Recruitment and Selection Practices in Private Hospitals: An Empirical Study

Recruitment and selection are critical human resource management functions in hospitals, as they determine the quality and stability of the healthcare workforce. This study examines recruitment and selection practices in private hospitals located in the Kohima and Mokokchung districts of Nagaland, with training considered as a supportive post-selection practice. The study is based on primary data collected from 300 employees working in eight private hospitals using a structured questionnaire. A descriptive research design was adopted, and data were analysed using percentages, frequencies, and mean scores. The findings reveal a strong reliance on informal recruitment sources such as personal networks and word of mouth, alongside a predominant use of interviews as the main selection method. While a majority of employees expressed general satisfaction with recruitment and selection procedures, perceptions regarding merit-based selection and fairness remained largely neutral. Training practices were found to be limited primarily to on-the-job training and constrained by factors such as time pressure and limited resources. The study highlights the influence of contextual factors on human resource practices in private hospitals and underscores the need for greater transparency and consistency in recruitment and selection processes. The findings contribute to the limited empirical literature on HRM practices in private hospitals in semi-urban and peripheral regions.