recruitment, selection and training of workers

• What is recruitment?


  This is the process of identifying that the business needs to employ someone up to the point at which applications have arrived at the business.
• When does a business recruit workers?

  When a new business is starting up or when a business is successful and wants to expand.
• Why is recruitment important?

  Because it gives the business the opportunity to reassess the nature of people's jobs and consider future requirements.
• What is a job analysis?

  A job analysis identifies and records the responsibilities and tasks relating to a job.
• What is a job description?

  It outlines the responsibilities and duties to be carried out by someone employed to do a job.
• What is a job specification?

  It is a document that outlines the requirements, qualifications, expertise, and physical characteristics for a specific job.
• What does a human resource department do?

  • Attracts and selects the best candidates for vacancies that arise.
• What is internal recruitment?

  This is when a vacancy is filled by someone who is an existing employee of the business.
• What are the advantages of internal recruitment?

  It saves time and money, compared with recruiting someone from outside the business.

  The person is already known to the business and their reliability, ability and potential are known.

  The person knows the organisation's way of working and what is expected from employees.
• What are the disadvantages of internal recruitment?

  No new ideas or experience come into the business. Other companies may have different ways of working and these ways may be better in some respects, including making the business more efficient.

  There may be jealousy and rivalry among workers
• What is external recruitment?

  This is when a vacancy is filled by someone who is not an existing employee and will be new to the business.
• What are some examples of external recruitment?


  Local newspapers- These jobs require a high level of skill and therefore it is likely that many people could fill these vacancies.

  National newspapers- These will be used for more senior positions where there may be few if any, local people who have the right experience and qualifications to do the job.

  Recruitment agencies- These are specialists in recruiting employees. They will advertise and interview people for particular types of jobs. Agencies are also approached by companies who need to employ a particular type of skilled worker.
• What are the advantages of external recruitment?


  The business brings in an employee who was not originally in the business and can bring in new ideas and skills that can lead to the development of the business.

  Recruitment agencies save time for managers because they won't be involved in the recruitment process because it is done for them.

  Most job centers are free of charge meaning it will be cheap for the business because they don't have to pay for the advertisement.
• What are the disadvantages of external recruitment?

  If the business receives a large number of applicants then it will take a longer time to find the right candidates and this wastes time and money.

  Local newspapers cover a small area and will be read by a few people.

  It is expensive to advertise in national newspapers and the advert may be small and missed by the people who read the newspapers.
• What does a business need to consider when making a job advertisement?

  What should be included in the advert.

  Where the advertisement should be placed.

  How much the advertisement will cost.
• What is a CV?

  This is a summary of a person's qualifications, experience and qualities, and it is written in a standard format.
• What are the advantages of a part-time worker?

  They are more flexible in the hours of work.

  Easier to ask employees to work at busy times

  Less expensive than employing a full time worker.
• What are the disadvantages of a part-time worker?

  It takes longer to recruit two part-time workers than one full time worker.

  They can be less committed to the business and more likely to get another job.

  They are difficult to communicate when they are not in work.
• What are the objectives of training?

  To introduce a new process or new equipment.

  To improve the efficiency of the workforce.

  To provide training for the unskilled workers.

  To decrease the chances of accidents.
• What is induction training?

  This is an introduction given to a new employee, explaining the firm's activities, customs and procedures and introducing them to their fellow workers.
• What are the advantages of induction training?

  It helps employees settle into their job quickly.

  Workers are less likely to make mistakes.
• Disadvantages of induction training.

  It is time-consuming.

  It delays the start of the employee commencing their job.
• What is on-the-job training?


  This is where a person is trained by watching a more experienced worker doing the job.
• What are the advantages of on the job training?

  Individual tuition is given and it is in the workplace so the employee does not need to be sent away.

  It ensures that there is some production from the worker whilst they are training
• Disadvantages of on-the-job training

  The trainer will not be as productive as usual because they are showing the trainee what to do instead of getting on with their job.

  It may not necessarily recognized as training qualifications outside the business.
• What is off-the-job training?


  This is where the worker goes away the place of work to receive training.
• What are the advantages of off-the-job training?

  Employees may be taught a variety of skills, they become multi-skilled and this makes them more versatile- they can be moved around the company when this need arises.

  It often uses expert trainers who have up-to-date knowledge of business practices.
• What are the advantages of off-the-job training?

  Costs are high

  It means wages are paid but no work is being done by the worker.
• Internal recruitment is when a vacancy is filled by an existing employee in the business.
• What is workforce planning?

  This is establishing the workforce needed by the business for the foreseeable future in terms of the number and skills of employees required.
• Why do businesses downsize their workforce?

  Introduction of automation.

  Falling demand for their goods and services.

  factory/shop/office closure.
• How can the human resource department downsize the workforce?


  finding out the skills of all present employees.

  Counting out anyone who will be leaving soon.
• What is dismissal?


  This is where a worker is told to leave their job because their work or behaviour was unsatisfactory.
• What is redundancy?


  This is when an employee is no longer needed and so loses their job. It is not due to any aspect of their work being unsatisfactory.
• When an employee is made redundant they may be given some money to compensate them for losing their job.
• How does a business choose who to make redundant?

  The department of workers in which workers have to be retained.

  Workers with essential skills that are needed by the business.

  Looking at the historical background of workers.
• Unfair discrimination is when an employee is treated unfairy because of their race, sex, age or disability
• Businesses can lose out by practicing unfair discrimination because they could fail to select a very good worker just because they used one of the reasons above not to select the person.
• Legal controls over health and safety at work

  Protect workers from dangerous machinery.

  provide safety equipment and clothing.

  Maintain reasonable workplace temperatures.

  Provide hygienic conditions and washing facilities.
• An ethical decision is a decision that is taken by a manager or a company because the moral code observed by the firm,