Recruitment and Selection - Staff

Effective: August 12, 2015
Reviewed and Updated: March 3, 2025
Contacts: University Human Resources (UHR)

Contents

Introduction
Policy Statement
Roles and Responsibilities
Job Profile
Recruitment Sourcing Requirements
Search Firms
Applicants
Screening and Evaluating Applications
Interviewing
Reference Checks and Background Checks
Offering Employment
Confidentiality
Records Retention
Resources

Introduction

Iowa State University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. The university will recruit highly qualified and talented staff who support the university’s teaching, research and extension missions by contributing diverse intellectual and philosophical perspectives.

This policy applies to managers or others involved in recruitment and selection for Professional and Scientific (P&S) positions as well as current employees and external applicants for positions within the P&S classification system. top

Policy Statement

Iowa State University employing units will engage in an active recruitment and selection process for P&S positions to attract qualified applicants and meet the unit’s employment needs. An active recruitment and selection process will also improve compliance with equal employment opportunity and affirmative action laws, regulations, and policies. Recruitment and selection activities must be based on a position’s job-related education, training, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities. top

Roles and Responsibilities 

The following entities are responsible for ensuring that recruitment and selection activities at the university adhere to the principles of this policy. 

University Human Resources (UHR)
University Human Resources is responsible for the development and oversight of professional and scientific employment procedures and guidelines for recruitment and selection in accordance with equal employment opportunity (EEO) guidelines, university policies, State of Iowa Board of Regent’s policies, and other relevant state and federal regulations.

Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO)
OEO is responsible for setting policies and practices that create equal opportunity in employment and set standards for non-discriminatory practices. OEO strives to ensure that all university community members uphold federal, state, and campus nondiscrimination laws. top

Manager
The manager has primary responsibility within the university’s and the employing unit’s guidelines for developing position descriptions and selecting candidates for hire from the pool of approved, qualified candidates whose applications have been screened in for interviews.

Staff Recruiting Specialist (HR Service Delivery Team)
The Staff Recruiting Specialist provides direct recruiting support for managers in delivering recruiting services using a working knowledge of all applicable policies, procedures, and best practices for staff positions. They are responsible for working with managers and HR Partners to develop viable recruiting strategies, manage requisitions, source and attract candidates, assist with hiring decision.

Search Committees
If deemed necessary, a search committee may be formed to assist with the recruitment and selection process for P&S positions. It is recommended that the use of a search committee be discussed with a Staff Recruiting Specialist before a search is initiated. top

Job Profile

The job profile contains job-related criteria, which should be used to establish a position description (PD) and requisition, which both serve as the basis for establishing hiring criteria and hiring selected candidates.

P&S position descriptions and requisitions for new and vacant positions must be reviewed and approved by the Staff Recruiting Specialist in collaboration with UHR Classification and Compensation for appropriate university title, pay grade, and exemption status in accordance with applicable law and policy. top

Recruitment Sourcing Requirements

Recruitment sourcing is the process of taking proactive steps to search for qualified job applicants. In light of Iowa State University’s strong commitment to hiring highly qualified and talented staff who support the university’s teaching, research and extension missions, employing units should create a recruiting strategy and work with their respective Staff Recruiting Specialist for external advertising in order to reach the broadest pool of applicants possible. The Staff Recruiting Specialist can provide consultation by advising departments on position-related recruitment resources. Placement of advertisements is the Staff Recruiting Specialist’s responsibility and may be supported by the employing unit. All advertisements must include the university’s equal opportunity/affirmative action statement:

Iowa State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, marital status, disability, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against.

Positions that require the collection of applications for a competitive search must comply with the Hiring and Employment policy including the minimum posting periods. For P&S, all Regular and Regular with Term appointments require posting. Employing units are encouraged to advertise openings using external sources such as journals, newspapers, and websites. Publicized information must direct applicants to the university jobs website and shall be consistent with the approved position posting. top

The Staff Recruiting Specialist shall consult with the International Students and Scholars Office in advance of initiating recruitment activities for a position on which a labor certification might be based. Print ads and other sources of recruitment efforts may be required if the search is related to a future labor certification need.

There may be circumstances that necessitate filling the position without competitive recruitment. In accordance with the Hiring and Employment policy, such requests must be approved by the appropriate senior vice president or the president and the Director of Equal Opportunity prior to submission to UHR. top

Search Firms

Use of a search firm is at the discretion of the hiring manager and at the expense of the hiring unit. UHR is available to provide consultation on the selection and arrangement of search firms. When using a search firm, hiring managers must comply with the requirements of the following university policies:

• Hiring and Employment
• Employment Verification and Background Checks
• Appointment Authority
• Procurement Authority
• Starting Rate of Pay-P&S
• Veterans’ Preference
• Workforce Reorganization – P&S

Use of a search firm does not negate the requirement to post the P&S position on the university jobs website. top

Applicants

An applicant must submit a current, certified application and all required materials per the application instructions for each opening to be eligible for consideration.

Screening and Evaluating Applications

The use of a consistent screening process to evaluate candidate applications is required and helps ensure an equitable and fair selection process for both applicants and the university.

Applicant materials must be evaluated against the required, special required, and preferred qualifications advertised in the job posting. All qualifications on which applicants are evaluated must be job-related and measurable. top

Interviewing

Qualified applicants who have requested veterans’ preference or P&S referral (see Workforce Reorganization-P&S) must be interviewed. UHR Talent Acquisition will notify the hiring manager if veterans’ preference or P&S referral applies.

All questions asked of candidates being interviewed must be job-related. Each candidate being interviewed shall be evaluated on the same set of foundational interview questions.

A pre-employment “test” may not be used as a part of the screening process unless it has been validated and approved in advance by UHR Talent Acquisition and the Office of Equal Opportunity. A test is any performance measure used as the sole basis for an employment decision or which by itself could preclude the hire of an individual.

UHR Talent Acquisition will review a random selection of postings on a quarterly basis for compliance with candidate interview selection procedures. top

Reference Checks and Background Checks

In compliance with the Employment Verification and Background Checks policy, the staff recruiting specialist or hiring manager is responsible for obtaining and reviewing job-related reference information for (at a minimum) the finalist for positions - including for current employees being considered. 

UHR Talent Acquisition is responsible for conducting background checks in accordance with the Employment Verification and Background Checks policy. top 

Offering Employment

Candidates will be chosen for hire based on job-related criteria identified in the position description (PD), requisition, and posting to ensure that the best-qualified candidate is selected.

All offers of employment, oral and written, are contingent upon the university’s verification of credentials and other information required by federal and state law, ISU policies/procedures, and may include the completion of a background check and/or a consumer credit check.

The salary offered to the selected candidate will be in accordance with the Starting Rate of Pay-P&S policy. A formal offer consists of an authorized offer letter with the terms and conditions as outlined in the posting in accordance with the Appointment Authority policy. top

Confidentiality

Candidate application materials are considered confidential. The hiring manager and any individuals involved in the interview process should disclose only the selected finalist(s) for searches that become public once those candidates have been notified.

Retention of Job Applications and Search Files

Hiring managers and search committee members (where applicable) are required to document their searches to remain in compliance with university policy and U.S. Department of Labor regulations. The employing unit must retain these documents in accordance with the retention of job applications policy.  top

Resources