CAIE A-Level Business AS 2.1.3 Recruitment and Selection Questions

Explain the term employment agency.

Indicative content

AO1 Knowledge and understanding

Knowledge of employment agency may include:

- provides recruitment services to other business

- a business outsources recruitment of employees to another business

- find ideal candidates for a specific job role

AO2 Application

Explanation of employment agency may include:

- customer provides details of job roles and numbers required: the agency selects and recruits employees

- specialist recruiters used: providing expertise which may not exist in a business

- increased efficiency/lower cost: especially where may and varied roles/employees required.

- Can provide training/manuals: reducing costs for other business

Context applied to a business □ , including:

- An example of a business using an employment agency

Application can be made to RP or any other scenario/context/business/person.

Accept all valid responses.

1(a)(ii)

Guidance in awarding marks

Total cost/total hires (1)

or

1260 000/450 (1) = 2800 (1)

or

1260/450 = 2.8 (OFR)

or

1260 000/450 (1) +500 (1)

= 2800 +500 = $3 300 (3) OFR

Note: Correct answer 3300 ($ not required) required for full marks.

Analyse two methods RP could use to select sales employees.

Indicative content

AO1 Knowledge and understanding

Knowledge of first selection method (max 2 marks - annotate first method on left and second method on right), may include:

- Curriculum vitae

1(c)

- Résumé

- application forms

- interview

- references

- testing

- assessment centres

Note: Must be selection NOT recruitment

AO2 Application

Context applied to relevance of each selection method to sales employees (max 1 mark per method):

- Requires customer contact and selling skills so assessment centre

- 225 required but only 3 recruiters so simple, quick method best

- Most relevant probably application form and references

- Sales staff will need to be personable so may interview to make sure character and personality fit with the job role, but could be an inefficient way to recruit for this many employees

- Already showing adverse variance

- Use of Table 1.1

AO3 Analysis

Limited analysis - candidate shows one link in the chain of analysis.

Developed analysis candidate shows two or more links in the chain of analysis or a two-sided analysis.

- High cost of selection - could lower profits

- May attract lots of applicants - so need a quick/efficient method

- What time scale is required for hiring - may not have time to interview all

- Most relevant probably application form and references

- Need to ensure equality and diversity in selection process - what is best way to do this?

Accept all valid responses.