Overview

As a manager or supervisor, one of the most important responsibilities you have is to staff your organization with the most qualified individuals in the job market. Consequently, you play a critical role in conducting an effective and successful selection process. The goal of the University of Michigan is to "Hire the Best" qualified candidates and fill positions in a timely manner, and to achieve this goal we use an open employment system utilizing widely published postings that promote inclusive hiring. To accommodate the highly decentralized nature of the university, you have a high degree of autonomy in the hiring process and thus more accountability.

While you are meeting the staffing challenge, it is critical to remember that you are hiring to fulfill an institutional need, not simply an open position within your department. The employee you select may well become your legacy. Therefore, you must be aware of the relationship your position has to others outside of your department as well as within and seize this opportunity to hire individuals who bring a diversification of skills, traits, talents and abilities to those affected departments. You should also take into consideration future needs of the department and consider how your selected candidate might bridge this gap.

In this highly technical, continuously evolving, global world, you need more knowledge and expertise than ever to make wise hiring decisions, including knowledge of State/Federal guidelines. When handled incorrectly, the selection process can be extremely costly for employers; expenses associated with turnover of a position are approximately 30 percent of the annual salary. In addition, potential legal expenses that can result from negligent hiring can be tremendous.

As a service enhancement, the Human Resources Departments of the Ann Arbor, Flint and Dearborn campuses have combined efforts to provide you with the following information to assist your in fulfilling your staffing needs. Please use and share this information with colleagues in your area who have responsibility for hiring faculty or staff.

While the process may appear linear, it is not. If you have questions or concerns during any phase of the hire process, please feel free to contact your human resources representative as indicated below: