Balancing College and Career: How Can I Turn My Ford Internship into a Research Project?

Hi all,

I am pursuing my final year MBA, and as you all know, I have to carry out a project as a part of the curriculum. My problem is I got a project in the recruitment and selection process assistance at Ford India, but my college insists on a research-based project. However, I don't want to lose the chance of entering into Ford. Kindly suggest some research topics in recruitment and selection processes or any other alternative to satisfy both the organization and the college.

All you need to do is start on your own. Companies are facing a lot of problems in getting resources on board. Take information from 15 companies of different sizes and collect the data on how many offers were made and how many candidates actually joined. Conduct research to determine why people are accepting offers but not following through by joining the company. Provide a solution for this issue, and that's it - your project is complete.

You may highlight the process of campus recruitment which most auto majors follow now. The recruitment and selection process is mainly dependent on campus recruitment.

The auto majors tie up with various colleges and select the (final year) candidates well before they write their final semester examination.

Campus recruitments are conducted, and candidates are selected based on merit. They are given jobs as Management Trainees and for a period of 1 or 2 years, depending on their performance, they are absorbed into the regular roles of the company.

I hope this would be a small guiding factor for you to go ahead.

Regards, KB

Hi all, I am pursuing my final year MBA and as you all know have to carry out a project as a part of the curriculum. My problem is I got a project in the recruitment and selection process assistance at Ford India, but my college insists on a research-based project... but I don't want to lose the chance of entering into Ford. Kindly suggest some research topics in the recruitment and selection process or any other alternative to satisfy both the organization and college.

You can do a number of projects in Recruitment and selection area. Few examples:

- Study on competency-based Recruitment and Selection.
- Study on attrition (if it's a problem faced by your company).
- Evaluation of the quality of recruitment done earlier and methods to suggest improvement.
- Study on the lead time taken to fill a vacancy and methods to reduce the lead time.
- Yield ratio analysis in recruitment and selection.
- Evaluation of the Recruitment and selection process and methods to improve.

Like these, you can explore many other related topics.

Regards,
Shijit.

Hi Subit,

You can carry out a research-based project work in Recruitment and Selection by conducting research on the proportion and effectiveness of various recruitment channels and employer tests used at different managerial levels; manpower analysis and determination of manpower gaps; recruitment costs incurred under various heads and suggestions of ways to cut down on excessive expenditure; assessment of KSAs for preparation of 'Skills Inventory' for present and future organizational use; conduct internal and external surveys to devise and suggest ways to motivate suitable candidates to apply for job openings at Ford, etc.

Herewith, I am attaching a document on "Recruitment & Selection" process that you may find useful in understanding the concept for project purposes.

Hi Subit,

First and foremost, getting a project in recruitment and selection should not be seen as a problem!

You can do a project analyzing the current recruitment practices at Ford and conduct research to understand the recruitment patterns adopted by a few other companies in the same industry. Your scope of study could also include sources of recruitment, turnaround time for a position, different tools used in the recruitment process, and draw a comparison with those of other companies. Choose only 4-5 companies as the larger the sample size, the more difficult the analysis becomes to comprehend.

This will be beneficial to both Ford, who is offering you a project, as they will gain greater insight, and it will also fulfill your college's requirement for a research-based project.

Regards,
Vidyashankar

You can do research on the above topic on how Ford maintains employee branding or measures to improve employee branding. This falls under recruitment and selection.

Hi,

I feel you should include some points mentioned below, apart from the traditional suggestions given in R&S:

A. Implementation of Case Studies - An effective tool to predict the caliber of candidates.
This has been implemented in my organization.

B. Post-result analysis of candidates. A candidate may give good performance during the interview procedure but may differ in actual outcomes in the duties or projects offered.

C. Putting him in an environment of unexpected results, such as in any assignments or projects, also to check his presence of mind and strategy, etc.

I would appreciate feedback on the comments made by me.

Hi,

Assessment tests are gaining huge momentum in organizations these days as the need to have good employees who fit the organization and their role perfectly is the topmost priority. I suggest this topic in the recruitment and selection process.

Hope it will be useful for you.

You can take the topic as Background check and fake CV circulation and how to identify the same.

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In the realm of human resources, ensuring the authenticity of candidate information is paramount. Background checks play a crucial role in verifying the accuracy of details provided in resumes and job applications. However, the circulation of fake CVs has become a concerning issue for many organizations. Identifying the signs of a fake CV is essential to maintain the integrity of the hiring process.

One of the key indicators of a fake CV is inconsistencies in employment history or qualifications. Discrepancies in dates, job titles, or educational credentials should raise red flags during the screening process. Additionally, conducting thorough reference checks can help validate the information provided by candidates.

Employers can also look for signs of embellishment or exaggeration in CVs. Claims that seem too good to be true or accomplishments that are not backed up by evidence could indicate a fabricated resume. It is essential to scrutinize each CV carefully and cross-reference the information provided to detect any discrepancies.

By staying vigilant and implementing robust verification processes, organizations can mitigate the risks associated with fake CV circulation. Training HR professionals to identify warning signs and investing in reliable background check services are crucial steps in safeguarding the recruitment process.

Determining Manpower Requirements

You have received a lot of inputs. I suggest first determining the requirement of what kind of manpower you are going to need. Then, specify the job description, roles, and responsibilities for a particular job, and based on that, proceed with your project. Nowadays, there is plenty of manpower available in the market, but on the other hand, meeting ends does not happen due to a gap, meaning there is a lack of skill matching. Companies do not want to spend time and money on new recruiters. Therefore, you may conduct a gap analysis in your project, which will help in attracting quality employees.

Regards, V. Murali

Study on Ford Company Recruitment

It appears to me as a study on Ford Company. We can compare year by year based on various parameters such as:

1. Total recruitment each year for the past 5 years, including recruitment in bargainable and non-bargainable positions, recruitment for specific skills, shortages felt year by year, reasons for recruitment like expansion, retirement, replacement, etc., recruitment agencies.

2. Cost of recruitment annually, time required to fill various vacancies each year.

3. Male-female ratio at the beginning of the year and the ratio in recruitment.

4. Education-wise recruitment, configuration at the beginning and end of the year.

5. Emolument-wise impact at the beginning and end of the year.

By exploring more parameters for comparison through a detailed study, it will significantly benefit the organization.

Regards, Vibhakar Ramtirthkar