Selection 2 MANA 3320 Dr. Jeanne Michalski

Sources of Information about Job Candidates Application Forms Application Forms Online Applications Online Applications Biographical Information Blanks (BIB) Biographical Information Blanks (BIB) Background Investigations Background Investigations Polygraph Tests Polygraph Tests Integrity and Honesty Tests Integrity and Honesty Tests Medical Examinations Medical Examinations Employment Tests Employment Tests Interviews Interviews

Steps in the Selection Process Initial screening of application or resume Initial screening of application or resume Employment testing, if applicable Employment testing, if applicable Interview (may include multiple visits for interviews) Interview (may include multiple visits for interviews) HR HR Supervisor/Team Supervisor/Team Others Others Contingent Offer Contingent Offer Background/Reference Checks Background/Reference Checks Medical/Drug screen Medical/Drug screen

Application Forms Only ask info related to job KSA’s Link to job performance Use thorough job analysis and validation techniques Consider potential adverse impact Careful collecting personal characteristics Race, National Origin, Gender, Age etc. Law assumes all questions are used in hiring More is not necessarily better Different applications for different jobs Instructions and Disclaimers Improve validity through weighted applications (WAB’s)

Online Applications An Internet-based automated posting, application, and tracking process helps firms to more quickly fill positions by: An Internet-based automated posting, application, and tracking process helps firms to more quickly fill positions by: Attracting a broader and more diverse applicant pool Attracting a broader and more diverse applicant pool Collecting and mining resumes with keyword searches to identify qualified candidates Collecting and mining resumes with keyword searches to identify qualified candidates Conducting screening tests online Conducting screening tests online Reducing recruiting costs significantly Reducing recruiting costs significantly

Resumes Applicant controls the information Applicant controls the information Many examples of fraud or omission Many examples of fraud or omission Up to 50% contain some inaccuracy Up to 50% contain some inaccuracy Jobs and education should be verified Jobs and education should be verified One question honesty test One question honesty test Requirements for education and experiences should be job-related. Requirements for education and experiences should be job-related.

Biodata Inventories Generally reliable and valid Generally reliable and valid Series of questions on a wide variety of subjects Series of questions on a wide variety of subjects Background (e.g. hobbies, jobs, and education) Background (e.g. hobbies, jobs, and education) Situational questions Situational questions Personality and Values Personality and Values Compared to a profile generated from successful employees or database for occupations. Compared to a profile generated from successful employees or database for occupations.

Examples of Biographical Questions How many jobs have you held in the last five years? Were you ever class president? While growing up, did you collect coins? About how many fiction books have you read in the past year? How many hours a week do you spend studying? At what age did you leave home? How large was the town/city in which you lived as a child? Did you ever build a model airplane that flew? Were sports a big part of your childhood? Do you play any musical instruments?

Employment Tests Employment Test Employment Test An objective and standardized measure of a sample of behavior that is used to gauge a person’s knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics (KSAOs) in relation to other individuals. An objective and standardized measure of a sample of behavior that is used to gauge a person’s knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics (KSAOs) in relation to other individuals. Pre-employment testing has the potential for lawsuits. Pre-employment testing has the potential for lawsuits.

Classification of Employment Tests Cognitive Ability Tests Cognitive Ability Tests Aptitude tests Aptitude tests Measures of a person’s capacity to learn or acquire skills. Measures of a person’s capacity to learn or acquire skills. Achievement tests Achievement tests Measures of what a person knows or can do right now. Measures of what a person knows or can do right now. Personality and Interest Inventories Personality and Interest Inventories “Big Five” personality factors: “Big Five” personality factors: Extroversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, openness to experience. Extroversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, openness to experience.

Classification of Employment Tests (cont’d) Physical Ability Tests Physical Ability Tests Must be related to the essential functions of job. Must be related to the essential functions of job. Job Knowledge Tests Job Knowledge Tests An achievement test that measures a person’s level of understanding about a particular job. An achievement test that measures a person’s level of understanding about a particular job. Work Sample Tests Work Sample Tests Require the applicant to perform tasks that are actually a part of the work required on the job. Require the applicant to perform tasks that are actually a part of the work required on the job.

Effectiveness of Selection Methods A survey of 201 HR executives rated selection methods on the effectiveness producing the best employees. Work samples3.68 Structured interviews3.42 Assessment centers3.42 Specific aptitude tests3.08 Personality tests2.93 General cognitive ability tests2.89 Biographical information blanks2.84 Unstructured interview < 1.00

Common Background Checks

Drug testing Drug testing Urinalysis vs. RIAH (Hair testing) Urinalysis vs. RIAH (Hair testing) ADA prohibits pre-employment screening for alcohol ADA prohibits pre-employment screening for alcohol Drug Free Workplace Act of 1988 Drug Free Workplace Act of 1988 Background checks Background checks Conducted at 25% of employers Conducted at 25% of employers Depends on the job – e.g. cash handling, children. Depends on the job – e.g. cash handling, children. Signed consent to background or credit checks. Signed consent to background or credit checks. Fair Credit Reporting Act Fair Credit Reporting Act Family Educational Rights Privacy Act Family Educational Rights Privacy Act Privacy Act of 1974 Privacy Act of 1974 Employee Polygraph Protection Act (1988) Employee Polygraph Protection Act (1988) “Screening-out” Devices

Background Checks Negligent hiring Negligent hiring The failure of an organization to discover, via due diligence, that an employee it hired had the propensity to do harm to others The failure of an organization to discover, via due diligence, that an employee it hired had the propensity to do harm to others Sources of Information Sources of Information Social Security verification Social Security verification Past employment Past employment Educational verification Educational verification Criminal records Criminal records Motor vehicle records Motor vehicle records Credit check Credit check Military records Military records

Negligent Hiring The person causing harm was an employee. The person causing harm was an employee. The person was incompetent (rather than a competent employee acting negligently). The person was incompetent (rather than a competent employee acting negligently). Employer knew or should have known about the incompetence. Employer knew or should have known about the incompetence. Injury or harm was a foreseeable consequence of hiring the incompetent employee. Injury or harm was a foreseeable consequence of hiring the incompetent employee. Hiring of the unfit employee was proximate cause of the injury or harm. Hiring of the unfit employee was proximate cause of the injury or harm.

