What is Job Screening?
Job screening is the process of evaluating a candidate during the initial stage of the hiring process to determine whether they qualify for the role or not.
Hiring managers or recruiters assess work experience, skills, qualifications, and other relevant data to ensure whether a candidate is the right fit for the business. It helps filter eligible candidates from ineligible applicants.
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Why is Screening Applicants Important?
Job screening allows businesses to eliminate unqualified candidates during the initial stage. That way, they can focus on the candidates that qualify or fulfill the minimum eligibility criteria.
The most significant advantage of screening candidates during the early stage is time-saving. Usually, hundreds and thousands of candidates apply for a job. Out of those thousands, only 25% are actually qualified for the role.
By filtering the unqualified 75% of candidates, companies can save a lot of time and overhead costs. This enables organizations to focus their efforts and time on the small pool of qualified candidates.
Job Screening Process
The job screening process includes several steps to ensure only qualified candidates move to the next round of the hiring process. Not all organizations follow the same process, but usually following steps are involved.
1) Assessing the Applications
The first step involves evaluating the applications submitted by the candidates. This step may also include using software like ATS to filter applications. In this step, CVs and cover letters are reviewed to ensure only applicants meeting the minimum requirements will be selected for the next round.
2) Phone Interview
Candidates who made it past the first round receive a call from the hiring manager or a recruiter. In this step, recruiters ask specific questions to the candidate to further assess their qualifications, experience, and suitability for the role.
3) Skills Test
Candidates are asked to complete skills and aptitude tests relevant to the nature of the job position to evaluate their proficiency in executing the job-related tasks.
4) Background and Reference Check
This step involves connecting with the references provided by the applicant to verify the information they provided. Background and reference checks offer a much clearer image of a candidate’s work ethic, performance, work history, and other relevant information.
In short, job screening helps organizations find suitable candidates with the potential to perform outstandingly in their roles and contribute to the company’s success.