Quick Summary
Recruitment builds the pool of applicants from which employees can later be selected. It comes before selection.
Internal Sources
- Promotion
- Transfer
- Employee referrals from within the organisation
Merits
- Economical
- Faster
- Motivates existing employees
- Employees already know the organisation
Limitations
- Limited choice
- May block new ideas
- Can create internal rivalry
External Sources
- Advertisements
- Employment exchanges
- Campus recruitment
- Labour contractors
- Consultants
- Walk-ins and online portals
Merits
- Wider choice
- Fresh talent and ideas
- Useful when new skills are needed
Limitations
- Costlier
- Time-consuming
- New employees need orientation
Internal vs External Recruitment
| Internal Recruitment | External Recruitment |
|---|---|
| Candidates come from within the organisation | Candidates come from outside |
| Lower cost | Higher cost |
| Faster process | Wider choice |
| Motivates present employees | Brings fresh talent |
Important Questions
One Mark
1. Define recruitment. 2. Name one internal source of recruitment. 3. Which source brings fresh talent from outside?
Short Answer
1. State any three internal sources of recruitment. 2. Write any three merits of external recruitment. 3. Distinguish between internal and external recruitment.
Long Answer
1. Explain internal and external sources of recruitment. 2. Discuss the merits and limitations of internal recruitment. 3. Explain why recruitment is important before selection.
Common Mistakes
- Writing selection steps under recruitment.
- Calling promotion an external source.
- Mentioning sources without giving examples.
- Forgetting both merits and limitations in comparison answers.
Revision Checklist
- [ ] Meaning of recruitment
- [ ] Internal sources
- [ ] External sources
- [ ] Merits and limitations
- [ ] Recruitment vs selection
Frequently Asked Questions
Recruitment is the process of searching for prospective employees and encouraging them to apply for jobs.