Deck 6: Recruiting Human Resources

Question 1

Employment agencies have traditionally specialised in:

A) hiring people for casual positions.
B) headhunting senior management staff.
C) supervisory positions.
D) clerical and secretarial positions.

Answer 1

clerical and secretarial positions.

Question 2

Recruitment is a two-way process that involves:

A) determining the employment needs of the organisation and the financial needs of job applicants.
B) satisfying the organisation's strategic HR requirements and the needs and interests of the potential employees.
C) identifying the skills needed to maintain market position and targeting specialist skill areas.
D) examining career aspirations of candidates and matching them to suitable positions within the organisation.

Answer 2

satisfying the organisation's strategic HR requirements and the needs and interests of the potential employees.

Question 3

Recent evidence suggests that for a woman to climb the corporate ladder she must:

A) have a partner who will set aside their own career aspirations.
B) compromise her moral standards and values when required.
C) have extensive relevant experience gained in global corporations.
D) have strong financial, marketing and presentation skills.

Answer 3

have a partner who will set aside their own career aspirations.

Question 4

Given the pressure to promote both the job and the organisation in the most favourable light, the HR manager must ensure that:

A) a range of recruiting alternatives have been used in seeking new staff.
B) the recruiting budget does not exceed limits imposed by senior management.
C) applicants do not receive misleading or inaccurate information about positions.
D) current employees and the relevant union are consulted in determining a recruiting policy.

Question 5

An advantage of internal recruitment is:

A) the organisation has more knowledge of the candidate's strengths and weaknesses.
B) the pool of talent is bigger and better known in the organisation.
C) employees may be selected beyond their level of competence.
D) excellent training and development programs are necessary.

Question 6

One of the advantages of external recruitment is:

A) the pool of talent is bigger.
B) the organisation has more knowledge of the candidate's strengths and weaknesses.
C) the candidate already knows the organisation.
D) employee morale and motivation are enhanced.

Question 7

Advertising of job openings to current employees via bulletin boards, newsletters or personal letters is:

A) employee promotion.
B) career development.
C) job posting.
D) job description.

Question 8

One of the major reasons some organisations are reluctant to use online recruiting is:

A) many potential employees do not have internet access or skills.
B) because they consider the human element more important.
C) the costs involved in establishing an online recruiting presence.
D) the lack of evidence that it is a cost-effective method of recruiting.

Question 9

External recruitment involves all of the following methods except:

A) job posting.
B) advertising.
C) recruitment consultancies.
D) executive search firms.

Question 10

HR practices such as lifetime employment in Japan and the dominance of Chinese family companies and their use of (guanxi) relationships:

A) have started to spread into recruiting practices in Australian organisations.
B) make recruiting experienced senior managers in these countries more attractive.
C) create barriers that make executive searches in Asia both time consuming and costly.
D) are starting to diminish in importance in an era of globalisation.

Question 11

Evidence has found that the employment of unsolicited applications from 'walk-ins' and 'write-ins':

A) has become a more serious problem for organisations with the growth of online recruitment.
B) are imposing enormous costs on organisations in processing and administering these applications.
C) have produced better results than placement services or newspaper advertisements.
D) is diminishing in importance for organisations in an era of downsizing and restructuring.

Question 12

One of the major problems with using employee referrals as a source of new employees is:

A) the high turnover of staff in organisations today works against loyalty.
B) current staff may not know what the requirements are for new positions.
C) that they may be considered discriminatory if they maintain the present employee mix.
D) the possibility of new employees not adapting to the culture of the business.

Question 13

A disadvantage of using radio and television as a method of recruitment is:

A) a wide rather than specific geographic circulation occurs.
B) poor quality advertising reflects tight budgets.
C) the lack of a suitable listening or viewing audience.
D) cost of reaching prospective candidates is high.

Question 14

Advertising vacant positions on the internet can be beneficial when:

A) you want a mix of males/females and minority groups applying.
B) you want to limit recruitment to a specific geographical area.
C) you want to avoid time delays and high advertising costs.
D) you want employee referrals.

Question 15

Who concentrates on advertising recruitment for professional and managerial positions?

A) Specialist consultants
B) Management recruitment consultants
C) Management executives
D) Employment agencies.

Question 16

Research has shown that employment agencies are most likely to fall down in the area of:

A) candidate selection and screening.
B) negotiating salary packages.
C) quality of applicants' resumés.
D) confidentiality and honesty.

