A study into recruitment and selection for the built environment disciplines

Recruitment and selection is a complex process attempting to meet the future needs of a company within the current operating parameters and facilitated by human interactions. The literature studied identified no definitive description of ‘employability' in the Built Environment disciplines, only a linkage between certain discrete attributes which correlate with an applicant successfully gaining employment. Certain methods of recruitment and selection target particular individual attributes, but those qualities which are valued are difficult to systematically assess, indeed methods used for graduate recruitment and selection in the Built Environment disciplines were more complex than anticipated. As graduate employees are expected to continue to be developed by the company many methods assess the graduate's potential fit into a team. A mismatch in the perception of the relative importance of skills or competencies was found between recently employed graduates and industry recruiters. Recruiters actively sought candidates who demonstrated that they had 'client readiness'. Graduates do not necessarily see that the struggle to gain employment is a consequence of the difficult economy or how they project themselves during selection. The publication of graduate employability statistics and the increased levels of student indebtedness will no doubt act to enhance the importance given to employment outcomes.