A recruitment policy sets out a standardised version of the recruitment and selection process within a business. It is a set of principles that can be applied every time recruitment is necessary, making it easier to choose the right candidate and improving the process itself. Time spent on a recruitment policy is a worthwhile investment that any organisation will benefit from in the long-term.
1. Laying foundations of transparency and fairness
Fair recruitment processes require candidates to be treated the same – a clear and easy to understand recruitment policy ensures that this will be the case every time. Setting out the steps involved in the hiring process, as well as the goals at each stage, also ensures that there is complete transparency. Anyone who wants to understand how the recruitment process works can do so by reading the policy. This helps to build trust and to demonstrate that the business is serious about ensuring that the hiring process is dependable.
2. Delivering more accurate results
Any process of testing requires the same challenges to be applied consistently to each of the subjects involved. The same is true of the recruitment process – if you want to be sure you’re making the most objectively accurate decisions then you’ll need to have consistent testing. For that, a standard procedure based on a single policy is essential. This will make it much easier to deliver accurate results because the process will be consistent every time.
3. Enabling merit based hires
Discrimination during the recruitment process is a difficult topic to tackle, particularly as many people are simply not aware of their own unconscious bias. Establishing a recruitment policy helps to reduce the opportunities for that unconscious bias to influence hiring decisions and makes merit based hires the norm. It will ensure a better selection of more diverse candidates and help to avoid a situation where an applicant feels that they have a potential claim for discrimination on the basis of gender, race, age, religion, or nationality.
4. Informing the job description
A great job description is the first step towards finding the right person to fill a role within your business. Job descriptions are often inadequate and can be very inconsistent. With a recruitment policy it’s much easier to create job descriptions that are effective every time. The recruitment policy will demonstrate what needs to go into the job description, both in terms of making it an effective document and with respect to reflecting the culture and values of the business too.
5. Establishing credibility
Employees want to work for businesses that take recruitment seriously and a recruitment policy is an obvious sign of that. Plus, there are plenty of less scrupulous individuals willing to take advantage of candidates who are desperate to find a new role – having a recruitment policy is a clear sign that your business prides itself on legitimacy and credibility.
We support businesses through the process of successful hiring – contact the 2i Recruit team today to find out how we could make your selection process more effective.
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