Recruitment is central to the success of a robust HR strategy for any organisation. However, very few organisations are actually measuring return of investment (ROI) of their recruitment procedures. 

According to our own research, only 14% plan to introduce measures to do so. At the CIPD, our view is that the collection of relevant data can significantly help in the resourcing decision process.

From inclusive recruitment to developing an employee brand, we have reports and insights into the latest recruitment trends. Also, take a look at the induction and onboarding process in detail, to provide value to your organisation. 

All topics A-Z

Factsheets

Regularly-updated factsheets provide overviews and information on a topic

Five Factsheets about Recruitment
Factsheet
Recruitment: An introduction
Looks at the main stages of the recruitment and resourcing process, from defining the role to making the appointment
For Members
Factsheet
Selection methods
Reviews candidate assessment methods as part of the recruitment process, focusing on interviews, psychometric tests and assessment centres.
Factsheet
Employing overseas workers in the UK
This factsheet looks at recruiting overseas workers, the categories of non-UK nationals able to enter and work in the UK, and the legal framework involved.
For Members
Factsheet
Induction
A look at the induction process, and the purpose of induction for employer and employee
For Members
Factsheet
Employer brand
Introduces employer brand, why it’s important, and how organisations can develop a strong brand aligned with their values

Employment law

Practical resources to help you address employment law issues at work, and keep up with recent and pending legislation.

One Employment law about Recruitment
Employment law
Recruitment: UK employment law
Explore our collection of resources and Q&As covering the recruitment process, from pre-employment checks and case law, to employing overseas workers
For Members

Guides

Designed for practitioners, our guides provide recommendations and advice on how to apply good practice in the workplace.

Five Guides about Recruitment
Guide
People manager guide: Inclusive recruitment
Practical guidance for managers to create an inclusive environment, avoid bias and ensure an inclusive recruitment process.
Guide
Inclusive recruitment: Guide for people professionals
A step by step guide for employers to ensure fair processes are set up to attract a more diverse talent pool
Guide
Hiring overseas workers: Guide for HR professionals
This guide provides practical advice on carrying out key checks during recruitment to ensure an employee has the right to work, what visa considerations to make and practical aspects to consider when offering employment
For Members
Guide
Pre-employment checks: Guide for people professionals
This guide highlights the key checks carried out during the recruitment process and explains the risks and practical considerations to be taken into account when offering employment
For Members
Guide
Technology use in recruitment and workforce planning
Guidance on how technology can be used responsibly to help manage people
For Members

Reports

Research and analysis by experts from CIPD and partner organisations

Six Reports about Recruitment
Report
Labour Market Outlook
Read our latest Labour Market Outlook report for analysis on employers’ recruitment, redundancy and pay intentions
Report
Resourcing and talent planning report
Trend analysis and benchmarking data on recruitment, retention and talent management to inform HR and employers on practice considerations and decision-making
Report
Migrant workers and skills shortages in the UK
This report looks at the role of immigration in the context of the post-Brexit skills challenges
Report
What is the scale and impact of graduate overqualification in Scotland?
Our report explores how Scottish graduate employment outcomes have changed over the past three decades and shines a light on job quality of overqualified graduates
Report
What is the scale and impact of graduate overqualification in the UK?
Our report explores how UK graduate employment outcomes have changed over the past three decades and shines a light on job quality of overqualified graduates
Report
Recruiting and developing people for SME growth
Examines different aspects of people management issues in SMEs through 13 case study organisations

Case studies

Learn from real world examples of how other people professionals and organisations work with the CIPD to approach key challenges and objectives.

Three Case studies about Recruitment
Case study
Fair selection: Surrey Police and Sussex Police
A case study on using evidence-based practice to review selection processes for promoting police officers
Case study
Transforming resourcing to future-proof policing: North Yorkshire Police
Case study on how the force developed an agile, innovate approach to recruitment and assessments
Case study
People Profession: Mencap – Recruiting from the heart
How a team with boundless dedication managed to transform the way the Royal Mencap Society finds and keeps its people

Tools

One Tools about Recruitment
Tools
Age-inclusive recruitment toolkit
Resources for age-inclusive recruitment by the CIPD, the Centre for Ageing Better and REC

Thought leadership

Insight and foresight from our experts in people and the world of work

12 Thought leadership about Recruitment
Thought leadership
The compensation revolution: Incentives to motivate and retain future talent
Matt Burney of Indeed outlines three potential drivers to shape how and why people work in future, and what these would mean for work-life balance and employee empowerment
Thought leadership
Grappling with the cost of living: how will employers respond?
James Cockett analyses the findings from CIPD’s Autumn Labour Market Outlook. Whilst the labour market still remains tight, employers are using wage rises to support existing staff in this cost-of-living crisis, if they can
Thought leadership
Where have all the (younger) workers gone?
In his CIPD Voice article, Jon Boys looks at how younger people are becoming increasingly economically inactive and discusses the question Where have all the (younger) workers gone?
Thought leadership
CIPD is launching new and timely guidance to help employers recruit inclusively
Claire McCartney discusses our recently published practical guidance on inclusive recruitment
Thought leadership
The latest Labour Market Outlook from the CIPD
In his CIPD Voice article, Jon Boys analyses and explains the findings from the CIPD’s latest Labour Market Outlook
Thought leadership
Mounting recruitment difficulties point to higher pay inflation in 2022
Gerwyn Davies’ article investigates the official labour market and migration statistics to see how EU migrant and older workers have been affected
Thought leadership
Focusing on age inclusive recruitment
Claire McCartney discusses the recent launch of the CIPD’s joint guidance with the Centre for Ageing Better and the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) Good Recruitment for Older Workers (GROW) on age inclusive recruitment
Thought leadership
Using technology to improve hiring and onboarding
How can people functions leverage automation and digital technology to improve recruitment, selection and onboarding?
Thought leadership
The curious tale of labour shortages during a pandemic
Gerwyn Davies analyses the findings from CIPD’s Spring Labour Market Outlook – specifically looking at how we can increase recruitment and retention of young people in the labour market, who have been most affected by the pandemic
Thought leadership
Sharp increase in non-EU workers ease recruitment difficulties in short-term
Gerwyn Davies takes a look at the latest Labour Market Outlook amongst the back-drop of the Home Secretary’s statement on free movement in post-Brexit Britain
Thought leadership
The under-represented benefit of Brexit?
With the possibility of EU migration restrictions introduced in the future, Gerwyn Davies examines what employers can do to reassess their recruitment and retention strategies moving forward
Thought leadership
Making recruitment supply chains work
Explores how the candidate experience should be given greater priority in large-scale recruitment supply chains

