Author: Zuzana Kocáková

Staff selection methods vary depending on the company and its human resources department. However, most companies routinely use a few proven methods that are reliable and effective. Which one are they and what is their characteristic?

Who is in charge of staff selection?

Before we mention the different methods of selecting employees, it is important to know who is in charge of the whole process and who you may encounter.

The likelihood of being asked questions by the owner in an interview at a large company is very low. In companies with hundreds or thousands of employees, where job interviews are held regularly, special staff is dedicated to this work. These are HR specialists from the HR department.

HR professionals have the experience and often the training to be able to determine your feelings based on small details such as gesticulation. They are thus invaluable helpers for employers.

The way HR professionals work varies. However, they usually use a number of proven methods that, if you’ve done any interviews, you’re at least partially familiar with. They use them to find out if you are the ideal candidate for the job and if you deserve the chance.

What staff selection methods we know?

Recruitment is a complex and complicated process that should be handled by a professional with experience. Such an expert knows what to look for when making a choice.

Most companies have an HR department, or human resources department, for finding and hiring new employees. The department uses a variety of methods to determine which job applicants are truly suitable and should be given a chance.

Several methods and techniques are used to select employees. In most cases, these methods are combined with each other to give recruiters the best possible results. Which methods are they and what should you prepare for if you are looking for a new job and going for a traditional or online interview?

Method no. 1: Studying the CV and cover letter

Your CV and, in some cases, your cover letter are the tools you use to respond to a job offer, they are also your business card and a tool to find a job. You can use them to introduce yourself to recruiters and present your education, qualities and also your acquired hard and soft skills from your previous working career.

Be careful when creating your CV. It’s not just your strengths that recruiters are interested in. In addition, they also look at the overall execution of the document. This means its editing, writing style, stylistics, grammar, text alignment, formatting, typos, etc.

You may think that these details are not important for your work, but why should you know stylistics if you are, for example, a Java programmer? The answer is quite simple. These basic qualities should be possessed by absolutely everyone, at least at a basic level, because they affect many other areas.

For example, a CV without typos and grammatical errors shows recruiters that you pay attention to detail and strive to get the best results.

But that’s not all in terms of details. Recruiters also watch your communication style, especially if it’s relevant to your job. For example, a salesperson or sales representative should be able to express themselves properly, should not use foul language or vulgarisms, and their speech should be pleasant and calm. This is the only way to convince a client to cooperate or a customer to buy a good or service.

Don’t forget the little things on your CV that may look innocent but are important. This mainly includes information on hobbies and free time activities. For example, if you are involved in team sports, HR staff may assume that you will be good at teamwork.

The same rules apply to the cover letter. At the same time, it is crucial to remember that you should invest enough time in writing it. Recruiters have a lot of experience with universal letters during the recruitment process. They know that candidates often want to simplify their response to an offer with a text they have downloaded from the internet, which is not positive in their eyes.

Make your cover letter count. Try to write it in an original way, but in such a way that it doesn’t feel inappropriate, isn’t too long and doesn’t contain unnecessary information that HR won’t be interested in. Try to answer questions like:

• Why are you the ideal candidate?
• What achievements have you made in your career?
• How do you stand out compared to other applicants?

Method no. 2: Verifying CV information

Applicants may include more information on their CV. To make sure it is really true, recruiters often check them. So don’t make things up as you write your CV or cover letter.

This applies not only to information that can be verified, such as education or previous work experience, but also to information that HR cannot 100% verify. This includes, for example, your hobbies or personality.

While qualities such as stress management or the ability to work under pressure sound great and can help you get a job, if you have to show them in practice and you don’t have them, there’ll be a problem.

Lying on a CV or cover letter is not the best way to get a desirable job position. Recruiters will find out that you’re not telling the truth, often at the interview. They just need a few well-asked questions.

Method no. 3: Interview with the candidate

Recruitment cannot be done without an interview. Those who have impressed the recruiters and meet their requirements are invited to attend.

The length of the interview varies and usually lasts between 30 and 60 minutes. The interview is conducted by an HR professional who asks thoughtful questions to get to know the candidate. It verifies the information gathered from the CV or cover letter to see if he or she is really suitable for the job.

Interview questions from recruiters tend to be very similar within the same industry. But sometimes they can take you by surprise and you answer with something what you would not have imagined. That’s why it’s good to know how to prepare for a job interview and what to expect. On the topic of interviews, you can also read our article Preparing for an interview using ChatGTP.

Preparing for the interview is also important because the recruiter will not be satisfied with superficial and general answers. On the contrary, they will expect you to respond based on your experience and the qualities you have presented in your CV.