Question 17

Outplacement firms as a recruiting option are considered cost-effective because:

A) no recruiting fee is normally charged.
B) they only use experienced staff.
C) the costs can be spread over several years.
D) they have a very high success rate.

Question 18

The barrier a woman faces when she seeks to move from middle management into more senior general management is known as:

A) female stereotyping.
B) glass walls.
C) glass ceilings.
D) male attitudes.

Question 19

Executive search firms do not normally advertise because:

A) it is illegal to headhunt senior managers using advertising.
B) advertising is considered too expensive and traditional.
C) successful managers do not read newspaper advertisements.
D) they do not wish to alert their competitors to their clients.

Question 20

A situation where a consultant cannot look for potential applicants inside companies which are existing clients is known as:

A) the 'off-limits' problem.
B) a conflict of interest.
C) an ethical dilemma.
D) restricted business practice.

Question 21

External recruiting can involve all of the following methods except:

A) university recruiting.
B) professional associations.
C) personnel consultancies.
D) computerised record systems.

Question 22

The major problems associated with university recruiting are:

A) time, expense and high labour turnover.
B) lack of student interest, and poor quality of applicants.
C) the wrong institutions are frequently targeted.
D) too many applicants, and insufficient time allocated to interview.

Question 23

A major concern of older workers in the workplace is:

A) retirement benefits.
B) superannuation benefits.
C) health problems.
D) age discrimination.

Question 24

EEO legislation is about:

A) selecting the best person for the job in terms of his or her job-related skills.
B) ensuring that selected groups of individuals get special consideration when job applications are considered.
C) protecting the rights of the organisation to employ only those people they want to.
D) providing enhanced career advancement for employees from minority groups.

Question 25

The largest group among the disadvantaged members of the workforce are:

A) the physically disabled.
B) Aboriginal workers.
C) women.
D) Asian workers.

Question 26

The major barrier encountered by women in the workplace is:

A) physical limitations.
B) stereotyped thinking.
C) lack of ambition.
D) mental limitations.

Question 27

The increasing use of teams and ongoing demands for greater flexibility and multiskilling have seen a change in emphasis from the traditional approach to recruiting to one:

A) which highlights employee attitudes, behaviour and potential.
B) where emphasis is on qualifications and appropriate experience.
C) where there is a greater reliance on internal appointments.
D) which gives preference to overseas experienced applicants.

Question 28

A recruitment source is:

A) where qualified candidates are located.
B) the method used by the organisation to attract candidates.
C) which advertising method is used.
D) the type of recruitment consultant utilised.

Question 29

In order for EEO objectives and policies to be effective, they must:

A) be communicated to all employees and must be clearly seen to have top management support.
B) advertised in all job postings and descriptions.
C) go above and beyond the minimum standards set out in relevant legislation.
D) include specific information on the minorities that it is setting out to protect.

Question 30

A method of conveying job information to an applicant in an unbiased manner, including both positive and negative factors is known as a:

A) accurate job description.
B) realistic job specification.
C) rational job analysis.
D) realistic job preview.

Question 31

According to Decker and Cornelius, which is the best recruiting channel?

A) Employee referrals.
B) Newspaper advertisements.
C) Employment agencies.
D) Social networks

Question 32

Many companies place the employment of which group in the 'too hard' basket of concerns about occupational health and safety, workplace disruption, and legal obligations?

A) Older employees
B) People with disabilities
C) Cultural minorities
D) Women

Question 33

To ensure that people who are recruited have the unique skills and know-how required by the organisation's strategic objectives, management must:

A) hire only people with formal academic qualifications and years of experience.
B) aim for a 5% annual staff turnover to allow the continual upgrade of skills.
C) ensure the organisation's strategic objectives are in line with the skills of existing employees.
D) anticipate changes in the organisation's environment.

Question 34

Recruitment policy and activities should reflect:

A) society's demand for improved employee skills.
B) the organisation's recruitment objectives and culture.
C) the practices of competitors.
D) government policy on unemployment.

Question 35

By ignoring its strategic mission, objectives and culture when recruiting personnel an organisation can:

A) ensure a more objective selection of personnel.
B) draw upon a wider range of potential employees.
C) destroy its unique competitive advantage.
D) undermine workforce flexibility.

Question 36

Stone describes recruitment as:

A) a method of human juggling.
B) a type of human resource planning.
C) a process of elimination.
D) a form of economic competition.

