Recruiting Transparently

THE issue of lack on transparency, nepotism and favouritism is becoming endemic now in many parastatals’ recruitment procedures.

How can one expect these institutions to perform if they do not tap the diverse skills available in the country. Many of the CEOs are actively involved in the recruitment simply because they want to secure jobs for their families or those associated with them.If you look at some of the advertisements, they are looking for grade 12, even for strategic positions.Why not start with degrees and if no candidate is available, then only resort to Grade 12 with appropriate experience.The moment you see a company looking for Grade 12 for critical positions, the chances are that the position is earmarked for someone.There is an urgent need, especially for line ministeries and other industry stakeholders to ensure that the country’s economic sector is staffed with qualified Namibians for the benefit of the country and future generations.Here are some recommendations (which are not exhaustive): * There should be a process whereby applicants can check why they did not not make it to the interview * All qualified candidates must be called to an interview * Advertisement text should be relevant to the strategic objectives of the institutions concerned.* Management postions must first call for degrees unless there are justifiable grounds that there are no Namibians with tertiary qualifications in that particular field.* The best way to favour someone is to equip him or her with knowledge and skills, not positions.* The boards should ensure that the recruitment procedures of the organisations they represent, are sound.Let us open up a constructive debate on this issue.Joe Thomas KeetmanshoopMany of the CEOs are actively involved in the recruitment simply because they want to secure jobs for their families or those associated with them.If you look at some of the advertisements, they are looking for grade 12, even for strategic positions.Why not start with degrees and if no candidate is available, then only resort to Grade 12 with appropriate experience.The moment you see a company looking for Grade 12 for critical positions, the chances are that the position is earmarked for someone.There is an urgent need, especially for line ministeries and other industry stakeholders to ensure that the country’s economic sector is staffed with qualified Namibians for the benefit of the country and future generations.Here are some recommendations (which are not exhaustive): * There should be a process whereby applicants can check why they did not not make it to the interview * All qualified candidates must be called to an interview * Advertisement text should be relevant to the strategic objectives of the institutions concerned.* Management postions must first call for degrees unless there are justifiable grounds that there are no Namibians with tertiary qualifications in that particular field.* The best way to favour someone is to equip him or her with knowledge and skills, not positions.* The boards should ensure that the recruitment procedures of the organisations they represent, are sound.Let us open up a constructive debate on this issue.Joe Thomas Keetmanshoop