This internship is turning into a great hands-on learning opportunity for you. Your manager has tasked you with proposing a talent management plan for pilots at Southwest Airlines. Your proposal will be considered by the Director of HR to make a formal plan.
Develop a 3- to 4-page proposal that includes the following:
A recommendation of 3 recruitment sources that are best suited to recruit pilots. Consider the number of resumes generated, the percentage of resumes likely to result in accepted offers, the time to fill a position, and the cost to fill a position.
An evaluation of common methods used to select a candidate
Recommend 3 methods for selecting new pilots. In your evaluation, consider reliability, validity, utility, and legality.
An evaluation of common methods used to train and develop employees
Recommend 3 methods for training pilots at Southwest Airlines. Consider learning and development outcomes, cost of training and development, the effectiveness of training and development, and risks.
An evaluation of common performance management systems
Recommend 1 method for performance management of pilots at Southwest Airlines. Consider strategic congruence, validity, reliability, acceptability, and specificity.
An evaluation of common methods to minimize voluntary turnover
Recommend 1 approach to retain pilots at Southwest Airlines. Consider methods for retaining employees, meeting pilot needs, and cost.
Recruiting new pilots for Southwest Airlines is an important process that requires careful consideration of the various sources available. To ensure the best possible results in terms of both number of resumes and quality applicants, three recruitment sources that I recommend are: professional pilot organizations, flight schools/colleges, and social media platforms.
Professional pilot organizations such as Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association (AOPA) and International Council Of Air Shows (ICAS) can be great resources for finding well-qualified candidates due to their connections within aviation industry networks (Babcock 2017). These types of organizations usually have large memberships with individuals who are highly trained and experienced in their respective fields making them ideal for recruiting purposes. Additionally it may take less time to fill positions since these websites already offer access to dozens if not hundreds potential applicants.
Flight schools/colleges present another promising opportunity when looking to expand one’s talent pool. Since many students often come from diverse backgrounds they can bring unique perspectives which could benefit organization as whole while also providing a platform connect with future hires on more personal level than other options allow (McLaughlin et al., 2015). Furthermore, many graduates tend be younger meaning they will likely stay longer time thus resulting in fewer employee turnover rates down line.
Finally, leveraging social media channels like LinkedIn or Twitter can help widen reach significantly allowing Southwest Airlines connect millions people across globe without ever stepping foot outside office space. Not only does this provide another medium through which advertise open positions but also gives company a chance to build relationships with potential employees before even reaching out to them directly, resulting in more efficient hiring process overall.