If a role is advertised externally in the first instance, do you need to robustly assess each JSE-eligible applicant before considering external applicants?

Yes, but the selection report need only be completed at the end of a recruitment process.

Assessment of applicants can be finalised at any stage of the recruitment process. There is no obligation to continue assessment of an individual beyond review of their application (or interview, or reference checking) if it becomes evident that they do not possess the required skills and/or potential for development.

Once assessment of all JSE-eligible applicants is complete, external candidates can be considered and assessed.

A selection report should (where applicable):

• provide detail about how suitable candidates (if any) met or exceeded the threshold of key requirements for the role and showing that the successful candidate was first in the order of merit;
• provide details about how any other suitable candidates met or exceeded the threshold of key requirements for the role but were lower in the order of merit;
• summarise how any unsuccessful JSE-eligible candidates fell below 70% of the overall requirements of the role; and
• summarise the key reasons why other unsuccessful applicants were not suitable.