According to the Hire to Retire guidebook, recruitment should begin with which step?

• A. Writing a job ad
• B. Completing a job analysis
• C. Sourcing candidates
• D. Interviewing

Answer: (B)

Completing a job analysis is the starting point because it identifies exactly what the role requires in terms of tasks, responsibilities, skills, experience, and working conditions. This foundational understanding creates a precise job description and a clear job specification, which then guide every subsequent recruitment step.

When you know what the job actually involves and what kind of person is needed to perform it well, you can craft an accurate job ad, target the right sourcing channels, and design appropriate screening criteria and interview questions. It also helps ensure fairness and legal compliance by distinguishing essential qualifications from nice-to-haves and by defining the true responsibilities of the role.

Without this analysis, ads can overstate or misrepresent duties, selection criteria can become arbitrary, and the whole process risks attracting the wrong candidates or leading to poor hires. Sourcing and interviewing are important, but they rely on the solid, agreed-upon information produced by the job analysis to be effective.