recruitment, selection and training

Question 1

What is recruitment and selection?

Answer 1

The process of attracting and choosing new employees

Question 2

what are the benefits of good recruitment and selection processes?

Answer 2

• Appointing staff with the right skills should result in fewer errors increasing productivity
• only workers who are competent are appointed and should be aware in advance of the demands of the job. This should reduce labour turnover.
• Recruiting workers with the right work ethic who share the values and attitudes of the management will contribute to developing a strong corporate culture and a workforce that can get behind the mission of the organisation

Question 3

what are 2 reasons recruitment and selection may be less important?

Answer 3

• If staff are casual or on zero hour contracts this is likely to contribute to higher labour turnover
• If a firm pays relatively higher wages given the skills of the staff, then it may be easier to recruit replacements

Question 4

What are some judgements on importance of recruitment and selection?

Answer 4

• It depends on how rapidly the business is growing. Rapid growth means it will be important to make the right recruitment decisions to help maintain the rate of growth and the right corporate culture.
• It depends on the state of the economy – when the economy is booming skills shortages are more likely which can make it harder to recruit.

Question 5

What are two factors affecting recruitment & selection costs?

Answer 5

• It depends on the skills and experience of the staff being recruited. (The more skilled and higher up the more costly)
• Recruitment and selection costs will be higher if labour turnover is high

Question 6

define external recruitment

Answer 6

When a business recruits from a pool of candidates who have not previously worked in the business

Question 7

Define internal recruitment

Answer 7

When a business fills vacancies by selecting employees in its existing workforce

Question 8

what are the pros of internal recruitment? (cons of external)

Answer 8

• Internal applicants will already know the company and how it works so less training may be needed
• less risky as it should already be clear whether the applicant fits the role
• It will often mean lower wages are paid as hiring externally is usually more expensive

Question 9

What are the pros of external recruitment? (cons of internal)

Answer 9

• Usually leads to a more diverse workforce and brings new ideas and ways of working
• Hiring externally opens the company up to a wider pool of potential workers and they may get more qualified/experienced people
• Smaller, growing businesses may have no choice but to recruit externally as any promotions would create vacancies elsewhere in the business.

Question 10

What is induction training?

Answer 10

Initial training when people first start a job.

Ensures that new workers know all of the company’s procedures, have awareness of the company’s mission and corporate culture and to ensure compliance with government policies such as health and safety and data protection.

Question 11

What is on the job training?

Answer 11

Learning, gaining and developing skills whilst at work doing the job

Question 12

What is off the job training?

Answer 12

Learning, gaining and developing skills at an outside provider e.g., an apprentice attending a college course for a few days a week

Question 13

What are the benefits of training?

Answer 13

• Training can increase productivity and therefore lower unit costs
• Training can increase the levels of responsibility, flexibility and adaptability to change, of employees
• It may increase motivation and therefore improve the efficiency of the business; this may lead to more retention of staff and greater engagement
• It can help employees to appreciate the aims of an organisation and ensure that they work towards those aims

Question 14

What are the limitations of training?

Answer 14

• Training has a financial and opportunity cost and may be ineffective and thus damage profitability
• Once trained employees may leave to work for a competitor
• Recruitment and selection may be more important than training
• Other methods might be used to improve employee performance, and these may have a more significant impact such as utilising theories of motivation

Question 15

What are three judgments on the importance of training?

Answer 15

• Training is usually more important in the long-run in the short-run
• The benefits of training will vary between different organisations according to the skills required from the employees
• Overall, an effective workforce is most likely to derive from a combination of good management not just training