purpose. The candidate’s
response is generally lengthy. These techniques of structures the questions will
help to get information of the candidates. It provides comparable data of
candidates. It is a realistic approach. It is the mixture of both structure and
unstructured interviews. Here questions are about the general knowledge as well as
about qualifications, knowledge, skills etc.
Structured Interview
In this interview, interviewer uses a list of pre- determined standardized questions
related with Job knowledge question, situational, questions and, job
requirement questions.
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Stress Interview: This is designed to test the candidate and his conduct and
behavior by putting him under conditions of stress and tension. This is very useful
to test the behavior of individuals under disagreeable and trying situations.
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Standardized evaluation forms are used to rate the candidates. It is useful for large
number of candidates. This method has high validity and reliability.
Existing scenario
A lot factors determine the recruitment and selection practices in any country or in
locality. Conditions of labor market, political ideology and management philosophy
largely affects the recruitment. Following are the major characteristics of Nepalese job
market.
We have a strange paradox in our country. There is large-scale unemployment on the one
hand at the same time shortage of skilled labor on the other hand. Here unemployment
refers to the people who are:
Lot of negative and undesirable practices can be seen in the market. In other words, all
the evils related to the recruitment and selection such a corruption, nepotism/partiality
and favoritism, political influence etc. are found in hiring people. We should try to avoid
such situation.
Both internal and external factors have affected recruitment and selection process:
- External factors: Important factors in this category are demand and supply of
specific skills, unemployment rate, labor-market conditions, legal and political
conditions and company’s image and so on.
- Internal factors: Important factors in this category are recruitment and selection
policy of the organization, decision to have temporary and part time employees,
size of the organization, cost of recruitment and selection, growth and expansion
phase and so on.
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Existing Practices
1. Government organization
Recruitment and selection activities of these offices are conducted by public
service commission in Nepal.
-they use a mix of internal and external sources.
-the Civil Service Act and rules specify the procedure and composition of sources.
-recruitment is done by public service commission for all open competition
oriented position.
-the concerned ministry should request demand for specified post with minimum
qualification required.
-generally, public service commission publishes vacancies in ‘Gorkhapatra’ in
Wednesday.
-the selection process followed are: evaluation of application form, written test,
semi structured interview by group experts, publication of result, medical report,
appointment, orientation and so on.
3. Government school/colleges
Most of the government-funded schools/universities also suffer from the similar
type of problems as it is found in public enterprises. They have well established
policy and procedures to conduct recruitment and selection practices. As
compared to universities school sector lack proper freedom. They are very
dependent on political decision and top-down approach.
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