Human Resource Management Flashcards
What is Human Resource Management
HRM involves managing the employees (human resources) in a business.
Aims to find, retain and make the best possible use of its employees.
What are the functions of HRM?
Manpower Planning Recruitment and Selection Training and Development Performance Appraisal Pay and Rewards Employer / Employee Relationships
What is manpower planning and it’s steps?
Involves HR manager ensuring the business has enough skilled workers to do all jobs needed for business to achieve its goals. three steps are :
Forecast Future Demand
Calculate Existing Supply
Recruit / Make Redundancies Accordingly
Explain three benefits of manpower planning
Avoids under staffing- Few workers means products not made on time and unhappy customers
Identifies over staffing - Manager can make excess workers redundant to reduce wages costs.
Improved Efficiency -business runs smoothly with enough staff to do the work required
Explain recruitment and the two types
Recruitment: finding the most suitable people for a job vacancy and encouraging them to apply. can be internal or external
Explain selection and screening
Selection: choosing the best applicant for the vacancy from all those who applied. There are then methods like tests, interviews an checking references to choose best candidate.
Screening: going through all applications and removing those that do not meet the selection criteria
Name three methods of selection
Testing / Aptitude Tests
Interviews
Reference Checks
Define a job description
A Job Description is a document that outlines the duties and responsibilities of the job. It sets out clearly where job fits into business structure and who the employee will report to.
What are the steps in recruitment and selection?
- Job description
- Prepare a person specification.
- Encourage suitable candidates to apply
- Screening
- Selection tests
- Interview
- Check References
- Offer the job
Define a person specification
A document that describes the qualifications, skills and characteristics of the ideal candidate for the job.
Define a job advertisement
The information from the job description and person specification can be used to draw up an advertisement for the job.
Define equal opportunities employer
Means that the business will judge all candidates fairly on their merits alone. It will not discriminate against applicants based on the nine grounds of discrimination (gender, race, age, religion etc.)
Explain external recruitment
External Recruitment means finding someone from outside the business to fill the position
Explain internal recruitment
Internal recruitment means finding someone to fill the position from existing employees who already work for the business
Explain four sources of external recruitment
Media Advertisement (e.g newspaper, radio etc.)
Recruitment Agency - specialist firm will find applicants for fee. ex: Adecco
FÁS / Solas
Headhunting - Business approaches people working for rival businesses and invite them to apply for job.
Explain four advantages of external recruitment
New talent and skills - help business improve, prosper
Fresh approach and perspective - new to business
Bigger pool of candidates - increases chances of finding excellent candidate for job
Less jealously with staff - less resentment-promotions
Explain four advantages of internal recruitment
Quicker than external recruitment
Less expensive - no ad, sign on a notice board instead
Motivating effect - provides career path for employee. work harder to get a promotion
Familiarity of Employees - know business, how it works and all staff. manager knows employees work first hand
Name three sources of internal recruitment
Promotion - current employee moves up to more challenging role
Demotion - employees struggling with job asked to move downwards to fill vacancy
Transfer - employees in one department to another
What are the two main ways to apply for a job?
Curriculum Vitae (CV) and Cover Letter Application Form and Letter of Application
Define CV
A document prepared by an applicant for a job in which they summarise their qualifications and work experience.
It contains details such as:
Name, Address, Education, Work Experience, References
Define application form
A document designed and printed by an employer asking a series of questions (regarding education, hobbies, experience etc) they require to be answered by the person apply for a job
Can be online or filled in
HR managers prefer using an application form because they can ask the questions they want answers to
Define a letter of application/cover letter
This is a letter in which an candidate introduces themselves, states the job they are applying for and outlines a brief summary of why they want the job and why they would be suitable for it.
It accompanies a CV.
Explain the step of recruitment and selection Screening and shortlisting
The HR Manager then goes through the CVs that have been received and removes those that do not meet the criteria for the job (screening).
The people who reach the criteria are ‘shortlisted’ and called for interview
Name three types of selection tests
May have to sit aptitude / personality / intelligence tests to assess their abilities.
Explain and define an interview
An interview is a face-to-face meeting between the candidate and management of the business. Its purpose is to see if candidate will ft in with the business
Most common selection technique in Ireland
Can be conducted by more than one person from management (panel interview)
Explain to check reference as a step in recruitment and selection
A business will check with former employers of the candidate to assess their ability and suitability for the job. Hear first-hand what they were like at their last job.
Explain induction training
This is given to new recruits to a job
It involves familiarising employees with the business, its staff, its culture and major operating procedures - settle in
Work Shadowing: observing others doing a job in order to learn how it’s done
Explain on-the-job training
Teaching knowledge, skills and attitude needed for job when in normal working situation - observing experienced employees
Used for existing employees when new work practices or technologies are introduced
It is learning by doing and directly related to the job that is being done
Explain off-the-job training
Teaching knowledge, skills and attitude needed for job when away from normal working situation - courses/evening classes
Employees are sent to outside specialist agencies who offer training in particular areas
Example: Colleges and Universities offering Masters Degrees
Explain the function of HR - Training and and development
Employees need regular training and development in their jobs or they need to be trained up for a new position.