Second-rate interview processes may be contributing to skills shortage - 07/2001

jobpilot.co.uk warns that a lack of clarity during the interview process may be affecting the decision of jobseekers to take up a job offer - thereby contributing to the ongoing skills crisis. Findings from a recent survey suggest that employers may be losing out on key staff, as 63% of those surveyed said they would be put off working for a company if they felt that its interview process was unclear and difficult to follow.

867 people responded to the survey undertaken by the online European recruitment organisation. The statement linking the skills shortage to poor interview processes comes from the first in a series of surveys designed to track jobseekers attitudes to a range of career and workplace issues in the UK.

Of those surveyed another 29% said that unjustifiable delays in the interview process would make them think twice about working for a company. Furthermore, a significant number of respondents to the survey (39%) maintained that a poor office appearance and unfriendly atmosphere would cause them to reconsider accepting a job.

The study also lends increasing credibility to the importance of a good work/life balance. 39% of those surveyed cited this as the singularly most important aspect of working life, ahead of 28% opting for opportunities for personal development. Salary is back in third with 17%, followed by job security on 13%. Somewhat surprisingly only 3% of those interviewed indicated that an opportunity to travel abroad was important to them.

Pat Elliott, managing director of jobpilot.co.uk, commented: Many employers are still under the misapprehension that a high salary is what attracts and keeps the best staff, and clearly that's not always the case. In fact, rather than focusing on money, more and more jobseekers are looking to a company's culture and the way it manages and presents itself, to provide an insight into future job satisfaction.

Not overlooking the issue of financial remuneration though, of the 867 people surveyed 66% believed that it was appropriate to discuss salary at the second interview stage.

Further emphasising the importance to a company of a well thought-out yet straight forward hiring process, Elliott observed: Employers wishing to tackle any current or potential skills shortage need to build both an awareness and understanding of this level of scrutiny into their overall HR and recruitment procedures. Those who don't will be literally cutting their own recruitment nets.

www.jobpilot.co.uk