| The footwork is done, the job is posted, and | | | | you decide they are not suited for your position. |
| applicant inquiries and resumes are pouring in. You | | | | Outline the types of information you require from |
| are at a loss. What are you to do with this | | | | job applicants and what vehicle you will use to get |
| mountain of resumes and sea of employment | | | | it. Are you most comfortable comparing standard |
| candidates? | | | | job applications designed by you or a staff |
| First things first, here’s how to | | | | member, or do you prefer to let applicants speak |
| Screen Job Applicants | | | | for themselves through resumes? What additional |
| Your first step is to determine who actually | | | | application materials could enhance resumes and |
| qualifies as a job applicant. If this is the first | | | | applications? |
| employee you are hiring, labeling persons as | | | | Consider employee testing . Certain industries |
| applicants is pretty straightforward: anyone who | | | | require testing of a specific nature, but testing is |
| applies is considered an applicant. However, if you | | | | largely at the discretion of you as employer. Your |
| currently have fifteen or more employees, the | | | | specific employee needs will determine if testing is |
| EEOC requires you to keep all records of all | | | | important and what testing you perform. Refer to |
| applicants for a full year. In the interest of | | | | your job description to decide if any requirements |
| reducing paperwork and file maintenance, | | | | necessitate applicant testing. |
| determining who is officially considered an applicant | | | | Once you have identified qualified applicants |
| and who doesn't make the cut becomes far | | | | through prescreening, use to verify their |
| more important. | | | | credentials and reliability. Our thorough background |
| Next, decide how you plan to respond to | | | | check will assure you that the applicants have a |
| applicants. Good business practice dictates the | | | | history that supports their applications and |
| courtesy of a response for all applicants, even if | | | | resume. |