This paper examines an area of the recruitment process in today’s labour market from the point of view of the employer. More specifically, an analysis is conducted with respect to the recruitment channels that Swedish firms utilise in the present days, combined with a detailed discussion of each of the recruitment channels’ comparative advantages and disadvantages. In addition to that the factors that determine employers’ selection of recruitment channel are examined and the relative importance of each of these factors is assessed. Furthermore, the degree of importance that firms place on finding the best available candidate for a vacant position will be investigated. Finally, it will be discussed whether or not the recent global financial crisis has lead to changes as far as firms’ choice of recruitment channel(s) is/are concerned. The study reveals among others that contacts and recruitment agencies are the two most highly utilised recruitment channels, especially for the hiring of individuals who possess high levels of skill. Similarly, the analysis indicates that locating high quality candidates is the most influential factor for employers who are seeking new candidates. Other results reveal, among others, that recruitment costs are of comparably higher importance to smaller organisations than to larger ones, that large firms use formal recruitment channels to a larger extent than small ones do, and that a substantial amount of companies have changed their choice of recruitment channel since the occurrence of the global financial crisis. / 0046767160878

The aim of this study was to contribute to the understanding of cult membership, by examining the "before, during, and after" experiences of former members. Five male and five female former long-term members of bible-based religious cults were interviewed. The transcripts of these interviews were then analysed using procedures based on Strauss and Corbin's (1990) Grounded Theory methodology. Three models were constructed from the data analysed, which was explored using a variety of psychological and sociological conceptualisations. The study found that experiences of cult membership were too complex to be explained by a single theory or model. However Social Identity Theory proved useful in synthesising theories across a range of disciplines. The main predicators of joining were a searching/idealistic disposition, pre-existing religious convictions, and active cult recruitment tactics. The dynamics of membership were best conceptualised as an active process, involving a "switch" from individual to group identity. A belief that God was the constant audience was fundamentally important in determining the behaviour of members. A number of those interviewed had left involuntarily due to pressure from within the group rather than outside influence, which had not been widely reported before. Individuals appeared to suffer a grief/bereavement reaction after exiting, and treating them as such may provide a useful initial mode of intervention by mental health professionals. Former members themselves stressed the importance of understanding the context of their involvement, as opposed to any clinical approach based on individual pathology. The study was de facto a pilot, as no previous record of grounded theory research into religious cults was found in the existing literature. The study therefore dentified significant scope for further research into this field, and recommends the grounded theory approach as a useful means to do so.