The right self-presentation at an interview will help you impress HR staff and leave a good impression. This will make it more likely that you will be invited to the second round of the employee selection interview.

Method no. 4: Observation of non-verbal communication

Recruiters are not only interested in what you say, but also in your face, what you do with your hands or your body posture. These little details can tell a lot more about you than you think.

If you don’t want to make a bad impression, avoid exaggerated gesticulation, hair grabbing or foot tapping. You’d also do well if you study different movements or stances. For example, adjusting your hair or looking at the ground can indicate nervousness. A trembling voice or averting your eyes can symbolise lying.

We recommend:

Pay attention to how you speak during the interview. Avoid using vulgar or ungrammatical language. Speak clearly and loudly enough. Maintain eye contact while speaking, and sit quietly in your seat.

Employee selection – Psychometric test and other methods of recruiters

When selecting new employees, recruiters also use various other, more practical methods. These include, for example, the creation of model situations or personality and psychometric tests. They measure your ability to speak up for yourself, help others, suggest solutions and so on.

Employee selection process at msg life Slovakia – how does it work?

Employee selection and HR management is different in every company. At msg life Slovakia, this process consists of several steps that are specifically tailored to our HR strategy and company culture.

Send us your CV

The very first step is up to you. If you are interested in a job offer, please respond by sending your CV. Simply attach it as an attachment to the contact form. If you’re interested in how to write a CV, read our article Skills and abilities on a CV.

What else should I attach besides my CV? Generally, nothing else is needed. However, if you have a cover letter, feel free to send that as well. We’d love to find out more interesting information about you. However, we recommend you not to stretch it unnecessarily, so it won’t be tiring. Ideally, you’ll write a brief text introducing yourself and telling us why you’re the best candidate for the job.

We will then confirm receipt of your application by an automated email that will arrive in your inbox. That way, you’ll be sure your request has actually been sent and we’ll take a look at it shortly.

If we are interested in you, we will contact you

Once we receive your CV, we’ll go through it and see if you meet our requirements. If yes, we’ll give you a call, ask a few follow-up questions and set up an interview.

Have patience in this step and give us some time. We want to go through your CV thoroughly and consider everything carefully, so you may have to wait a few days to get a response. But don’t worry, we won’t forget you.

We’ll invite you for an interview

By phone or email, we agree on the date and format of the meeting, i.e. whether we will meet in person or online.

Then we’ll talk about other details, which vary depending on which job you’re interested in.

Your job at this step is to let them know if you can make the meeting. All you need is a short email stating, for example, “I confirm my attendance at the interview”.

Meeting – motivating employees in the company

We will meet and talk on the agreed date. You tell us more about yourself and your experience. We will introduce you to the company’s work processes, employee evaluation and employee benefits. We will also tell you more about the motivation of the employees in the company, the salary conditions and many other details.

The interview is the perfect time for your questions too. If something is not clear, don’t hesitate to ask. Our recruiters will be happy to explain everything to you.

We recommend:

It is important to ask questions in an interview. It shows recruiters that you are listening to them and are interested in the company. However, you should prepare your questions in advance. Don’t expect them to spring to mind during the interview. Otherwise, you may not know what to say when it comes to asking questions.

We’ll let you know how we decided

Feedback after the interview is a matter of course with us. We will always tell you how we decided. If we are interested in you and you are a suitable candidate, we will be happy to invite you to the next round of the selection process.

We’ll give you constructive feedback at every stage of the selection process. At the same time, we appreciate your effort and will do our best to make this experience move your career forward.

Congratulations.

If you’ve made it this far, a contract is on the way. To make sure everything goes smoothly and as it should, we’ll give you a call to arrange a start date and other details.

Get your dream job too

Employee selection methods are thought out so that recruiters can find out who is best suited for the chosen job. If you’ve found your dream job and want to make sure you get it, check out the different methods. In addition, find out what questions recruiters ask most often and practice answering them.

Prepare for a job interview like a professional. Take advantage of all our tips and compete for your dream job.

The search for a new job has several stages. One of them is the interview, which is usually not very popular among applicants. Stress and tension can often be overwhelming. But you can improve and simplify the whole situation. You just need to prepare properly and leave nothing to chance. Do you know the basic interview questions? This is the only way to make sure you leave a good impression and provide appropriate answers to all questions. How to prepare for an interview? We have some practical job interview tips for you.

Update your CV

To get a job interview, you need to impress with your CV. A CV is like your social media profile. It represents you without the company knowing who you are. Based on the information the recruiter gets from it, they can form their opinion about you. They find out if you’re the right person for the job offer, or should invite someone with more experience or a different educational background to the interview.

