Recruitment and selection processes of international mining companies: the case of AngloGold Ashanti (Iduapriem)

Abstract

The primary focus of this study was to investigate the recruitment and selection processes used by two International Mining Companies, Anglogold Ashanti Iduapriem Limited (AAIL) and Golden Star (Bogoso/Prestea) Limited (GSBPL) operating in GHANA. To achieve the purpose of the study, 127 employees compnsmg top management, senior and junior staff were interviewed using self administered questionnaire. The primary data was supplemented with secondary information collected from the companies that were investigated. The study, found that the two companies to a greater extent adopted similar approaches in their recruitment and selection processes. The print media was identified as the most used medium to attract applicants. Written examination and interviews were also identified as the most used selection techniques. However there were also challenges that confronted the companies in this activity. The main difficulty lied in attracting middle management personnel and technical staff. The emergence of many mining companies in the sub-region equally posed a major challenge to the companies recruitment and selection process. Based on the findings, it is recommended that the companies formalize and review their recruitment policy to better serve the present and future needs through training of the human resource professionals engaged in this activity. It is expected that the implementation of this recommendation should see some degree of improvement in this functional area of management activity in the two compames.