2.1 Human resource mangement (HRM)

What is human resource management (HRM)?

The management of employees within a business.

What is recruitment?

The process of attracting suitable candidates to apply for a job vacancy.

What is selection?

The process of choosing the most suitable candidate from the applicants.

What is the easy distinction between recruitment and selection?

Recruitment = getting applicants; selection = choosing an applicant.

What is the typical recruitment process?

Identify vacancy → job description → person specification → job advertisement → receive applications → shortlist → select using tests/interviews/references → make job offer.

What is a job description?

A document explaining the duties, responsibilities and other details of a particular job.

What does a job description describe?

The job.

What is the key question for a job description?

What does the employee have to do?

What information is usually included in a job description?

Job title, main duties, responsibilities, reporting structure, location, working hours and possibly salary/benefits.

Why is a job description important to a business?

It clearly explains what the employee is expected to do, helps attract suitable applicants and provides a basis for assessing candidates.

Why is a job description useful to applicants?

It allows them to decide whether the job suits them and understand what will be expected.

What is a person specification?

A document describing the qualities, qualifications, skills, experience and personal characteristics required from the ideal candidate.

What does a person specification describe?

The ideal employee.

What is the key question for a person specification?

What qualities does the employee need?

What types of qualifications might appear on a person specification?

GCSEs, A-levels, degrees and professional qualifications.

What types of skills might appear on a person specification?

Communication, IT, leadership and numeracy.

What types of experience might appear on a person specification?

Previous retail experience or experience managing employees.

What personal qualities might appear on a person specification?

Reliability, friendliness, hard work and the ability to work under pressure.

What is the key difference between a job description and person specification?

A job description describes the job, while a person specification describes the ideal employee.

What does a job description focus on?

Duties and responsibilities.

What does a person specification focus on?

Skills, qualifications, experience and personal qualities.

What is a job advertisement?

An advert used to inform potential applicants about a vacancy and encourage suitable people to apply.

What should a good job advertisement include?

Job title, responsibilities, required qualifications/skills, experience, salary/pay, working hours, location, how to apply and closing date.

What are traditional methods of advertising jobs?

Newspapers, magazines, posters and job centres.

Where can businesses advertise jobs online?

Company websites, online job websites, social media and professional networking websites.

What is an advantage of online recruitment relating to applicants?

It can reach a large number of potential employees.

Why can online recruitment be cheaper?

Online advertising can cost less than traditional newspaper advertising.

Why is online recruitment fast?

Vacancies can be advertised immediately.

What is the geographical advantage of online recruitment?

It allows businesses to attract applicants from outside their local area.

What is a disadvantage of online recruitment relating to applications?

The business may receive too many unsuitable applications, increasing selection time.

What is digital exclusion?

When potential applicants have limited internet access or digital skills.

What is another disadvantage of online recruitment?

A vacancy may have to compete with thousands of other online jobs for attention.

What is an employment agency?

An organisation that helps businesses find suitable employees.

How does an employment agency help a business recruit?

The business provides vacancy details and the agency searches for suitable candidates and may shortlist them.

What is an advantage of using an employment agency?

It saves management time.

Why might an employment agency be useful for specialist vacancies?

The agency may have specialist recruitment knowledge.

How can an employment agency help a business find applicants?

It can provide access to a large pool of candidates.

When are employment agencies particularly useful?

When a vacancy requires specialist skills and the business lacks the time or resources to recruit itself.

What is a disadvantage of using an employment agency?

The business may have to pay an agency fee.

Why might an agency not find the ideal employee?

It may not understand the business as well as its managers do.

What control can a business lose when using an employment agency?

Some direct control over the initial recruitment process.

What is a CV or résumé?

A document containing information about an applicant's education, qualifications, work experience, skills, achievements and contact details.

What is an advantage of using CVs?

They are relatively cheap and provide information about qualifications and experience.

Why are CVs useful for shortlisting?

They allow the business to identify candidates with relevant qualifications and experience.

What is a disadvantage of CVs?

Applicants may exaggerate their achievements.

Why can CVs make comparisons difficult?

Applicants can present their information in different ways.

What might a CV fail to show?

Personality and how candidates perform under pressure.

What is an application form?

A standard form completed by applicants that asks for information relevant to the vacancy.

