Professional Skills
Recruiting the best people
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It is vital to get the recruitment process right if you want to succeed. This course covers all the important stages of the recruitment process from analysing the knowledge, skills and experience required to undertake specific job roles, constructing a job description and attracting suitable applicants to dealing with their enquiries and applications efficiently so that the recruitment process becomes a vehicle for enhancing the image of your organisation.
This course is principally for:
- Managers and professional staff involved in recruiting staff
- Those without access to in-company training including those working in SMEs or smaller voluntary sector organisations. The course can be customised for corporate groups if required.
| About this course: | |
|---|---|
| Course code | GB066 |
| Credit points | This is a non-credit bearing course. |
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This course is available for study in the countries shown. Fees may vary by country.
What you will study
Recruitment and selection are often used together although they have quite separate and distinct components. Recruitment includes all the processes required to attract suitable candidates for a job vacancy. Selection means choosing the right person from a pool of potential applicants.
We begin by asking the question “Why recruit?” – perhaps there are alternatives!
Next, ways to analyse the job and organisation are examined and then how to identify what the ideal candidate would need to have, to fulfil the role. This leads into planning to recruit, attracting suitable applicants and dealing with applicants (both successful and not).
Throughout the course you will be encouraged to reflect and plan to develop your skills further in the workplace. The Work-based activity (WBA) is an important and integral part of the course. By completing the activities as you go you will both consolidate your learning and produce evidence for your Certificate.
You will learn to:
- understand the different reasons why an organisation may wish to recruit people and why getting this right is so important
- recognise that in some cases a recruit’s fit with the job is important and for others it is the fit with the organisation that is key
- know how to analyse the organisation and the job itself to ensure effective recruitment
- produce a draft Job Description and Person Specification for a role
- understand what other sources of data and advice could be considered in recruiting
- draft a plan to recruit and have an understanding of how to attract applicants
- recognise the impact both you and others may have on recruitment and the issues this may cause
- identify actions you will take in the future to apply the ideas in your own organisational context.
In this course there are activities that you can use to help you relate your learning to your organisation and your role within it. These should help you to assemble the final WBA, in which you focus on a real work situation where you are already, or will be, involved in recruitment. You are prompted to analyse this real work situation, using the ideas in the course to enable you to operate more effectively during the recruitment process.
The strong link between course learning and your work practice creates relevant, enduring and transferable outcomes. The course will take 30 hours to study and includes web text, interviews, self assessment questions and activities. The course contains a series of bite-size chunks each devoted to both technical and managerial topics. Register online today and start tomorrow – no need to wait!
The course features the distinctive strengths of The Open University (OU) from its years of expertise in work-based learning:
- The convenience of accessing its clearly presented and sequenced materials, activities and support whenever suits you and wherever you have access to the dedicated website – if you prefer, you can print key materials to work on them offline.
- The support of an expert learning adviser who can clarify study materials, answer questions and help you relate the course to your specific needs.
- A work-based activity helping you to connect the course to your individual and organisational context and needs. This is built up from short activities during the course, leading to a Personal Development Plan. At the end of the course you send this to the learning adviser, who provides personal feedback.
- Certification of completion from the OU for those who complete the course. You can use this to demonstrate your Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activity to your employer and/or professional body. (N.B. The course does not carry academic credit points.)
Entry
Although there are no formal academic requirements to study any of our CPD courses, you are expected to have some experience in the field and the course assumes a familiarity with the subject.
For each course you can register and begin at any time during the life of the course. You can study at your own pace and submit your work-based activity at any date before the final submission date for the course. Information about the final submission date is available when you register for the course.
If you have a disability or additional requirement
The study materials are delivered wholly online. Learners who use screen readers or who cannot use a mouse will not be able to access some materials or some activities without assistance. Written transcripts of the audio interviews are available on the website. If you are a new learner with the OU, make sure that you have our publication Meeting Your Needs.
Study materials
What's included
All learning materials, exercises, study support and the work-based activity are delivered entirely online.
Computing requirements
This course includes online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave.
You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new computer since 2005 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual.
Learner support
Expert, confidential learner support is available when you need it from a learning adviser, who will respond to you direct within 24 hours. Other support is available via the GB066 forum, library, StudentHome website and computing helpdesk.
Work-based activity
The WBA for this course is a written report and has been designed as an integrated ongoing activity that you submit at the end of your study. It will allow you to reflect on your learning and how to use it in your professional work.
Professional recognition
Successful completion of the course enables us to recognise your achievement of the course learning by issuing an OU certificate that you can use to document your commitment to continuing professional development in your personal portfolio, or to provide evidence to employers or professional body.
Students also studied
Students who studied this course also studied at some time:
| About this course: | |
|---|---|
| Course code | GB066 |
| Credit points | This is a non-credit bearing course. |
Study explained
- Special fee arrangements
- - the OU has relationships with many professional bodies, and as part of those relationships members may be entitled to special fee arrangements.
- Study explained
- - all you need to know about distance learning with the OU.
Your questions
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Or contact an adviser in our Student Registration & Enquiry Service Email or call +44(0) 845 300 60 90+44(0) 845 366 60 35
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