Recruitment, selection and training

Question 1

Define recruitment.

Answer 1

The process of finding people to work for a company or become a new member of an organisation.

Question 2

Explain the first stage of the recruitment process.

Answer 2

Identifying the vacancy.
- \the start of the process is when the business identifies a need to fill a vacancy. This could be a new department or product or someone leaving and needing to be replaced- retiring, moving to a different job, being promoted, moving to another department or maternity leave.

Question 3

Explain the second stage of the recruitment process.

Answer 3

Writing a job description.

This will include all the responsibilities of the position.

Question 4

Explain the third stage of the recruitment process.

Answer 4

Person specification.

This outlines the:
Personal qualities
Qualifications
Work Experience
Skills

This is a wish list of qualities that the business would like the new member of staff to have

Question 5

Explain the fourth stage of the recruitment process.

Answer 5

Advertising the vacancy

The business may advertise the vacancy inside the company; in the corporate newsletter, via e-mail, they may be announced in meetings

The business may advertise outside the company to expand the pool of candidates to choose from; newspaper, speciality magazines, online, jobsite, job centre etc.

Question 6

Explain the fifth stage of the recruitment process.

Answer 6

Candidates apply

Candidates may have to send off a CV (a summary of their working life to date) an application form and a letter of application

The advert will usually have a closing date to spur candidates into action

A business may also ask applicants to send in their CVs so they can be attached to their application forms. They may ask for a letter of application/cover letter which talks about why you are applying and your skills.

Question 7

Explain the sixth stage of the recruitment process.

Answer 7

Short-listing candidates

Candidates are shortlisted according to how well their application fit the person specification and the job description

Question 8

Explain the seventh stage of the recruitment process.

Answer 8

Shortlisted candidates are interviewed.

This may include a face-to-face interview with a panel or just one person or be online.

Question 9

Explain the eighth stage of the recruitment process.

Answer 9

Candidates may participate in another recruitment activity

eg participating in team building exercises at assessment centres to help identify leaders and managers or having psychometric testing to see if they are a cultural fit with the business.

Question 10

Name 2 recruitment costs.

Answer 10

Advertising

Agency fees

Question 11

Explain advertising as a recruitment cost.

Answer 11

Recruitment of new employees can work out quite expensive – especially if the vacancy has to be externally advertised

Question 12

Explain agency fees as a recruitment cost.

Answer 12

A business may decide to use agency staff or an agency to advertise their job vacancy for them

Both of these will incur significant costs

Question 13

List the different types of training.

Answer 13

Induction training
On-the-job training
Off-the-job training

Question 14

Explain induction training.

Answer 14

Induction training happens when an employee starts working for a new business.

It may involve training on how to use fire extinguishers, or shown round the building, or introduced to colleagues.

What is involved in the training will vary depending on the business and the job role.

Question 15

What are the advantages of induction training?

Answer 15

Many employees make their mind up if they are staying – the first week of employment.

Induction training will help to inspire the employees and integrate them with the company culture – called “onboarding”.

Good induction training will help reduce the numbers of employees that leave – thus increasing retention numbers.

Question 16

What are the disadvantages of induction training?

Answer 16

Induction training can cause information overload for an employee trying to find their feet in a new organisation.

Question 17

Explain on-the-job training.

Answer 17

Coaching or mentoring while doing the job.

Assistance and advice is provided by those more experienced to those less experienced.

May include work shadowing or learning to use a specific machine

Question 18

What are the advantages of on-the-job training?

Answer 18

Specific training needed for the job (a full time trainer may not know all jobs methods to an up to date standard).

Less expensive than off-the-job training

Learning can be put in to practise immediately

Trainees can see relevance to job more clearly when skills are taught in the workplace

Question 19

What are the disadvantages of on-the-job training?

Answer 19

Taking time away from employees job to be trained

Reduces efficiency of both teaching worker and new employee

Some workers have bad habits they could pass on to the trainee

The new worker may not pick up the skills straight away/misunderstand/not ask for help

Workers which are badly trained may make expensive mistakes or be a safety hazard

Question 20

Explain off the job training.

Answer 20

Involves work at home or courses at company training centres/colleges.

Learning through demonstrations talks, and lectures.

May also be practical courses to learn ICT or machinery

Question 21

What are the advantages of off-the-job training?

Answer 21

More focused environment with less distractions

Increases a workers motivation as they feel valued by the company to have money spent on their improvement

Less stressful compared with on the job (don’t have to learn skills and do tasks as going along)
Individuals teaching the courses are trained to train

More chance to gather specialist skills

Question 22

What are the disadvantages of off-the-job training?

Answer 22

More expensive than on-the-job training.

Employees may fail to see link between training and workplace.

Employees are taken away from production so the business loses their productivity for that day.

Question 23

List the different stages of the recruitment process.

Answer 23

Identify a vacancy
Write the job description
Person specification
Advertising the vacancy 
Candidates apply
Short listing candidates
Short listed candidates are interviewed
Candidates may participate in another recruitment activity