1. Revision Selection Methods Higher Admin www.mrmcgowan.blogspot.com

2. Selection is the process of sorting and selecting a suitable employee from the applicants. The selection process At the end of the recruitment process, applicants will have forwarded their details to the organisation in a format which will depend on how they were asked to apply. It is at this stage that selection can begin and it is important that this is done correctly in order that the right person is found for the job. Selection methods available to organisations include:

3. Application forms or letters – usually the first stage of selection, which leads to further selection methods. Selectors see candidate’s powers of written expression. Can be designed to ensure all relevant information is asked for. Easy to use and match against job criteria. Advantages Could be completed by someone else. Not always accurate – candidate can lie, leave things out. Doesn’t give a real feel for the person. Disadvantages

4. Curriculum Vitae (CV) – a document that summarises personal details; education and qualifications; employment history; hobbies and interests; referees. May have been completed or tidied up by someone else. Selectors can assess candidate’s writing skills. Not always accurate – candidate may lie, exaggerate, leave things out. Can provide a good personal overview of the applicant. Disadvantages Advantages

5. Tests – there are a number of different tests which can be used to assess candidate suitability; however, whichever ones are used, great care must be taken to ensure they are appropriate, valid (do they actually test what they need to test?) and reliable in their results (do they give the same results when repeated?). Personality tests can be unreliable if not administered by trained personnel. If used together can give an all-round picture of the candidate. If not well designed, can discriminate against some candidates, e.g. use of local vocabulary or terms may disadvantage non-local candidates. Can give comparison of levels of skills between candidates. Candidate’s performance may be uncharacteristic, e.g. affected by nerves. Can check the validity of candidate’s skills. Disadvantages Advantages

7. Interview – This is the most common form of selection and is often the method which carries most weight – yet they can be very unreliable if not carried out properly. May not give equal chance to candidates if not all asked the same questions. Gives applicant the opportunity to ask questions/assess the organisation also. Factors out with the candidate’s control may impair her/his performance, e.g. poor questions, poor interviewer, environment, interruptions. Gives opportunity to ask ‘ what if?’ scenarios. Interviewers may be biased, e.g. influenced by factors such as family connections, ‘old school tie’, etc. Gives opportunity to probe and question further any points of interest on the application form. Can be subjective – decisions can be based on first impressions, how people look, their accent, etc. Gives opportunity to meet candidates face to face. Disadvantages Advantages