Recruitment and selection is an umbrella term for activities an organization uses to hire people to fill job openings. This begins with studying the needs for hiring and concludes with selecting the person for the job. Successful placement of employees requires work by human resources and the hiring department.
Job Tasks
Preparing a job description requires studying the function of the position and codifying the job tasks that a person in this position must perform. Tasks are included in the official job announcement or description and will be used to evaluate a candidate's performance. If a job description already exists, the hiring manager can revise job tasks according to the changing needs of the department.
Personal Characteristics
Job tasks must be within reach of a job candidate. A vacancy posting specifies what personal characteristics an applicant needs, and these are sometimes called knowledge, skills and abilities or KSA's. To find the right person for the job, an organization must describe how a person will meet these personal requirements, including the minimum level of education, experience and other qualities.
Personality Tests
Some employers require applicants to complete a survey or personality test to determine suitability for a position even if all other requirements are satisfied. Even though applicants might attempt to fake results, most candidates will answer personality test questions in ways that reflect their true personality. The results of a good personality test can be used to determine the best candidate for a position, such as by finding out information about candidates that aren't found through cognitive testing.
Interviewing
Another important aspect of recruitment and selection is interviewing. If hiring managers or committees use a questionnaire to rate applicants on job-related questions, one candidate will stand out above others. An interview score can be added to how candidates scored on other measures, such as a personality test, a cognitive test, an essay and a review of the resume. Some organizations, such as public agencies, have rules for recruitment and selection that mandate a job offer must go to a candidate with the highest combined score.
