Inside the Recruitment and Hiring Process

 

Steps in the Recruiting Process

While hiring an applicant for a job position, a company goes through a step-by-step hiring process. This process has three key phases, including planning, recruitment, and employee selection.

Human resource planning is when a company settles on the number of employees they are looking to hire and the skill sets they require of these employees. The company must then compare their needs to the expected number of qualified candidates in the labor market.

The recruitment phase of the hiring process takes place when the company tries to reach a pool of candidates through job postings, job referrals, advertisements, college campus recruitment, etc.

Types of Recruiting

Some companies work with a recruiter to find applicants, especially for higher level jobs. Other companies will use social networking sites and LinkedIn to recruit, in addition to using traditional means of recruiting like posting help wanted ads in newspapers and social media and listing jobs online like at Indeed.com or CareerBuilder.

Many employers, especially large companies, may not actively recruit candidates, but do post open positions on their company website.

Job Applications

How applicants apply for jobs depends on the company, as well. Some companies use talent management software to accept applications for employment and to screen and select candidates to interview.​

In other cases, the job application process will require applicants to submit a resume and cover letter via email. Some employers still prefer that applicants apply in person.

As part of the application process, candidates may be asked to take a talent assessment test to see if their background matches the company's requirements. Job applications and test results will be reviewed and selected candidates will be invited for a job interview.

Steps in the Hiring Process

Listing Jobs on Company Websites

Most larger companies, and many smaller companies, post available jobs on their company website. Job applicants can search for jobs, review job listings and apply for jobs online. Job seekers may be able to set up job search agents to notify them via email of new openings. Some companies schedule interviews online, as well.

Posting Jobs Online

Companies that are actively recruiting candidates will not only post jobs on their website but will also post jobs on job boards and other job sites. Jobs may be posted on general job boards like Monster and/or on niche sites like MediaBistro, for example.

Using LinkedIn

Companies may post open positions on LinkedIn, the professional networking site. In addition, companies may search LinkedIn to find candidates to recruit. LinkedIn Groups are another venue that employers use to post jobs and find applicants.

Social Recruiting

Companies are increasingly using social recruiting to source candidates for employment on Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites, as well as to investigate applicants they are considering hiring. Companies may use Facebook apps to recruit or have a Facebook page dedicated to careers with the company. On Twitter, companies may tweet job listings and source candidates to recruit.

The Job Application Process

Here's information on the entire job application process including applying for jobs, resumes and cover letters, applicant testing, background and reference checks, interviewing, and the hiring process.

The Interview Process

The interview process isn't a matter of getting called for a job interview, interviewing and getting a job offer. In many cases, it is complex and may involve multiple interviews.

The Hiring Process

There are a series of steps in the hiring process, including applying for jobs, interviewing, employment testing, background checks, and job offers, along with tips and advice for each step in the hiring process.