Selection Flashcards
What is selection?
Selection is the process of deciding which application for a job a business should accept
What are the different selection methods?
- cv
- application form
- testing
- interviews
- work trails
- references
- letter of application
What’s a CV and what’s its purpose?
Document created by applicant with info about themselves. Includes personal details like date of birth, education, referees
What are the advantages of a CV?
- employer can receive quicker (don’t have to create + fill out app form) giving employer more time to find right candidate
- easier to choose right candidate as can insert more info ab themselves than can in app form
What are the disadvantages of a CV?
- format may be messed up when sent from one PC to another
- harder to judge objectively (swayed by lay out + good content)
- applicant could’ve had external help while preparing CV, inaccurate
What is an application form?
A document specifically created by the employer which is sen to applicant to fill in
What are the advantages of application forms?
- questions can be trailered to find specific info so can see which candidate is best suited for vacancy
- can compare candidates on equal level
What are the disadvantages of application forms?
- result in fewer applications so small candidate pool - candidates view as off putting
- time consuming for employer to create
What is a letter of application?
A document sent with a CV or application form to provide additional information. Can sell yourself, personalise and introduce yourself
What are the advantages of sending a letter of application?
- can show work ethic
- show ability to write
- make you memorable compared to other candidates
- effort shows you’re genuine
What is a work trail?
Where an employer tries out an employee before offering them a job
Why are work trials useful for the employer ?
- can see how well the candidate fits with the company culture and team
- can gain insight of candidates skills (do they have the required skills) and identify if truthful ab strengths
Why might a work trial,be useful to an employee?
Allows them to decide if the job is suitable for them
Why may a candidate not perform well at a job trial?
May be nervous if under direct supervision
Why might a work trial not be useful to the employer?
- may not be able to identify if candidate has right skills or not
- for low level entry positions the company may not be able to justify the time and resources dedicated to a work trial
What is a work reference?
A statement from a previous or current employer or other responsible person about the suitability of the application for the job.
What does a work reference include?
Employment dates, absence levels and details about the applicants skills and abilities
Why might a work reference be useful to an employer?
They can confirm wether information that a candidate has given is true and make a decision about giving a job offer or not
What industries have to legally give references?
Those regulated by the Financial Services Authority
Why is it a drawback that only certain industries have to legally provide references?
Because previous or current employers can choose not to provide one - could be useful to business asking for reference as could suggest an issue with candiate
What’s are the drawbacks of references?
- employer may give false good reference if they want employee to leave (limits usefulness)
What’s a character reference?
A reference provided by someone in a responsible position in society
What does a character reference include?
Info about applicants character, strengths, weaknesses
Why might a character reference be useful to a business?
Could help employer decide if applicant has right personality to work in the organising
Why might a character reference not be useful ?
Applicant can choose who provides reference - likely to choose referees who like them
Why might an interview be useful for an employer?
- can validate info from app form or CV
- can query info from app form or CV
- can see how candidate copes under pressure
- find answers to specific questions
- non-verbal aspects can be considered
- can est if candidate would fit in with team
What are the limitations of interviews?
- short so don’t display long term performance
- nerves may make candidate seem less capable but might actually be the best for the job
- extroverts may seem better fit in the interview than may actually be
Why might testing be useful?
- ascertain what people will do in real situations
- identify if personality will fit with organisation
- responses less likely to be impacted by nerves
Why May tests have limited usefulness?
Candidates may give the answers they think the interviewer is looking
What are the overall impacts of having an effective selection process?
- saves long term cost as don’t have to recruit/ repeat again in future if correct candidate chosen
- find right skills
- find someone with the right personality
