NEW LAR HIRING TOOL TESTS TEAM SKILLS
It had been five years since the L.A. Refinery hired new operators. So the decision to hire 40 new operators presented an opportunity to try a new approach.
Last December a steering committee representing management, human resources, foremen and operators was assembled to re-engineer the hiring process. The involvement of current operators proved to be crucial.
Traditional methods of hiring operators
at LAR had relied heavily on technical skills, experience, and
a candidate's ability to interview well. The team found that while
technical skills can be taught, teamwork skills and attitude are
as important for an operator's ultimate success. To help evaluate
these key behaviors, the team added a new process which draws
from the behavioral assessment approach used at ARCO's Logan Aluminum
plant.
"This new behavioral assessment process helped us both observe how candidates work together as a team and identify individual strengths," says HR's Aarti McDonald.
Once the team designed their plan, all they needed were job applicants. After publishing the job openings in January, the refinery received more than 4500 applications. Many LAR employees helped review applications, administer tests, and conduct interviews, trimming the final list down to 120 candidates.
It was then time for the new behavioral assessment process. During March, job candidates were brought to the refinery in groups of six, to be observed by groups of "raters." Raters, representing all areas of the refinery, had been trained to identify key behaviors during a four-hour long series of exercises.
These exercises included the "manufacturing game," in which candidates were asked as a team to buy parts, make and sell products, and make a profit. Three other exercises gave raters a chance to observe how candidates express themselves and interact with team members.
Currently, the first group of talented rookies are attending the Fundamental of Refining (FOR) class and will be assimilated into operating units soon.
Says McDonald: "This has been an intense and challenging process. We're very excited about the new people who are joining us."