Introduction

Recruitment is a positive process of searching for prospective employees and stimulating them to apply for the jobs in the organisation. When more persons apply for jobs then there will be a scope for recruiting better persons. The job-seekers too, on the other hand, are in search of organisations offering them employment. Recruitment is a linkage activity bringing together those with jobs and those seeking jobs. In simple words, the term recruitment refers to discovering the source from where potential employees may be selected. The scientific recruitment process leads to higher productivity, better wages, high morale, reduction in labour turnover and enhanced reputation. It stimulates people to apply for jobs; hence it is a positive process.

Recruitment is concerned with reaching out, attracting, and ensuring a supply of qualified personnel and making out selection of requisite manpower both in their quantitative and qualitative aspect. It is the development and maintenance of adequate manpower resources. This is the first stage of the process of selection and is completed with placement.

Definition

According to Edwin B. Flippo, “It is a process of searching for prospective employees and stimulating and encouraging them to apply for jobs in an organisation.”

In the words of Dale Yoder, Recruitment is the process to “discover the sources of manpower to meet the requirements of the staffing schedule and to employ effective measures for attracting that manpower in adequate numbers to facilitate effective selection of an efficient working force.”

Kempner writes, “Recruitment forms the first stage in the process which continues with selection and ceases with the placement of the candidates.”

Objectives of Recruitment

• To attract people with multi-dimensional skills and experiences those suit the present and future organisational strategies

• To induct outsiders with a new perspective to lead the company

• To infuse fresh blood at all levels of the organisation

• To develop an organisational culture that attracts competent people to the company

• To search or head hunt/head pouch people whose skills fit the company’s values

• To devise methodologies for assessing psychological traits

• To seek out non-conventional development grounds of talent

• To search for talent globally and not just within the company

• To design entry pay that competes on quality but not on quantum

• To anticipate and find people for positions that does not exist yet

Importance of Recruitment

The following points will help to understand the importance of Recruiting

• The process is important to encourage and attract candidates and get ample amount of application for the job vacancies

• It is an effective way to create information pool about the prospective candidates who are suitable for the talent needs of the organization

• It is very important step of planning and analysis about the present and future manpower requirement of the organization

• It bridges the gap between employers and their future employee

• It is a less expensive way of gathering information about the talented manpower in the industry

• It helps to improve the selection process by proper sorting of suitable candidate for the job

• It reduces the turnover of employees due to correct matching of candidate expectations and the rewards offered by the organization

• It also helps the organization to meet the social and legal obligation of maintaining the manpower composition

• It determines the appropriate candidates through the different channels of recruitment

• It helps the organization to create different sources of attracting the right candidate for the job profile.

Process of Recruitment

Recruitment Process Passes through the Following Stages:

1. Searching out the sources from where required persons will be available for recruitment. If young managers are to be recruited then institutions imparting instructions in business administration will be the best source.

2. Developing the techniques to attract the suitable candidates. The goodwill and reputation of an organisation in the market may be one method. The publicity about the company being a professional employer may also assist in stimulating candidates to apply.

3. Using of good techniques to attract prospective candidates. There may be offers of attractive salaries, proper facilities for development, etc.

4. The next stage in this process is to stimulate as many candidates as possible to apply for jobs. In order to select a best person, there is a need to attract more candidates.

Factors Influencing Recruitment

All enterprises, big or small, have to engage themselves in recruitment of persons. A number of factors influence this process.

Some Of The Main Factors Are Being Discussed Below

1. Size of the Enterprise

The number of persons to be recruited will depend upon the size of an enterprise. A big enterprise requires more persons at regular intervals while a small undertaking employs only a few employees. A big business house will always be in touch with sources of supply and shall try to attract more and more persons for making a proper selection. It can afford to spend more amounts in locating prospective candidates. So the size of an enterprise will affect the process of recruitment.

2. Employment Conditions

The employment conditions in an economy greatly affect recruitment process. In under-developed economies, employment opportunities are limited and there is no dearth of prospective candidates. At the same time suitable candidates may not be available because of lack of educational and technical facilities. If the availability of persons is more, then selection from large number becomes easy. On the other hand, if there is a shortage of qualified technical persons, then it will be difficult to locate suitable persons.

3. Salary Structure and Working Conditions

The wages offered and working conditions prevailing in an enterprise greatly influence the availability of personnel. If higher wages are paid as compared to similar concerns, the enterprise will not face any difficulty in making recruitments. An organization offering low wages can face the problem of labour turnover.

The working conditions in an enterprise will determine job satisfaction of employees. An enterprise offering good working conditions like proper sanitation, lighting, ventilation, etc. would give more job satisfaction to employees and they may not leave their present job. On the other hand, if employees leave the jobs due to unsatisfactory working conditions, it will lead to fresh recruitment of new persons.

4. Rate of Growth

The growth rate of an enterprise also affects recruitment process. An expanding concern will require regular employment of new employees. There will also be promotions of existing employees necessitating the filling up of those vacancies. A stagnant enterprise can recruit persons only when present incumbent vacates his position on retirement, etc.