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· Misc

The Employee Selection Process

Companies have the never-ending task of interviewing, selecting and hiring employees. However, despite the repetitiveness and skill of a company's human resources department, selecting the right individual for a job is extremely challenging. Making the wrong choice can also be costly. The employee selection process usually entails notification or advertising, reviewing, screening, interviewing, testing then selecting the best available candidate.

Notification
The employee selection process usually starts with a manager or boss commissioning human resources to fill a new or vacant position. The manager must first decide what qualifications she desires in a job candidate. For example, should the person have a college degree, or how many years of relevant experience is necessary? Once the manager establishes the job requirements, the human resources department places ads in the local newspaper and online. Sometimes, human resources uses a headhunter find candidates, someone who often specializes in a certain field, such as sales.

Reviewing

Review resumes and match each candidate's background to the job requirements. Companies sometimes receive hundreds of resumes for an ad. However, human resources may only consider a half dozen. During bad economic periods, a number of candidates may have an education and experience that exceed the qualifications for the job. Contrarily, it may be tougher to find qualified candidates during good economic times. Nevertheless, human resources and the hiring manager must determine how many candidates they can realistically bring in for an interview.

Screening

The employment selection process may actually include a screening interview, especially if a job candidate lives out of town. Human resources will usually conduct the screening interview over the telephone, according to the Virginia Tech article on its website titled "Telephone Interviews & Screening". Screening interviews can help narrow the field of candidates. A telephone interview also helps a company determine if the candidate has the necessary qualifications to warrant flying him in for an interview.

Interviewing

One of the most important facets of the employment selection process is the face-to-face interview. Companies have different procedures for personal interviews. Some companies prefer to have all-day interviewing sessions, where job candidates meet with a different person each hour. During this time, companies may have the candidates meet with human resources, the hiring manager and other employees. Another option is is having candidates meet with key personnel one day, then inviting them back for second to meet with some executives.

Selection

The hiring manager will usually ask for feedback from human resources and other employees who interview the job candidates. The hiring manager may also review her notes, or decide which candidate would fit best in the open position. Qualifications are only one consideration. The hiring manager will usually select someone with whom she can work, whether it is the candidate's personality or work ethic.

Read more | smallbusiness.chron.com