GRADUATE RECRUITMENT IN BRITAIN - A SURVEY OF SELECTION METHODS USED BY ORGANIZATIONS

This investigation consisted of a questionnaire survey of the graduate selection methods used by 536 organizations in the U.K. The use of ap plication forms for pre-selection purposes was widespread, although on ly a minority of organizations appeared to have approached this task i n a systematic way. While references were also widely used, they were often taken up very late in the selection process, and only a minority of organizations sought specific information about job related abilit ies from referees. Interviews were universally used, both on their own , and as a component of an assessment centre. A total of 44 per cent o f organizations used assessment centres as part of graduate recruitmen t. For most of those organizations using assessment centres, the inter view was reported as being the most important component of the centre in determining final selection decisions. Most organizations provided some training for their selectors but this was typically general in na ture, rather than being specific to graduate recruitment. The results are discussed in terms of their implications, both for practical appli cation, and for future research.