Since your CV is a showcase of your work history and other data, it has to look like one. Make sure it contains all the information at the beginning. If it’s missing something, fill it in and update it. Be sure to include every job title and all your skills. How to do it, we summarized in the article Skills and abilities on your CV.

Graphic design is also important. It may not decide whether you get the job or not, but it can be interesting for the employer. Your CV can stand out from dozens or hundreds of others. Elegant and simple design looks the best. Avoid multiple garish and chaotic combinations of colours and fonts.

Grammar and stylistics should not be forgotten either. If there are too many mistakes on your CV, it can put employers off, no matter what job you want to do. You don’t have to apply for the position of editor or editor-in-chief. Everyone should know the basic rules of spelling.

Expert advice

Do you have problems with Slovak and don’t know if you made mistakes in your CV? Have someone in the area read it, or use the services of professional proofreaders. That way you’ll be sure your CV is in order and represents you well.

Send CV correctly

It may not be important to you, but the actual sending of the CV is key. Many people make the mistake of not filling out the subject line. Such e-mails end up in spam or are not even opened by HR. They don’t look professional and are definitely not a good start for a candidate.

Next, focus on the content of the email. For most, a CV is the most important thing, but it needs an introduction. Say hello, introduce yourself and say that you are interested in the job offer. Then don’t forget to refer to the CV in the attachment and say goodbye.

Send your CV in PDF or Word. These are the most versatile formats. Every operating system can open them. Choose the classic and most used fonts to open to absolutely everyone. Arial, Times New Roman or Calibri in sizes 11 and 12 are a safe bet.

When sending an email, you’ll do well to choose your work email inbox. You can also choose a personal email, but it should include your full name or at least your initials. Addresses with nicknames do not look professional. Of course, it’s just a small thing, but use these small things to build your success on them.

Provide only truthful information

Your CV must include your experience, knowledge and work history. It is true that more experience can make you more interesting in the eyes of a recruiter. Your resume will stand out from the pile of others. But be careful not to overdo it. Even the biggest little thing, like a higher language level, will reveal itself over time. Usually right at the interview.

Lying will get you nowhere. It might help you get an interview, but that’s where you’ll end up. An experienced recruiter knows the tricks and ways to find out if information about you is really true. So be careful what you put on your CV. Lying is worse than the fact that you’re a level or two down.

Get it right from the start. If you want to get better at something, take a course. Don’t give false information. It’s useless.

You’re not just writing a CV for the recruiter, you’re also writing one for yourself. You update and recap everything you want to emphasise in the interview. It’s another way to prepare for a job interview and to be successful in it. The CV always determines the course of the meeting and the questions often asked in the interview are based on the CV. The more details you give, the fewer inconsistencies in communication there will be. At the same time, these basic points allow you to think about what questions to ask in a job interview. Pick up something you missed in your previous job and ask if you’ll find it in this one.

Remember to behave appropriately

Your resume can be as good as it is, but if you can’t behave, you won’t get the job. Late replies to emails or failure to communicate politely is a big negative. Make sure you get the structure of your email right before you send your CV. Find out what it should look like.

As a rule, a greeting and an address must not be missing at the beginning. Next, write down what you need. Remember that you must use capital letters for words like Mr., Mrs., Ms. End the email with “thank you”, say goodbye and include your last name.

Be punctual

One of the little things that doesn’t work well is tardiness. Of course, sometimes it happens that a person is not to blame for being late. In most cases, however, the delay is because they left home late or stopped somewhere.

Arrive at least 10 minutes early for the job interview. Check in at reception and wait. It’s better to arrive early and wait a while than to be late.

In case of an online interview, please allow for technical problems. Test beforehand to see if the connection link works. See if the app works for you. If you’ve never worked with it, install it and go through the basic functions. Avoiding similar complications will make the interview process easier.

Don’t forget to set aside enough time. How long does the interview take? Sometimes thirty minutes will be enough, other times it can stretch to two hours. It all depends on how the job interview goes, whether it is a first round, whether there is a test involved and so on. Nowhere is it specified exactly how a job interview is conducted, so if you set aside enough time, you can pass the interview without stress.

Expert advice

Do you live in a house or apartment with your family? Don’t forget to wear headphones at the interview. They’ll ensure you hear the recruiter well. Plus, they won’t hear what’s going on behind the door in the other room.

Choose the right place

Use this point when the interview is online. As a candidate, you need to find a place where it is quiet and peaceful. Also make sure you have a good internet connection and nothing is disturbing you.

