Open Access

Peter Renato Schneider

• Companies are currently facing challenges in recruiting suitable employees for their top positions. Since the labor market is highly competitive and filling top positions by purchasing is extremely expensive, it is necessary to train these executives oneself. This bachelor thesis addresses the question of whether it is possible to recruit employees based on their current potential with a view to the central requirements of future activities in management positions. Since this type of recruiting does not yet exist in a scientific context, the findings from scientific fields that deal with the potential of people are to be used in this thesis in order to be able to state whether potential recruiting is possible. From the disciplines of sports science, especially competitive sports, and pedagogy, the knowledge is gained that the essential factors for fulfilling the potential of an individual are his abilities, his motivation and his environment. Abilities, such as acting intelligently, lead to faster acquisition of new skills. Motivation forms the drive to fulfill potential, while environment is significant in terms of enhancing the individual. These findings are linked to the current state of business research, which only deals with the potential of existing employees and not with new candidates, about whom much less knowledge is available. After a differentiated investigation, the conclusion can be drawn that potential recruiting is possible. The identification of motivation and skills can be realized by understanding biographical data and conducting a structured recruitment interview. It is also crucial that the company creates an environment in which high-potential employees are encouraged. Finally, an example case is used to illustrate how the company Co-Investor Partners can proceed to identify an employee by means of potential recruiting.