Perspective of Potential Employee Selection - Essay Example

Application from a larger number of candidates helps in screening the best candidates. The role of the HR managers in the selection process is of utmost importance as they are in the best position to comprehend the needs of the diverse market and select candidates who are capable of handling cultural differences (Nieto, 2006). According to Aurand, Gorchels, and Bishop (2005) selection of candidates must be based on a special set of skills and knowledge of applicants that complements the talent gap in the human resource pool. This makes the human resource pool of the organization highly diverse and efficient. Researchers are also of the notion that appropriate selection strategies comprise the ability of the candidate to collaborate with the existing employees so that cross-fertilization of ideas takes place. 

In a recent report that has been published by Pulakos (2005), it has been pointed out that using the proper selection assessment tool is crucial to screen the candidates and methods like cognitive ability tests, work sampling tests and knowledge-based tests regarding job has been found out to be highly useful in determining the appropriate candidates. Methods of interviewing and the use of structured questions have also been found to be useful screening tools. According to Sackett and Roth (1996), the key attributes of successful selection procedures are the validity of the methods employed, adverse impact that the selection criteria have on the organization, cost of the assessment procedures and reaction of the applicants. 

Researchers have also argued that the external job environment is highly competitive and dynamic and under such a situation HR managers should be completely aware to select new candidates who can adapt themselves more quickly to the new working environment (Pulakos, 2005).  One of the best selection and recruitment strategies has been implemented by John Lewis Partnership, which is an entirely employee-owned firm located in the U.K (John Lewis Partnership, 2011). As the profits of the company are shared between all its employees, so selecting them prudently has become an organizational priority. In order to make the selection of the best candidates, qualified professionals with high job expertise are employed who have a complete understanding of the organizational requirements and knowledge gap of the existing employees.

At present, the company boasts of having 200 assessment centers that are utilized to access the candidates for the job rigorously (John Lewis Partnership, 2011). A total of 620 partners or employees has been assigned with the responsibility of screening the best candidates (John Lewis Partnership, 2011). The competency of the applicants, their skills and cognitive ability are tested to understand whether they can adjust themselves in the organization or not (John Lewis Partnership, 2011). Read More