Managing people, human capital and culture - Human Resource Management (HRM) is critical for business success. HRM Guide publishes articles and news releases about HR surveys, employment law, human resource research, HR books and careers that bridge the gap between theory and practice.

July 16 2003 - Manpower has added NetSelect(SM), a Web-based employment prescreening tool, to its range of North American human resources services. The company considers that NetSelect is able to efficiently prescreen thousands of job candidates, thereby significantly reducing the amount of time hiring managers need to spend reviewing resumes and identifying the most suitable candidates.

"Manpower designed NetSelect in response to customer demand for new technology that facilitates faster hiring while improving quality," said Barbara J. Beck, executive vice president of U.S. & Canadian operations for Manpower Inc. "This tool strengthens Manpower's lineup of staffing and HR services, creating added convenience for customers seeking a single partner who can bring a range of services to the table."

NetSelect's web-based prescreening ability is achieved by means of an online questionnaire. A customized questionnaire is developed by Manpower in consultation with the hiring client. This determines if candidates possess the desired prerequisites for a position. When candidates express an interest in that open position, they are directed to the questionnaire that is posted at a unique Web address. Employers can establish a link within an online job posting leading directly to the custom-built questionnaire. NetSelect is completely Web-enabled - it requires no downloads, network configuration or IT integration.

Candidates can access the questionnaire when it suits - it is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. When a candidate has completed the questionnaire, NetSelect assigns a score based on how closely that person's background and preferences match the job profile. NetSelect then organizes the results in a database. This allows employers to:

- see at a glance how many people completed the questionnaire;
- view their scores;
- determine who will move on to the next step in the hiring process.

Additionally, hirers can send e-mail messages to applicants directly through NetSelect, which keeps a record of correspondence.

"NetSelect brings unprecedented efficiency to the hiring process, and employers will appreciate the impact this tool has on the bottom line," said Mark Gambill, vice president of marketing for Manpower North America.

Manpower considers that employers will save time and money because only candidates with the highest scores proceed to the more time- and cost-intensive screening procedures. With fewer candidates to evaluate, the time-to-hire process is shortened and new hires are on the job faster than before.