OCR GCSE Business: Recruitment and Selection
Why Do Businesses Recruit?
Businesses recruit for a number of reasons:
- To fill vacancies: When an employee leaves or a new position is created, businesses need to recruit to fill the role.
- To grow and expand: If a business is expanding, it will need to recruit more staff to meet the increased workload.
- To replace employees: Businesses may need to recruit new staff to replace employees who are retiring, leaving for other jobs, or who are being made redundant.
The Recruitment Process
The recruitment process involves a number of steps:
- Job Analysis: This involves defining the role, its responsibilities, and the skills and qualifications required.
- Job Description: This document outlines the key duties and responsibilities of the role.
- Person Specification: This document sets out the ideal candidate profile, including their skills, qualifications, and experience.
- Advertising the Vacancy: This can be done through a variety of channels, such as job boards, newspapers, social media, and company websites.
- Shortlisting: This involves reviewing applications and selecting the most suitable candidates for interview.
- Interviewing: This is a chance for employers to assess candidates' skills, experience, and personality.
- Selection: After interviewing, the employer selects the most suitable candidate for the role.
- Offer of Employment: The successful candidate is offered the job, including details of salary, benefits, and starting date.
- Induction: Once they start, new employees will go through an induction process to help them settle in and learn about the business.
Recruitment Costs
Businesses incur costs when recruiting new employees, such as:
- Advertising costs: This includes the cost of placing job adverts in newspapers, on job boards, and on social media.
- Recruitment agency fees: If a business uses a recruitment agency to find candidates, they will need to pay a fee.
- Interview costs: This includes the cost of travel, accommodation, and time spent interviewing candidates.
- Training costs: New employees may need to be trained in the role, which can be expensive.
Selecting Suitable Candidates
Businesses use a variety of methods to select suitable candidates, including:
- CVs: These documents provide an overview of a candidate's skills, experience, and qualifications.
- Interviews: These allow employers to ask candidates questions about their skills, experience, and motivations.
- Assessments: These can include aptitude tests, personality tests, and work samples.
- References: Employers may contact previous employers to get feedback on a candidate's performance.
The Benefits of Retention
Retaining employees can be very beneficial for businesses, as it:
- Reduces recruitment costs: By retaining employees, businesses can save money on recruitment costs.
- Improves productivity: Experienced employees are more productive than new employees.
- Maintains company knowledge: Experienced employees have a wealth of knowledge about the business, which can be lost if they leave.
- Enhances employee morale: Employees are more likely to be motivated and engaged if they feel valued and appreciated.
Conclusion
Recruitment and selection are crucial processes for any business. By understanding the different stages of the recruitment process, the costs involved, and the benefits of retaining employees, businesses can make informed decisions about their recruitment strategies.