Selection methods in Lebanon.

Abstract

The science of recruitment and selection has evolved and advanced tremendously in the past couple of decades, where a plethora of selection methods have emerged with varying degrees of validity. Efficient recruitment and selection processes are critical for organizations to meet their objectives by ensuring the attraction and selection of best fit candidates for the job and organizational culture. Yet, little information is available about the recruitment and selection practice in Lebanon, especially in local organizations, given that the concept of HR is relatively new to the country. Therefore, the aim of this research study is to gain a better understanding of the selection practices of organizations in Lebanon, including local, regional, and multinational companies of small, medium, and large sizes. Through an online survey, 150 HR professionals and business owners shared information regarding the recruitment and selection process at their organizations. The results have showed that even though there are some positive signs, professional HR practices are still underdeveloped in Lebanon, with local organizations in particular still far behind international standards. The usage of modern selection tools in particular is quite low, where there is still a heavy reliance interviews and reference background checks, and disregarding advanced methods such as role-plays, simulations, and business case analysis. Even though regional and multinational companies are also facing some difficulties, they are far better off than local ones, and have either reach or are close to reaching international HR standards.