Question 37

Effective recruitment should:

A) make it easy to attract good quality applicants.
B) provide a harmonious work environment.
C) satisfy the needs of both the candidate and the organisation.
D) reduce the costs associated with filling vacant positions.

Question 38

An advantage of external recruitment is:

A) enhanced employee morale and motivation when new appointments are made.
B) new employee adjustment and orientation takes longer and is more thorough.
C) the organisation's return on investment in training and development is increased.
D) new insight, skills and know-how can be introduced into the organisation.

Question 39

Radio and television advertising would be an effective method of recruiting when:

A) there are multiple job openings and there are enough prospects in a specific geographic area.
B) the job is specialised and frequent advertising is needed for a long time.
C) there is a need to attract hi-tech computer literate personnel in a competitive market.
D) the position has not been advertised before and a wide spread is being sought.

Question 40

The value of using executive search firms has been questioned because of:

A) the small number of candidates considered for each position.
B) the ethical problems associated with 'pinching' another organisation's executives.
C) the high costs, questionable performance and conflict of interest over the raiding of existing clients.
D) the quality of candidate screening and selection processes.

Question 41

When choosing an executive search firm the HR manager should:

A) get a detailed employment success history from each potential search firm.
B) ensure that the search firm is compatible with the organisation's requirements and that their conduct will be professional.
C) ensure that the search firm understands the importance of the position to be filled.
D) seek recommendations from organisations that have used an executive search firm in the past.

Question 42

Which of the following would be the first question that a HR manager should ask before the recruitment process commences?

A) Is there a genuine need for this job to be filled?
B) What is the job description for this role?
C) How will candidates be recruited?
D) What is the budget for filling this role?

Question 43

Which of the following is NOT a disadvantage associated with using employee referrals as a source of job applicants?

A) Prizes and cash bonuses offered to existing employees can make the scheme expensive.
B) Reliance on employee referrals may raise EEO concerns.
C) This method may foster the development of cliques in the organisation.
D) Referring employees may become upset if their candidate is not hired.

Question 44

Which is NOT a reason that managers use the internet to undertake a job hunt?

A) The geographical scope of the job hunt is small.
B) A major pay increase is sought.
C) Both small and large companies are being canvassed.
D) A facility with internet navigation exists.

Question 45

Which of the following phrases used to describe the ideal candidate in an employment advertisement would be considered discriminatory?

A) 'A creative, energetic and vibrant sales director.'
B) 'An enthusiastic, dynamic sales officer.'
C) 'A mature sales manager with 20 years' experience.'
D) 'A sales graduate with the desire to learn.'

Question 46

When words such as 'dynamic' and 'proactive' are used in advertisements for positions:

A) this is more likely to attract higher quality applicants for positions.
B) this acts as a screening device and weeds out non-suitable applicants.
C) there are likely to be claims that such words are discriminatory.
D) managers may be less likely to be attracted to such positions.

Question 47

A US study found that which kind of employees were more dependable, had better attendance, were more loyal and were better employees than were their counterparts?

A) Disabled employees.
B) Female employees.
C) Older employees.
D) Migrant employees.

Question 48

In order to modify a workplace to accommodate an employee with a disability, 80 per cent of companies would need to spend:

A) less than $500.
B) less than $1000.
C) less than $5000.
D) less than $10 000.

Question 49

Which is NOT a problem faced by migrant workers in Australia?

A) Language and cultural barriers.
B) Lack of recognition of their qualifications.
C) Concentration in unskilled jobs with a lack of opportunity for advancement.
D) Low rates of unemployment.

Question 50

Evaluation of the recruitment activity is important for:

A) improving productivity of employees.
B) meeting strategic business objectives.
C) gathering soft data.
D) job satisfaction.

Question 51

Critically discuss the advantages and disadvantages of organisations favouring internal recruitment over external recruitment.

Question 52

A number of different approaches can be used for external recruitment. Discuss the pros and cons of these approaches and the situations in which they might be used.

Question 53

It has been argued that it is important to evaluate the effectiveness of all recruiting activities. Critically discuss why this is so important and how an organisation would assess the effectiveness of its recruitment activities.

Question 54

Effective recruitment is vital to the success of any organisation. Examine how an organisation can use recruitment to support its business strategy and objectives.

Question 55

Discuss the groups in the labour force who face issues of discrimination in employment.

Question 56

Discuss the pros and cons of use web recruiting and social networking sites as a method for job recruitment.