Recruiting and Selecting the Right People

Finding the right people and building a strong team

The ability to recruit the right people from outside and successfully promote from within are valuable aspects of business leadership. The benefits include the opportunity to develop an employer brand. A business that is known to be a great employer is better placed to attract the most talented people, not only benefiting your activities but also depriving your competitors.

Recruitment is also an opportunity to strengthen teams and refresh people’s thinking. An injection of new people, ideas and enthusiasm will help maintain momentum and future preparedness. Similarly, an effective process for induction and onboarding will help integrate people swiftly and positively, setting the right tone for the future.  Promoting from within builds on people’s experience, engagement and understanding of the business, and teamworking and innovation are foremost among the business skills that are enhanced by recruiting and selecting the right people. 

Recruitment and selection are among the most important, significant and rewarding aspects of management. This toolkit explains how to succeed. 

Length: 17 pages

Contents:

Action Checklist: Recruiting

• Evaluate every role 
• New blood or familiarity?
• Define the ideal candidate and prepare a job specification
• Choose the best method of recruitment
• Advertise the job
• Establish a process to manage applications
• Assess the resumé 
• Shortlist the best candidates to interview
• Consider using assessment tests 
• Conduct the interview
• Review the candidates
• Make your decision
• Record your progress for future recruitment  

Best Practice: Interview Questions

• General questions
• Previous career experience
• Communication
• Teamworking
• Initiative
• Planning and organizing
• Work standards
• Useful tips when interviewing

Action Checklist: Appointing Employees

• Check references
• Confirm details
• Ensure compliance with relevant employment law legislation
• Consider best practice 
• Check that everyone (and everything) is ready
• Use probation periods
• Consider what notice period is appropriate
• Set direction, starting as you mean to go on

Best Practice: Induction and Onboarding

Avoiding Problems – this includes techniques to help avoid potential pitfalls and ensure that the recruitment, selection and appointment of new employees are successful.

Dos and Don’ts

Key Questions

How does it look from the other side? Practical techniques for interview candidates

Things You Can Do

• Prepare for each interview
• Evaluate the job role and develop an accurate job description
• Decide which method of appraising and selecting is most suitable
• Use psychometric testing (e.g. Myers Briggs Type Inventory) 
• Use assessment centres
• Recognize the characteristics of successful executives
• Use regular appraisals to develop performance for the future, engage people and maintain motivation
• Be aware of cultural differences
• Deal with under-achievement
• Select internal candidates for promotion

Further Action

Further Information

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