Recruitment and Selection of Academic Staff: perceptions of department heads and job applicants

Abstract

Despite the significant consequences that hiring practices have for universities, little is known about the methods used by Australian universities to recruit academic staff. The present study examines the academic recruitment and selection processes of Australian universities using reports from department heads, job applicants, and case studies. Also, there is a comparison between the practices of public and private sector organisations, and the processes of recruitment and selection within universities. Results for one university studied in depth revealed a variety of selection and recruitment strategies employed by Heads of various Departments, while job applicants noted general satisfaction with most strategies used by universities, but identified areas for improvement. In addition, Australian universities most exemplary in their recruitment and selection meet some, but not all, of the Karpin report recommendations on best practice. Shortcomings especially emerge in the key areas of a lack of systematic training of persons invoked in selection, and little evidence that selection criteria and interview questions are based on an accurate job analysis. Some recommendations for achieving best practice are offered for universities.