What is the Difference

Between Recruitment and

Selection?

The difference between recruitment and selection is important to

understand. Recruitment refers to the process where potential

applicants are searched for, and then encouraged to apply for an

actual or anticipated vacancy. Selection is the process of hiring

employees among the shortlisted candidates and providing them a job

in the organization.

The success of any organization depends on its employees. When an

employee is well suited for their job, the entire company can enjoy the

benefits of their unbeatable success. Recruitment and selection help

organizations choose the right candidates for the right positions.

Therefore, understanding the difference between recruitment and

selection is essential to reduce any losses for an organization.

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What is Recruitment?
Recruitment is the process in which people are offered selection in an

organization. It is when prospective employees are searched for and

are then encouraged to apply for jobs within the organization.

This is just one step in the process of employment however it is a

long process that involves a series of tasks, starting with an analysis

of the job requirements and ending with the appointment of the

employee. Specific tasks involved in the process

of recruitment include:

 Analyzing job requirements

 Advertising the vacancy
 Attracting candidates to apply for the job
 Managing response
 Scrutinizing applications
 Shortlisting candidates

Recruitment activities are typically performed by Human

Resource practitioners, either internally or externally. Internal

recruitment sources are promotion, transfers, retrenched employees,

contact or references, ex-employees, retired employees, etc. External

recruitment sources are recruitment through advertisement, campus

recruitment, recruitment by employee exchanges, recruitment by third

parties, internet recruitment, unsolicited applicants, etc.

What is Selection?
Selection is the process of identifying an individual from a pool of job

applicants with the requisite qualifications and competencies to fill

jobs in the organization. This is an HR process that helps differentiate

between qualified and unqualified applicants by applying

various techniques.

The term ‘selection’ comes with the connotation of placing the right

person in the right job. Selection is the process in which various

strategies are employed to help recruiters decide which applicant is

best suited for the job. Some activities include:

 Screening
 Eliminating unsuitable candidates
 Conducting an examination (aptitude test, intelligence test,
performance test, personality test, etc.)
 Interviews
 Checking references
 Medical tests

The selection process is a largely time-consuming step in an

employee’s hiring experience. HR managers must carefully identify the

eligibility of every candidate for the post, being careful not to

disregard important factors such as educational qualification,

background, age, etc.

The Difference Between Recruitment

and Selection
The difference between recruitment and selection can be understood

by comparing the two processes against the same characteristics or

factors. See the chart below.

Comparison Recruitment Selection

 An activity of searching for potential
A process of selecting t
Meaning candidates and encouraging them to
offering them the job.
apply.

Negative – seeking out w

Positive – seeking out an increase in
Approach applicant pool until one
the applicant pool.
identified.

Inviting more candidates to apply for a Choosing the most suita

Objective
vacant position. rejecting the rest.

Key Factor Advertising the job. Appointing the candidat

Sequence First. Second.

Vacancies are notified by the The organization makes

organization through various sources, various levels (submittin
Process
then an application form is made undergoing an interview
available to candidates. they’re an appropriate fi

The recruitment policy specifies the

objectives of recruitment, providing The selection policy con
Specificatio
rules and regulations for the methods/steps/stages b
ns
implementation of the recruitment the candidate will be do
program.

Recruitment only implies

Contractual communication of vacancies and open Selection involves the c
Relation positions – therefore, no contractual agreement between the
relation is established.

Method Economical. Expensive.

Key Differences
The process of recruitment involves the development of suitable

techniques for attracting more candidates to a position vacancy, while

the process of selection involves identifying the most suitable

candidate for the vacancy. Recruitment precedes the selection

process, and the selection process is only completed when a job offer

is created and given to the selected candidate by appointment

letter.

In order to thoroughly understand the difference between recruitment

and selection, there are certain points to keep in mind.

1. Recruitment is the process of finding candidates for the vacant

position and encouraging them to apply for it. Selection
means choosing the best candidate from the pool of applicants and
offering them the job.
2. Recruitment is a positive process aimed at attracting more and
more job seekers to apply. Selection is a negative process,
rejecting unfit candidates from the list.
3. Of the two, recruitment is relatively simpler. Recruitment has the
recruiter paying less attention to scrutinizing individual candidates,
whereas selection involves a more thorough examination of
candidates where recruiters aim to learn every minute detail about
each candidate, so they can choose the perfect match for the job.
4. Recruitment is less time-consuming and less economically
demanding, as it only involves identifying the needs of the job and
encouraging candidates to apply for them. Selection involves a
wide range of activities, which can be both time-consuming and
expensive.
5. In recruitment, communication of vacancy is done so through
various sources such as the internet, newspaper, magazines, etc.,
and distributes forms easily so candidates can apply. During the
selection process, assessment is done so through various
evaluation stages, such as form submission, written exams,
interviews, etc.

Understanding the Difference

Between Recruitment and Selection Will Ensure
Your Organization Has a Strong and Successful
Workforce
For the recruitment process to be effective, the needs of the

organization need to be matched with the needs of the applicant.

Similarly, a properly conducted selection process means the right

personnel will join an organization’s workforce, helping management in

strengthening the team and completing the work successfully.

Therefore, understanding the distinction between recruitment and

selection is a necessity in any organization’s onboarding process.

Recognizing the importance in these two distinct phases, the first

being proper scouting and advertising of attracting the appropriate

candidates, and the second being effective methods of narrowing

down the applicant pool to one ideal candidate, will ultimately be what

improves your organization’s onboarding process. And, with a strong

and effective onboarding process, you will be able to construct a

workforce of which every individual aligns perfectly with your

organization’s goals for success.