Selection and training

Summary

 Selection and training are important processes in the hiring process that can help organizations find the best candidates for their roles
and improve their overall performance: The selection process involves evaluating job candidates’ skills, competencies, and experience to
identify the most qualified individuals for the role and the organization.
 The selection starts once a job opening is advertised and candidates flow in. The process follows a funnel structure, starting with multiple
applicants and progressively narrowing down the candidate pool through interviews and assessments until the best fit for the role is
found.
 It typically includes the following seven stages, which we will cover in more detail later:
 Organizations usually have some type of hiring procedures in place that they may or may not consistently follow. However, having a well-
thought-out strategy for the process helps you not just fill each vacancy but also contribute to the lasting success of the business.
 A strategic selection process offers the following advantages:
 • Supporting long-term organizational goals: Incorporating strategic objectives into candidate selection systems puts the focus on finding
individuals with the skills, experience, and mindset to carry out what the organization is aiming for currently and in the future. For
example, a company that is rapidly growing or facing a merger can look for candidates with attributes such as resilience and adaptability,
which indicate the ability to successfully navigate change and uncertainty.
 • Creating a positive candidate experience: A structured, consistent selection process helps candidates know what to expect. You can
inform them of the forthcoming steps, so they feel in the loop and gauge what’s coming next. Holding candidates’ interest and providing
a positive experience can make all the difference in convincing top talent to work for you. According to a PwC study, 49% of job seekers
in highly competitive fields claimed to have rejected a job offer due to a bad experience in the hiring process.
 • Ensuring job and culture fit: Evaluating candidates on more than just their knowledge and specialized skills helps identify who will thrive
in the position and work environment. For instance, someone with the ideal technical expertise yet prefers to work alone may not do well
in an organization that functions in teams with shared tasks and constant collaboration.
Why is selection and training
important to management

 Employee training and development programs are essential to the success of businesses worldwide. Not only do these programs
offer opportunities for staff to improve their skills, but also for employers to enhance employee productivity and improve company
culture.
 They also can reduce employee turnover — and a 2020 Work Institute study shows just how important that can be for a company’s
bottom line. Voluntary employee turnover, according to the report, costs U.S. businesses more than $630 billion annually.
 With the right education and credentials, like an online bachelor’s in HR management, you can learn to address personnel challenges
like this — or to prevent them entirely.
It’s no surprise that employees who get regular opportunities to learn, develop, and advance are more likely to stay with a company. Bob
Nelson, author of 1,001 Ways to Engage Employees, reports that learning and development are among the top factors in employee
engagement.
 Employee development is the continuous effort to strengthen work performance through approaches like coaching, training sessions,
and leadership mentoring. Training is a specific event that teaches new information or skills, often provided to new or newly
promoted employees.
 Employees participate in a whiteboard exercise during a work group training session.
 Both are key functions of corporate human resources staff, who typically are responsible for planning and implementing these
efforts. A bachelor’s degree in human resource management can help prepare you to lead training and development programs at
your organization.
 Employee training and development programs are critical for enhancing employee performance. In fact, a 2019 report published
in The International Journal of Business and Management Research indicates that 90% of employees surveyed agreed or strongly
agreed that training and development programs improved their job performance.
Application: How a manager could
use selection and training

 Managers can use selection and training to help employees develop and perform well, and to
build a skilled and engaged workforce. Here are some ways managers can use selection and
training:
 Selection
 Managers can use selection tools and methods to identify top candidates, including:
 • Phone screens: To get more information from candidates and only interview those who
demonstrate experience and performance
 • Test assignments: To help candidates demonstrate their skills and give managers a sense of
what they would do on the job
 Training
 Managers can use training to help employees develop skills and behaviors that contribute to
their overall growth and well-being, including:
 • Personal development: Training on accountability, goal setting, and time management
Application: How a manager could
not use selection and training

 Employee selection and training has been a major concern from the very
beginning of industrial psychology (e.g., Terman, 1904, Munsterberg, 1913),
and it remains so to this day. Yet, the success rate in selecting and training
leaders still leaves much to be desired (e.g., Bass, 1990, Burke and Day, 1986,
Porter and McKibbin, 1989). We argue that one important reason for the
lackluster track record of many personnel methods is that selection and
training methods have ignored the effect of the leadership situation on
performance. We further argue that the success rate of leadership selection
and training will vastly improve if we focus not only on the leader's personal
attributes and abilities but also on how well the immediate work environment
enables the leader to function effectively. In other words, we must assure that
the leaders we select and train end up in an environment that enables them to
use the attributes for which they were hired and the skills and knowledge they
gained in training.
How can selection and training be
applied to the worksite

 Selection and training can be applied to the worksite in a number of ways, including:
 Assessments
 Pre-employment assessments, such as the General Mental Ability (GMA) test or Five-Factor Model
of Personality test, can help identify the most suitable candidates.
 Reference checks
 Checking candidate references can help identify top candidates and understand how they would
transition into the role.
 the-importance-of-training :~:…
Training has a direct impact on your organization’s productivity and performance. As mentioned
earlier, training gives employees a better understanding of their responsibilities and the knowledge
and skills they need to do that job. This will improve their confidence which can positively impact
performance. Seismic’s 2023 Value of Enablement Report found that more than 80% of respondents
believe that more training would help them close more deals and meet their goals.
Faster ramp times
How can selection and training be
applied to the worksite (continued)

 Hiring the right people and training them well are the most important
things you can do to ensure that your organization is effective.
Establishing clear guidelines for hiring and training is a way to help
your organization get the hiring and training right every time. If you can
develop guidelines that reflect the character of your organization, are
consistent with its philosophy and mission, and speak directly to the
organization's needs, you're well on your way to a great staff and
organizational success.
Benefits of selection and training

Selection and training can have many benefits for an organization, including:
Expand
Increased productivity
Employees who are properly trained and selected are more efficient and
effective at their jobs, which can lead to higher productivity.
Expand
Improved employee retention
Training and development can help employees feel more satisfied, committed,
and like they belong, which can lead to lower turnover rates.
More benefits of selection and
training

 Selection and training has important benefits: • Enhanced Candidate

Evaluation. ...
 • Reduced Turnover Rates. ...
 • Time and Cost Savings. ...
 • Improved Employer Branding. ...
 • Adaptation to Changing Trends. ...
 • Effective Diversity and Inclusion Strategies. ...
 • Strengthened Management Skills. ...
 • Long-term Growth and Success.
Even more benefits

 The study’s authors offer practical implications that can be taken from
this research:
 • Investment in human capital, through training and selection, can
result in substantial payoffs for organizations in terms of increased
customer service, increased retention within work units, and increased
profits.
 • Because HR processes are often evaluated in terms of broad level
outcomes such as financial performance, it’s important to emphasize to
senior-level management other, non-financial benefits, such as
improved performance, that investing in selection and training can
have for the organization.
Works cited

 Michelle Telle
, DeGarmo Group
 Indexing, C.H., Ferris, G.R., Perrie, P.L., Perryman, A.A., Blass, F.R.,
Heeders, T.D. (2009). Effects of selection and training on unit-level
performance over time: A latent growth modeling approach. Journal of
Applied Psychology, 94, 929-843.