Human
Resources
New
eHIRE aids hiring officials
Developed as another step to automate
By Susan
Carkeek, Human Resources director
When eJOBS,
the new online application process developed by UNM Human Resources
and CIRT, launched in August 2002, applicants to UNM staff positions
applauded the new system.
eJOBS allowed
applicants to build their resumes online, edit as needed and
submit a resume and cover letter by simply linking to a job
posting. No longer did applicants have to fill out a separate
application for each position for which they wanted to apply.
Applicants also liked the new Application History feature, which
allowed them to track the status of their applications by logging
onto their eJOBS account.
Although
it is not yet a requirement for applicants to apply online with
eJOBS for all staff positions, in the month of January 2003,
87 percent of the 4,732 applications received were submitted
via eJOBS.
eHIRE for
departments is the next step in developing the automated hiring
process. Human Resources wanted to make it as simple for departments
to access the applications for their positions as it is for
the applicants to apply.
In January
2003, Human Resources launched eHIRE as a pilot program designed
to electronically link hiring officials to the new online application
process. Departments participating in the pilot can manage their
own job postings and view applications online by logging onto
a secure Internet site. By viewing their pool of applicants,
once the minimum posting period has passed, departments can
determine if they need to extend the closing date and do additional
advertising for the position or close the posting and begin
the hiring process.
Beginning
in March, all administrative assistant and information technology
job titles will be added to the pilot.
Once eHIRE
is fully implemented, every department will receive all applications
electronically, along with the forms required to complete the
hiring process.
Human Resources
has also included many new tools in eHIRE, such as the ability
to screen the pool of applicants electronically by asking a
series of questions based on preferred qualifications for the
position.
As the
number of applications received annually by UNM continues to
grow, Human Resources staff acknowledge that they cannot continue
to handle the recruitment and application process in the same
manner they have in the past. New ways are needed to assist
UNM departments to manage the quantity of applications received.
eJOBS and
eHIRE were developed to streamline the application and hiring
process from both the applicants and departments
point of view. We are excited to bring these cutting edge employment
processes to UNM.