Many people are trying to work hard, so they go to coworking spaces or coffee shops. The problem with these places is that there’s a lot of other people and hustle and bustle around you. So you can’t focus well on individual questions from the recruiter.

Some cafés do not have a stable internet connection. Many other computers and mobile phones are connected to it. Online interviewing can cut in and out because of this. Make sure nothing like that happens. Stay at home where you have everything you need. You’ll be sure that nothing will go wrong and it won’t negatively affect the job interview.

Job interview dress

The recruiter will especially notice your outfit when you come in for a personal interview. You should choose formal clothes. Avoid ripped jeans and loose sweatshirts. What to wear to a job interview? A shirt and smart trousers will be the right choice.

When interviewing online, think especially about your upper clothing. You don’t have to overdo it, but it’s good to wear something that looks good and you feel comfortable in. Knowing how to dress for a job interview can form a significant part of how to succeed at an interview.

How to prepare for an interview

At this point, the situation you have been waiting for so long is already occurring. So the question may arise: how to prepare for a job interview? What else to study? What are the correct answers to the interview questions? Alternatively, what to ask at the interview?

It’s only natural to write to multiple companies and interview for jobs with multiple companies when you’re looking for a job. After all, the more emails you send out, the better your chances of getting a job. But with many different job offers, you may not remember all the details. And one of the most common interview questions (and also the most difficult ones) is why you are the right person for the job.

Therefore, find out about your chosen job before the interview. You should find it in the job offer itself. Write down the key points and then use them in the interview. Show that you’re genuinely interested in the job and ready to get started.

In addition to the job title, it’s a good idea to find out about the company offering the job. Find information about company culture or products and services. If it has its projects posted, check those out as well. Think about why you want to work for the company and what you find most interesting about it. Develop a tactic for answering interview questions.

Many times you get a question related to the company in a job interview. Why are you interested in the offer? What do you like about the company? The more you say, the better for you. If you say some interesting information, you will get good points. You show that you really took the time to find out additional information. It’s one more way to impress in an interview.

How to succeed at a job interview

How to behave in an interview? Mood and how you come across are essential in a job interview. Try to calm yourself down, don’t get too nervous and stressed. Put on a smile and be positive. Be polite and courteous. Don’t jump in, answer questions honestly and try to represent yourself and your work experience correctly.

Make jokes when the situation allows, but don’t overdo it. A joke can lighten the mood, but it doesn’t always fit. It is very much appreciated if you ask some questions yourself to indicate more interest in the job. What questions to ask at the interview? Although the interview questions and answers don’t have clear-cut rules, be sure to ask about the job description, career development or training opportunities.

Every recruiter appreciates questions from the candidate during the job interview. Don’t hesitate to ask how the second round of interviews goes. You may be wondering how to ask about the outcome of the interview. Finally, politely ask the recruiter if they think you are suitable for the role and express your belief that you will be part of the shortlist. There is no exact guide on how to ask interview questions, but it’s always better if you ask some.

There are also no awkward or unusual interview questions. There is only an unprepared candidate.

Your salary expectations

The job offer often gives only approximate salary information. Either it is a range or just an estimated amount. It all depends on the candidate’s experience and expectations. When it comes to this question, stay within that range. The final amount must depend on your experience. Definitely don’t underestimate yourself, it’s also important to know how to sell yourself in an interview. So think it through beforehand. This is one of the most common questions in the interview.

How to prepare for an interview in German or English?

At msg life Slovakia, the interview is most often conducted in Slovak. For jobs that require a higher level of German language skills, an oral test should be expected in the first round or on the phone. It is therefore a good idea to prepare for an interview in German. How does the interview in a foreign language work? In some cases, you can also expect a German language test or reading comprehension. For jobs where a basic knowledge of German is sufficient, we of course require a very good knowledge of English. An English interview is a quick test of your knowledge for recruiters.

The preparation consists of the same steps as for the Slovak interview. However, you’ll do well to brush up on your German or English beforehand. If you haven’t spoken it in a while, try talking to someone. Look up the vocabulary you’ll need and don’t often use. These may be actuarial, mathematical, tester or technical terms. You should not underestimate your preparation for an interview in English or German.

Leave nothing to chance

Looking for a new job and job interviews can seem challenging. But when you prepare properly, you can simplify the whole process. Many recruiters say that preparing for an interview is half the battle. Focus on the practical points, don’t skip anything and don’t leave anything to chance. This is the only way to increase your chances of a successful interview. We hope we’ve helped you a little in how to handle the interview. Remember, it’s the little things that can set you apart from others. Build on them.

See our employee benefits. Don’t hesitate, choose from the latest job offers and join our team!