Recruitment monitoring

A system should be established to monitor the recruitment process, including equal opportunities monitoring.

A control form is a simple form that is used to monitor the progress of each candidate.

It enables the organisation to check that each candidate has been sent an application form, that this has been returned, the candidate has been invited for interview or politely rejected and that the interviewees have been sent an offer of employment or politely rejected.

The age, gender, disability status and ethnic origins of the candidates should also be monitored by including a detachable questionnaire.

This equal opportunities monitoring form will enable the organisation, after selection, to determine the types of people who applied for a particular post and those who were short-listed.

This highlights the importance of including an Equal Opportunities Statement within any application pack, so that prospective candidates are fully aware of the organisation’s commitment to the promotion of equal opportunities and that by completing the form, they will not be placed at any disadvantage.

It is advisable to request that the equal opportunities monitoring forms are returned with the application forms. However, in the interests of equal opportunities it is essential that, upon their return, the monitoring forms are detached immediately and play no part whatever in the selection process. They can be used for informing future advertising policy.