What is an advantage of application forms?

All applicants provide information in the same format, making comparisons easier.

How can application forms be tailored to a job?

Questions can be specifically designed around the requirements of the vacancy.

How can application forms help shortlisting?

They can reduce the time needed to shortlist candidates.

What is a disadvantage of application forms?

They take applicants time to complete.

Why might application forms discourage applicants?

The time and effort required to complete them may discourage some people from applying.

What is another disadvantage of application forms?

They do not necessarily show how well an applicant performs in practice.

What is a reference?

Information about an applicant provided by someone who knows them, often a previous employer.

What can references provide information about?

Reliability, attendance, work performance, previous employment and behaviour.

What is an advantage of references?

They can verify information provided by applicants.

How can references reduce recruitment risk?

They give employers information about past performance, helping identify unsuitable candidates.

What is a disadvantage of references?

Previous employers may provide only limited information.

Why can references be subjective?

The information depends on the opinion of the person providing the reference.

Why might references not predict future performance?

Past performance does not necessarily indicate how an employee will perform in the future.

What is recruitment testing?

Using tests to measure a candidate's abilities.

What types of recruitment tests can businesses use?

Numeracy, literacy, IT, aptitude and practical skills tests.

What is an advantage of recruitment tests?

They provide objective evidence of ability.

Why are tests useful for comparing candidates?

Candidates can complete the same test under similar conditions.

When are recruitment tests particularly useful?

When a job requires specific skills.

What is a disadvantage of recruitment tests?

They can be expensive to create or administer.

How can nervousness affect recruitment tests?

A nervous candidate may perform worse than their actual ability.

What might recruitment tests fail to measure?

Qualities such as teamwork and motivation.

What is an assessment centre?

A selection method where candidates complete a series of activities designed to assess their suitability for a job.

What activities might take place at an assessment centre?

Group discussions, presentations, role-play, problem-solving tasks, interviews and tests.

What is an advantage of assessment centres?

They allow several skills to be assessed.

Why are assessment centres useful for observing candidates?

Candidates can be observed in realistic situations.

For which types of jobs are assessment centres particularly useful?

Management jobs.

What are disadvantages of assessment centres?

They are expensive, time-consuming and require several managers or assessors.

How can candidates be affected by assessment centres?

They may become nervous.

What is an interview?

A formal meeting between an employer and applicant to assess whether the applicant is suitable for the job.

What is an advantage of interviews?

Employers can ask questions directly.

What can interviews assess besides qualifications?

Communication skills, personality and motivation.

Why are interviews useful to applicants?

Candidates can ask questions about the job.

What is a disadvantage of interviews?

Interviewers may be biased.

How can nervousness affect interviews?

Nervous candidates may perform poorly.

Why can interviews be difficult to compare objectively?

Different interviewers may interpret candidates' answers differently.

What is internal recruitment?

Filling a vacancy using an existing employee within the business.

What are examples of internal recruitment?

Promotion and transfer.

What is an advantage of internal recruitment relating to cost?

It may be cheaper because external advertising or agencies may not be needed.

Why is internal recruitment usually faster?

Existing employees are already known to the business.

How can internal recruitment motivate employees?

Employees may work harder because they know promotion opportunities exist.

Why can internal recruitment reduce training costs?

The employee already understands the business's systems and culture.

Why is internal recruitment lower risk?

Management already has knowledge of the employee's performance.

What is a disadvantage of internal recruitment relating to candidate choice?

The business has a smaller pool of candidates.

Why might internal recruitment reduce new ideas?

It may prevent new skills and perspectives entering the business.

What happens when an employee is promoted internally?

Their previous position may become vacant.

How can internal recruitment cause resentment?

Employees who are not promoted may become demotivated.

What is external recruitment?

Filling a vacancy with someone from outside the business.

What are examples of external recruitment methods?

Job websites, newspapers, employment agencies, company websites and social media.

What is an advantage of external recruitment relating to applicants?

The business can choose from a larger pool of candidates.

How can external recruitment bring new ideas?

An external employee may bring knowledge and experience from another organisation.

Why can external recruitment provide specialist expertise?

The business may find someone with skills that existing employees lack.

What is a disadvantage of external recruitment relating to cost?

Advertising, agencies and selection can increase costs.