The Recruitment Process: Attracting and Retaining Quality Employees
Abstract
St. John Providence Health System is one of the largest hospital systems in
Southeast Michigan. With over 14,000 full time positions alone, recruitment is necessary.
Simply put, recruitment is the act of finding and persuading individuals to work for an
organization. However, the process of recruiting, as described later in detail, is much
more complex than the definition itself These steps must be completed in order for the
final candidate to be eligible for hire.
Brand recognition, or a well-known identity, is a key aspect of the hiring process.
It attracts potential employees who have similar values or characteristics. Once these
individuals become part of the organization, a particular strategic position of human
resource management is necessary to decrease employee turnover and increase employee
job satisfaction. The most specialized and widely accepted strategy is the Configurational
strategy, which incorporated both horizontal and vertical fit in the human resource
department.
The theories behind attracting and retaining quality employees through
recruitment are largely rooted in the field of Psychology. For example, the theory of
motivation led to Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. The satisfaction of these needs
must occur in the work setting through acceptance and recognition by peers and
managers. Employees that move through the hierarchy are more motivated and willing to
remain at an organization than employees that remain stagnate. Lastly, the theories of
Person-Environment, Person-Organization, and Person-Job fit are evaluated and linked to
attracting and retaining employees using the recruitment process.