Human resource management practice I also available by michael armstrong

Part 

4

  People Resourcing

234

Dealing with applications

If recruitment agencies or consultants are used they 

will  deliver  their  client  a  shortlist  of  candidates  

for  interview.  If  not,  the  organization  has  to  sift  

the  applications  itself.  This  means  examining  

the  information  supplied  by  applicants,  sorting 

them and drawing up a shortlist of applicants to be 

interviewed.

Examining information from 

candidates

Candidates may respond to an online notice or an 

advertisement with a formal application (by e-mail 

or  letter),  usually  supported  by  a  CV.  Applicants 

may  be  asked  to  provide  information  about  their 

education, qualifications, training and experience in 

a standardized format to provide a structured basis 

for  drawing  up  shortlists,  the  interview  itself  and 

for the subsequent actions in offering an appoint-

ment and in setting up records. This ensures that all 

applicants are considered on the same basis against 

the person specification.

An application form, as illustrated in Figure 18.1, 

which  sets  out  the  information  required,  can  be 

completed online (preferable if an online applicat-

ion has been made) or on paper. The following sug-

gestions have been made by Pioro and Baum (2005) 

on how to use application forms more effectively:

 

●

Decide what the criteria for selection are and 

how these will be assessed by use of the 

application form.

 

●

Keep questions clear, relevant and non-

discriminatory.

 

●

Ask for only the bare minimum of personal 

details.

 

●

Widen your pool of applicants by offering 

different options and guidance for 

completing and viewing application forms.

 

●

Employers may also refer for further 

information to social networks or the 

candidate’s own blog.

However, to save time and trouble, recruiters may 

prefer  to  make  a  decision  on  the  details  provided  

in  the  initial  application  where  it  is  clear  that  an  

applicant meets or does not meet the specification.