Reference Checks Telephone, mail, and checks Telephone, mail, and checks Specific job-related information Specific job-related information Letters of reference Letters of reference Online computerized databases Online computerized databases Privacy Act of 1974 Privacy Act of 1974 Requires signed requests for reference letters and signed consent to background checks. Requires signed requests for reference letters and signed consent to background checks. Applies to both educational and private employers. Applies to both educational and private employers.

Employee Polygraph Protection Act (1988) Use of “lie detectors” is largely prohibited. Use of “lie detectors” is largely prohibited. Act requires qualified examiners. Act requires qualified examiners. Act requires disclosure of information where used. Act requires disclosure of information where used. Encouraged employers’ use of paper and pencil integrity and honesty tests. Encouraged employers’ use of paper and pencil integrity and honesty tests.

Background Investigations Organizations using credit reports must: Organizations using credit reports must: 1. Check state laws to see if credit reports can legally be used. 2. Advise and receive written consent from applicants if a report will be requested. 3. Provide a written certification to the consumer reporting agency as to the purpose of the report. 4. Provide applicants a copy of the consumer report as well as a summary of their rights under the CCRRA. 5. Must provide an adverse-action notice a person if that person is not hired and contact information related to the reporting agency.

Criminal Background Checks Employers can obtain criminal background information by: Employers can obtain criminal background information by: (1) Asking applicants for certain information during the interview process or on a job application (2) Obtaining criminal record information from a state agency (with the consent of the applicants) (3) by hiring an investigator or security firm Before the information is gathered, employers should have specific guidelines for how they will use the information. Before the information is gathered, employers should have specific guidelines for how they will use the information.

Decision Criteria The hiring official will determine on a case-by-case basis whether the individual is qualified based on factors such as: Specific duties of the position; Specific duties of the position; Number of offenses; Number of offenses; Nature of each offense; Nature of each offense; Length of time intervening between the offense and the employment decision; Length of time intervening between the offense and the employment decision; Employment history; Employment history; Efforts at rehabilitation; and Efforts at rehabilitation; and Accuracy of the information that the individual provided on the employment application Accuracy of the information that the individual provided on the employment application

Background Investigations (cont.) Medical Examinations Medical Examinations Given last as they can be costly. Given last as they can be costly. Ensure that the health of an applicant is adequate to meet the job requirements. Ensure that the health of an applicant is adequate to meet the job requirements. Provides a baseline for subsequent examinations Provides a baseline for subsequent examinations ADA requires all exams be job-related and conducted after an employment offer is made. ADA requires all exams be job-related and conducted after an employment offer is made. Testing for illegal drugs is allowed. Testing for illegal drugs is allowed.

Drug Testing Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 Testing for illegal drugs is required of applicants and employees of federal contractors. Testing for illegal drugs is required of applicants and employees of federal contractors. Questions about the efficacy of testing Questions about the efficacy of testing Why spend large sums on testing when… Why spend large sums on testing when… testing for drugs doesn’t appear to make the workplace safer or improve employee performance? testing for drugs doesn’t appear to make the workplace safer or improve employee performance? few applicants actually test positive and alcohol abuse creates more problems in the workplace? few applicants actually test positive and alcohol abuse creates more problems in the workplace?

Most Common Types of Background Checks Use of Pre-Employment Selection Tools by Fortune 1000 Companies* *Tools that 212 security representatives at Fortune 1000 companies said their companies use consistently. Source: Top Security Threats and Management Issues Facing Corporate America, Pinkerton Consulting and Investigations, Inc.

Principles of Assessment Don’t rely on a single method. Don’t rely on a single method. Use only fair and unbiased instruments. Use only fair and unbiased instruments. Use only reliable instruments. Use only reliable instruments. Use only valid instruments for a specific purpose. Use only valid instruments for a specific purpose. Use only tools designed for a specific group. Use only tools designed for a specific group. Use instruments with understandable instructions. Use instruments with understandable instructions. Ensure test administration staff are properly trained. Ensure test administration staff are properly trained. Ensure test conditions are suitable for all test takers. Ensure test conditions are suitable for all test takers. Provide reasonable accommodation. Provide reasonable accommodation. Maintain confidentiality of results. Maintain confidentiality of results. Ensure proper interpretation of results. Ensure proper interpretation of results.

Variables in the Employment Interview

Better hide the tattoo if you want the job Once associated with drunken sailors, felons and Hells Angels, tattoos have gone nearly mainstream, putting employers in a bind. How to write rules that won't alienate un-hip customers on the one hand or eliminate talented workers on the other? Nearly 50% of Americans between 21 and 32 have at least one tattoo or a piercing other than in an ear, according to a 2006 study by the University of Chicago and Northwestern University. Men and women alike say their tattoos make them feel sexy and rebellious, a 2003 Harris Poll found, while the unadorned of both genders see body art as unsightly and think those with tattoos and piercings are less intelligent and less attractive. ….the law gives employers broad latitude to establish dress and grooming standards consistent with the images they want to convey. LA Times