Text 1. MANAGING PEOPLE

If the small business entrepreneur is going to have a growing and successful business, that person must understand how to manage one of the business’s most important resources, people.

The main objective of the personnel function is to recruit and maintain an efficient work force. This calls for the effective management of people, ensuring a good relationship between people and fostering opportunities for individual development.

The finding and keeping of good employees is not easy. A small business owner should aim to hire those individuals who are best qualified to fill the job recruitments. The education, experience and personality of each candidate must be carefully considered. The selection of effective personnel is essential if a business is to grow and prosper. Before selecting an employee, the following points need to be considered:

- A description of the job to be fulfilled.

- A source of applicants.

- A basis for selecting the best candidate.

- A training program for the individual after hiring.

Position description has two parts. The first is a job description, which includes the main tasks and responsibilities of the position. The second part is called the job specification. This part defines the education, work experience, skills, and abilities the individual must have in order to perform the job effectively.

Sources of employees. It is better to seek out applicants for employment rather than wait for them to come to your business. Recruiting is the practice of actively seeking workers rather than waiting for them to come to you. A number of sources of possible workers are:

- Suppliers are good source of possible applicants.

- Private and public employment agencies, usually for a fee, can help find the right applicant.

- High schools, vocational and technical schools, business schools, and colleges offer assistance to employers.

- “Help Wanted” advertisements for applicants in the classified section of newspapers are beneficial, but they must be specific about the job requirements.

- Additional sources of personnel include radio and television announcements, and referrals from your employees, your friends, business associates, and customers.

The application form. Application forms should fit the needs of the company and conform to the law. The purpose is to furnish the personnel manager with enough information about applicants so that a judgment as to their qualifications for a job can be made. Only questions referring to a person’s ability to perform a job are permissible.

The employment interview. Before conducting an interview, the interviewer should become familiar with the application. Then the applicant should be put at ease and encouraged to discuss items on the application which need to be clarified. The interviewer should take enough tine to obtain information on which to base a discussion.

Testing the applicant. Many forms of tests are used to determine an applicant’s aptitudes, attitudes, skills and suitability or employment. The nature of the work to be performed determines the type of test to be used.

References. Before deciding to hire an individual, the references which have been provided should be checked. References are persons who have known the applicant for some time and their information may be helpful.

Employee training includes any activity that provides information or the development of skills that improves the employee’s performance.

There is on-the-job and formal training. On-the job training which an employee usually receives after being hired is an orientation to the company and the job. The training may consist of an employee manual plus some information provided by the employee’s boss. Formal training refers to organized instruction in a workshop or classroom situation. One of the best sources for the small business employer can be found in adult educational programs. These programs benefit both the employer and trainee as they are of high quality and are usually free. Other forms of education, such as special or technical university courses , are sometimes useful in upgrading specific employees.

Task 1. Answer the following questions:

1) What is the main objective of the personnel function?

2) What factors about each candidate must be carefully considered?

3) Before selecting an employee, some points need to be considered. What are they?

4) The employment interview, testing the applicant and references, which one is more effective? What would you prefer if you were a personnel manager?

5) Is employee training necessary only for an employee or for a firm? Or is it necessary for both of them?

6) What are the forms of employees’ upgrading?

Task 2. Match the words with their definitions:

applicant, specification, fee, personnel, to manage, personnel manager, interview, aptitude, to train

1) The entire body of persons employed by an organization.

2) Natural ability or cleverness suited to a particular kind of work or activity.

3) A person who applies for employment.

4) A very detailed written statement giving a description of the form and content of an article or commodity, or the process by which something is produced.

5) To direct, control, take charge of (a business or organization).

6) A meeting, especially of two people to do business, or to decide whether one of the persons is fit for a post.

7) A manager responsible for all matters concerning the employment of the staff.

8) A payment for a piece of professional advice or some special service.

9) To teach somebody a skill, occupation or profession.

Task 3. Supply the sentences with the missing words:

employment, applicants, objectives, qualification, skills, purposes, requirement, experience, performed, training

1. The ceremony was _____at the same time in nineteen other countries.

2. One of the ______you need in advertising is a fertile mind.

3. He had retired from regular______.

4. Math is no longer a prime ______for a career in accounting.

5. There was a long waiting list of______for jobs.

6. He attended evening______courses on advertising making.

7. She’s had nine months’_______.

8. They acted with great ______and conviction.

9. Complete secrecy was essential to our _____.

10. If this policy is reversed we’ll never achieve our _____.

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