Online Recruiting and Selection: Innovations in Talent Acquisition

218 Pages·2009·3.67 MB·English

by  Douglas H. Reynolds

Praise for Online Recruiting and Selection:
“Reynolds and Weiner bring extensive experience to their extremely
useful treatment of this complex topic, bringing together diverse
bodies of knowledge in information technology, human resource
strategy, and psychological testing and assessment.”
Paul R. Sackett, University of Minnesota
“No executive or HR professional should conduct online screening
or testing of job applicants without reading this excellent book. The
authors not only discuss signifi cant effi ciencies that can accrue from
online assessment, but also examine support systems that will ensure
quality data are collected to facilitate personnel decision making.”
Neal Schmitt, Michigan State University
“Online Recruiting and Selection is essential reading for any manager
or executive who needs to make good business decisions about people
in an era of ever-changing new technology.”
Dr. Wendy S. Becker, Editor, The Industrial-Organizational
Psychologist, Associate Professor of Management,
Shippensburg University
Online Recruiting and Selection: Innovations in Talent Acquisition D. H. Reynolds and J. A. Weiner
© 2009 Douglas H. Reynolds and John A. Weiner ISBN: 978-1-405-18230-0
Talent Management Essentials
Series Editor: Steven G. Rogelberg, Ph.D
Professor and Director Organizational Science, University of North Carolina – Charlotte
Senior Advisory Board:
(cid:129) Eric Elder, Ph.D., Director, Talent Management, Corning Incorporated
(cid:129) William H. Macey, Ph.D., Chief Executive Offi cer, Valtera Corporation
(cid:129) Cindy McCauley, Ph.D., Senior Fellow, Center for Creative Leadership
(cid:129) Elaine D. Pulakos, Ph.D., Chief Operating Offi cer, PDRI, a PreVisor Company
(cid:129) Douglas H. Reynolds, Ph.D., Vice President, Assessment Technology, Development
Dimensions International
(cid:129) Ann Marie Ryan, Ph.D., Professor, Michigan State University
(cid:129) Lise Saari, Ph.D., Director Global Workforce Research, IBM
(cid:129) John Scott, Ph.D., Vice President, Applied Psychological Techniques, Inc.
(cid:129) Dean Stamoulis, Ph.D., Managing Director, Executive Assessment Practice Leader for
the Americas, Russell Reynolds Associates
Special Features
Each volume contains a host of actual case studies, sample materials, tips, and cautionary
notes. Issues pertaining to globalization, technology, and key executive points are high-
lighted throughout.
Titles in the Talent Management Essentials series:
Performance Management: A New Approach for Driving Business Results
Elaine D. Pulakos
Designing and Implementing Global Selection Systems
Ann Marie Ryan and Nancy Tippins
Designing Workplace Mentoring Programs: An Evidence - based Approach
Tammy D. Allen, Lisa M. Finkelstein, and Mark L. Poteet
Career Paths: Charting Courses to Success for Organizations and Their Employees
Gary W. Carter, Kevin W. Cook, and David W. Dorsey
Mistreatment in the Workplace: Prevention and Resolution for Managers and Organizations
Julie B. Olson - Buchanan and Wendy R. Boswell
Developing Women Leaders: A Guide for Men and Women in Organizations
Anna Marie Valerio
Employee Engagement: Tools for Analysis, Practice, and Competitive Advantage
William H. Macey, Benjamin Schneider, Karen M. Barbera, and Scott A. Young
Online Recruiting and Selection: Innovations in Talent Acquisition
Douglas H. Reynolds and John A. Weiner
Senior Executive Assessment: A Key to Responsible Corporate Governance
Dean Stamoulis
Real - Time Leadership Development
Paul R. Yost and Mary Mannion Plunkett
Online Recruiting and
Selection
Innovations in Talent Acquisition
Douglas H. Reynolds and
John A. Weiner
A John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., Publication
This edition fi rst published 2009
© 2009 Douglas H. Reynolds and John A. Weiner
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program has been merged with Wiley’s global Scientifi c, Technical, and Medical business to form
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The right of Douglas H. Reynolds and John A. Weiner to be identifi ed as the authors of this work
has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Reynolds, Douglas H.
Online recruiting and selection : innovations in talent acquisition / Douglas H. Reynolds and
John A. Weiner.
p. cm. – (Talent management essentials)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-4051-8230-0 (hardcover : alk. paper) – ISBN 978-1-4051-8229-4 (pbk. : alk. paper)
1. Employee selection. 2. Technological innovations. I. Weiner, John A. II. Title.
HF5549.5.S38R39 2009
658.3′1102854678–dc22
2008052111
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
Icon in Case Scenario boxes © Kathy Konkle / istockphoto.com
Set in 10.5 on 12.5 Minion by SNP Best-set Typesetter Ltd., Hong Kong
Printed in Singapore
1 2009
Contents
Series Editor’s Preface xi
About the Authors xii
Preface xiii
Part I The Context for Online Talent
Acquisition 1
Chapter 1 The Context and Business Case for
Technology-Based Recruitment and Selection 3
Driving Factors: A Brief History of HR Technology Tools 4
The Labor Market Context: “We Need Good People!” 5
The Business Landscape: Shape Up or Ship Out 7
Growth of the Internet 9
Science-Based Selection Methods 12
The Human Resources Challenge: Better, Faster,
Cheaper . . . and More Strategic 13
Effi ciency and Speed 13
Insight and Predictive Accuracy 14
Strategic Impact 15
Chapter 2 The Technology Landscape 19
