An HR Glossary for HR Terms

Recruitment

What is Recruitment?

Recruitment is the process of finding and hiring qualified individuals to fill specific job roles within a company. It involves advertising job descriptions, screening and interviewing candidates, and identifying who will be a right-fit.

What does the recruitment process look like?


A typical recruitment process will involve the following activities:

  1. Preparing: This involves identifying skill gaps, writing job descriptions, and arranging the necessary resources for incoming hires. It is a pivotal step in the recruitment process, as it ensures employers are financially equipped to hire, train, and support new employees effectively.
  2. Sourcing: This involves publicizing the job openings and attracting interested applicants. Most adverts nowadays are posted on online job boards, such as LinkedIn, Indeed, and Glassdoor. Recruiters will either actively seek and reach out to qualified candidates (active sourcing), or wait for applications to come in through their website and job boards (passive sourcing).
  3. Screening: This involves shortlisting candidates based on their resumes and alignment with the job requirements. If an applicant is selected, they will typically receive initial contact, either by email or phone, to provide a preview of the job, evaluate interest, and answer any questions.
  4. Interviewing: This is essentially a Q&A period where candidates get to elaborate on their qualifications and answer a variety of behavioral, competency, and/or case-study questions. Some organizations may conduct further interviews with additional team members or managers to answer more in-depth questions and evaluate alignment with the organization.
  5. Hiring: Once a final candidate is selected, a job offer is extended to them by the employer. The recruiter explains the details of the contract, outlining compensation, benefits, and expectations. Reference checks and background checks are also conducted.
  6. Onboarding: This involves integrating new hires into the organization. It encompasses a range of activities including orientation to the company’s culture and values, completion of paperwork, job-specific training, introductions to colleagues, and tours of the workspace. A smooth onboarding process ensures a positive start for employees.

What are some tips for optimizing the recruitment process?


  • Make sure job descriptions are accurate and outline clear expectations to attract candidates who truly fit the role.
  • Create a talent pool for future needs by storing applications from high-potential candidates. When a new position becomes available, sourcing from these profiles can make the process more streamlined and efficient.
  • Encourage and reward employee referrals. Some employees may already have strong connections with qualified prospects. If they are right for the job, it can save your company a lot of time and money in the search process.
  • Simplify the application process using online job boards, website, and social media. This makes new openings more accessible to a broader audience, increasing the chances of highly-qualified applications.
  • Look for more diversity in candidate pools to foster an inclusive and more dynamic workplace

Table Of Contents

Find More Helpful Resources

Check out more Litespace resources to gain insights for your business.

Get started for free
now!

Get Started
4.8/5
From 100+ Customer Reviews
LET’S TRY!
Light Green checkmark
Improve your employee engagement
Light Green checkmark
Seamless integration with all your favorite tools
Light Green checkmark
Around-the-clock support