Podcasts

Listen to episodes from our podcast series on a range of topical workplace, HR and L&D issues.

Four Podcasts about Recruitment
Podcast
Recruitment in the social media age
Episode 176: Social media can be an effective and arguably necessary tool for the modern workplace, but in the sphere of people practice, are people professionals effectively using social media platforms to tackle their recruitment challenges?
Podcast
The true cost of post-Brexit recruitment
Episode 164: Is your existing workforce prepared for Brexit? Understand how new immigration rules will impact your future recruitment plans.
Podcast
Unconscious bias
Episode 136: How biased are you? How unconscious bias plays into recruitment
Podcast
Cyber security: recruitment fraud
Episode 133: We explore recruitment fraud, its impact on organisations and what HR can do to protect themselves and others

Evidence reviews

Evidence reviews enable you to ask the critical questions and use evidence for better decision-making.

Three Evidence reviews about Recruitment
Evidence review
Fair selection: An evidence review
Evidence-based insight and practical recommendations for ensuring fair selection in recruitment and promotion practices
For Members
Evidence review
Recruiting young people facing disadvantage: An evidence review
Evidence-based insight and practical recommendations for reaching, attracting and selecting young people from marginalised backgrounds
For Members
Evidence review
A head for hiring: the behavioural science of recruitment
Provides practical tips for avoiding bias in recruitment, attracting applicants, improving the candidate experience, and making better hiring decisions
For Members

Bitesize research

Your regular overview of current research, inspiring insights and cutting-edge ideas in bitesize

19 Bitesize research about Recruitment
Bitesize research
Perceptions of fairness: using AI in selection and recruitment
Exploring the use of algorithms in hiring procedures and what impact this has on candidates’ perceptions of fairness
For Members
Bitesize research
Removing dates from CVs can help people return to work
Why focusing on years of experience could help reduce bias against returners
For Members
Bitesize research
Should interviewees curb their enthusiasm?
How applicants’ emotional restraint or exuberance can influence hiring decisions
For Members
Bitesize research
Personality tests reveal job fit for information systems roles
Research shows that using personality tests can improve the identification of suitable candidates for six IS professions
For Members
Bitesize research
Keeping intuition in check
How can we recognise intuitive decision-making in hiring practices?
For Members
Bitesize research
How to spot graduate talent
Recruiting and selecting standout graduates with potential for on-going development
For Members
Bitesize research
Are personality tests over-rated?
The impact of widely-used personality scales on performance and development remains unclear
For Members
Bitesize research
Could using AI for interviews impact the diversity of your talent pool?
Perceptions of AI vary and may put some candidates off from applying for or accepting a role
For Members
Bitesize research
Workforce development challenges in the early learning sector
Explore the challenges faced by early learning organisations
For Members
Bitesize research
Video-interviews: How do they compare?
Exploring video-interview recruitment practice in HRM
For Members
Bitesize research
Is your approach to hiring right?
Explore tips on how to improve your recruitment process
For Members
Bitesize research
Ethnic bias in recruitment
Explore how ethnic bias can affect recruitment
For Members
Bitesize research
Proving the value of induction
Discover how people data can improve your induction process
For Members
Bitesize research
Recognising the bias in recruitment
Discover more on how to reduce bias here
For Members
Bitesize research
Unearthing ethical behaviour during the hiring process
Find advice for employers here
For Members
Bitesize research
Looking beyond degrees – the case for competency-based hiring
The arguments for revisiting your talent strategy
For Members
Bitesize research
Breaking down barriers to inclusive recruitment
Impact of active labour market programmes on improving hiring practice
For Members
Bitesize research
Healthcare hiring – getting new employees on board
Learn how to engage new employees
For Members
Bitesize research
Autistic job seekers – time to tap into talent
Opening up organisations to valuable talent from people with autism
For Members

CIPD Viewpoints

Our collected point of view on the key issues impacting work, from the perspective of employers and policy makers.

One CIPD Viewpoint about Recruitment
CIPD Viewpoint
Age-diverse workforces
Explore the CIPD’s point of view on age diversity in the workplace, including recommendations for employers and actions for the UK Government

Learning

We offer a range of evidence-based courses tauilored to suit you and your needs.
Our Essential Insights courses are free as part of the CIPD membership.

Recruitment & Selection Essential Insights

This course provides a high-level overview of the key considerations in recruitment. We explore the primary elements of the recruitment process, including the questions to ask your people function, and/or the recruitment specialists you work with, to support them in delivering greater effectiveness.

Managing the Employee Lifecycle Essential Insights

Explore the key stages of the employee lifecycle, from attraction of new potential employees through to recruitment, induction, development and exit.

HR in Practice

Build your confidence by learning the fundamentals of HR and discover the importance of UK employment law. Learn different recruitment techniques.

All CIPD Learning courses

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