Mainframes, PCs, and Client–Server Computer Architecture 20
The Internet Changes Everything 21
The Pressure to Integrate 22
v
vi Contents
New Integration Facilitators 24
The Next New Paradigm 25
Software Delivery Models in Transition 27
Behind the Firewall 27
Application Service Provider (ASP) 28
Software as a Service (SaaS) 28
Technology Trends and Software Users and Buyers 28
Customization versus Confi guration 29
Software Maintenance 29
Further Reading 31
Chapter 3 Foundations for Online Assessment 33
The Role of Professionally Developed Assessments 33
Effective Selection of People into Organizations:
Value and Risk 35
Purpose of Assessment 35
The Value of Assessment – Organizations Have Much to
Gain (or Lose) 36
Assessment Risks 37
Essential Measurement Concepts 38
Validity 38
Reliability 42
Types of Measurement Error 43
Measuring Reliability 44
Score Interpretation 45
Professional Practice Standards and Legal Considerations 48
Professional Standards and Principles 48
Fair Employment Laws 49
Federal Guidelines on Testing and Recruitment 50
Chapter 4 Building the System: Models for the Design
of Online Recruiting and Testing Systems 53
Typical Recruitment and Selection Steps and Website
Components 54
Attracting Candidates through a Careers Site 55
Describing Jobs and Careers 56
Collecting Personal Information 56
Contents vii
Screening 57
Testing 58
Simulation-Based Assessment 58
Interviewing 59
The Hiring Decision and Beyond 60
Tracking Tools 61
Assembling the System 62
Need for Insight 62
Need to Cast a Wide Recruiting Net 63
Need for Speed 63
Candidate Commitment 63
Managing the System 64
Part II Designing and Implementing Online
Staffi ng Systems 67
Chapter 5 Designing Online Recruiting and
Screening Websites 69
Talent Acquisition: Two Disciplines 70
Tools to Support Recruitment 70
Tools to Support Screening and Selection 71
Designing Internet Recruiting Sites 72
Common Recruiting Site Components 72
Employer Overview 73
Job Information 75
Profi le Matching 76
Apply Now 78
Designing Online Screening Tools 80
Resume-Centric Applicant Screening 80
Questionnaire-Based Applicant Screening 82
Common Risks Associated with Online Screening 83
Defi ning Basic Qualifi cations 85
Critical Issues to Resolve 86
When is a Job Seeker an Applicant? 86
How Detailed Should the Screening Process be? 87
How Should Applicants be Progressed through the
Selection Process? 88
Summary 89
viii Contents
Chapter 6 Deploying Automated Tests 91
Types of Assessment Tools 91
Assessment Content – More Than Meets the Eye 92
Assessment Format – Something Old, Something New 94
Considerations for Using Different Types of Assessments 96
Purpose of Assessment 97
Program Size 97
Job Type and Level 98
Validation Requirements 98
Legal Defensibility 99
Resource Planning 100
Technology Considerations for Online Assessment 100
Presentation of Item Content 101
Navigation Features and Functions 101
Examinee Instructions 102
Testing Time 102
Security 102
Critical Issues to Resolve 103
Chapter 7 Tracking Tools for Staffi ng Managers and
Recruiters 105
Information for Recruiters 107
Managing Job Requisitions 107
Managing Candidates 109
Information for Hiring Managers 110
Information for HR Specialists 111
Critical Issues to Resolve 112
Integration with the ATS 112
Data Storage, Reporting, and Archiving 114
ATS Customization vs. Confi guration 115
Chapter 8 Systems Design and Integration 117
Key Elements for System Design 119
Design Elements 119
Integration Concepts and Approaches 122
Linking Processes – Exchanging Instructions between
Systems 123
Contents ix
Linking Data – Exchanging Information between Systems 126
Critical Issues to Resolve 128
Part III Consequences and Issues Associated
with Online Deployment 131
Chapter 9 Managing the Environment 133
Ensuring Quality in the Deployment of Online
Staffi ng Systems 134
Issues and Challenges 135
Proctored vs. Unproctored Administration 136
Test Environment Issues 138
Technology Issues 139
Security Issues 140
Cheating 140
Unqualifi ed Applicants 142
Access to Technology 142
The Candidate Experience 143
Strategies for Managing Online Assessment Systems 144
Summary 144
Chapter 10 Cross-Cultural Deployment 149
Adapting Talent Assessment Programs across Cultures 150
Issues and Challenges 152
Administrative Considerations 152
Measurement Quality Concerns 154
Professional Challenges 158
Technology Challenges 159
Strategies for Cross-Cultural Deployment 160
Summary 161
Chapter 11 Candidate Privacy and Data Security 163
European Data Protection Rules: A Foundational Framework 164
Design Considerations for Data and Privacy Protection 166
Notice 166
Choice 167
Onward Transfer 167
x Contents
Access 168
Security 169
Data Integrity 169
Enforcement 169
Other Privacy Rules 170
Fundamentals of Internet Data Security 170
Password Protection 172
Role-Based Security 172
History and Log Files 173
Encryption 173
Additional Security Considerations 174
Chapter 12 Conclusion: The (Possible) Future
of Automated Staffi ng 175
Talent Supply-Chain Management 176
Evidence-Based Management 177
Network Organizations and Social Software 178
Self-Service HR 180
New Technologies to Drive Effi ciency, Realism, Interest,
and Engagement 181
Concluding Thoughts 182
Appendix Assessment Fundamentals 183
Criterion-Related Validation 183
Content Validation 186
Reliability Indices 187
Measurement Scales 189
Fairness in Testing 190
Differential Prediction Analysis 191
Adverse Impact Analysis 192
Selected References for Further Reading 193
Notes 195
Name Index 203
Subject Index 205