19. Recruitment and selection of employees

Question 1

Recruitment is the process of (3)

Answer 1

• Contacting the labour market
• Communicating opportunities
• Generating interest

Question 2

What stages does recruitment and selection process consist of? (9)

Answer 2

Recruitment:

• Agree vacancy
• Job analysis
• Job description
• Person specification
• Attract candidates

Selection process:

• Application forms
• Interviews
• Testing
• References

Question 3

Purposes of a job description (4)

Answer 3

Form the basis of advertising

Select the right candidate

Used as a basis for writing employment contracts

Used to set targets once hired.

Question 4

Who’e theory was the 7 point plan of person specification? Name the components.

Answer 4

Alan Rodgers

• Special attitudes
• Circumstances
• Interests
• Physical makeup
• Disposition
• Attainments
• General intelligence

Question 5

The four main ways of using existing staff to fill a job role are:

Answer 5

Promotions of existing staff

Secondment of exiting staff

Closing the job down by sharing responsibilities of existing staff

Rotating jobs among staff

Question 6

What are the advantages of using internal staff? (5)

Answer 6

Motivation

Career development

‘Know’ the staff already

Save time and money

No induction necessary

Question 7

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using external recruitment? (2 of each)

Answer 7

Obtaining specialist skills

Injecting ‘new blood’

BUT…

May create dissatisfaction in existing employees

Expensive

Question 8

When using a private recruitment consultant, what should a business consider? (3)

Answer 8

• Time
• Money
• Expertise

Question 9

Job advertisements should be (4)

Answer 9

• concise
• honest
• informative
• attractive to a wide group

Question 10

The purposes of application forms are… (3)

Answer 10

• to eliminate unsatisfactory applicants
• save interview time
• form initial personnel records

Question 11

The purpose of an interview is to.. (3)

Answer 11

• find the right candidate
• ensure the candidate understands the job role
• ensure the candidate feels they have been treated fairly.

Question 12

Types of interviews (6)

Answer 12

Face-to-face

Group

Succession of interviews

Problem solving

Panel

Stress

Question 13

Advantages of interviews (4)

Answer 13

Interactive

Can observe non-verbal behaviours

Assess appearance and communication skills

Evaluate rapport

Question 14

Disadvantages of interviews (4)

Answer 14

Brief

Artificial

Halo/horn effect

Prejudice/bias

Question 15

The two main types of selection testing are …..

Define them.

Answer 15

Proficiency and attainment: assesses the skills and abilities of the applicant in relevant areas.

Psychometric: tests more general skills such as intelligence and personality.

Question 16

Specific tests (6)

Answer 16

Intelligence

Proficiency

Psychometric

Psychological/personality

Medical

Aptitude

Question 17

Assessment centre advantages (4)

Answer 17

Avoidance of single-assessor bias

Reliability in predicting success

Development of skills in assessors

Benefits the individual

Question 18

Limitations of testing (4)

Answer 18

No direct relationship with the job itself

Interpretation of results can be challenging

Many are highly subjective

Difficult to exclude bias

Question 19

What should references include? (2)

Answer 19

Factual information about the nature of work in the previous job. I.e. working hours, pay, responsibilities

Opinions about the applicant’s personality and other attributes.

Question 20

What allowances should be made for in references? (3)

Answer 20

Prejudice

Charity

Fear of libel

Question 21

Who is responsible for recruitment in a

a) large business?
b) small business?

Answer 21

a) HR

b) line managers

Question 22

What are the two main principles of equal opportunity?

Answer 22

Employers should only discriminate based on ability, experience and potential.

Decisions should be based solely on a persons ability to complete the job.

Question 23

What are the reasons for adopting an equal opportunities policy? (4)

Answer 23

Morals

No benefit from excluding potential sources of talent

Legal responsibility

Improve its image as a good employer

Question 24

What are the types of discrimination? Explain them. (3)

Answer 24

Direct discrimination: an employer treats an employee less favourably than another.

Indirect discrimination: a working condition or rule disadvantages one group more so than another.

Victimisation: an employee is treated unfairly because they made a complaint about discrimination.

Question 25

Globally, employment law primarily prevents discrimination in which areas? (4)

Answer 25

Selection of candidates

Provision of promotion and training

Working conditions

Dismissal

Question 26

In the UK, employment law outlaws discrimination based on? (8)

Answer 26

Age

Disability

Gender reassignment

Pregnancy and maternity

Race

Religion or belief

Sex

Sexual orientation

Question 27

Equal opportunities policies are only successful when an organisation? (4)

Answer 27

Involves members of minority groups in policy creation

Communicates policies to all members of staff

Monitors how these policies are applied

Considers the role of an Equal Opportunities Manager

Question 28

What is the main difference between equality and diversity?

Answer 28

Equality is legally binding, diversity is voluntary to boost productivity.