The Recruitment of Human Resources as an Institutional Identity Filter: Between Operational Efficiency and Axiological Congruence

Abstract

The recruitment of human resources constitutes an essential moment in defining the institutional configuration, through which not only the professional profile of employees is shaped, but also their degree of compatibility with the values and symbolism of the organization. The selection of candidates is not reduced to a technical exercise, but involves a decision that reflects the axiological orientations of the institution and the manner in which these are conveyed and consolidated through each personnel integration. Within this paradigm, recruitment becomes a mechanism for maintaining identity coherence, allowing the filtering of individuals who are not only able to perform tasks, but also resonate with the collective ethos. In the context of performance demands in both the public and private sectors, a tension arises between the imperatives of efficiency and the need for value congruence, which requires a rigorous articulation between functional and identity-related criteria. An approach limited to competences ignores the symbolic dimension of organizational belonging, and the omission of this component may lead to adaptation dysfunctions, demotivation, and the erosion of the institutional climate. A recruitment process oriented towards axiological considerations entails the assumption of an extended responsibility, which is not exhausted by the validation of a professional profile, but aims at preserving cultural continuity. Within this conceptual framework, the selection process is understood as a filter through which the institution asserts its identity, stabilizes internal normative benchmarks, and projects a coherent image in the social space. By co-opting individuals who share the same principles, the fracture between explicit norms and informal practices is avoided, supporting an integrated organizational dynamic. Thus, recruitment becomes an expression of institutional intentionality and of its capacity to safeguard and reproduce its own model of functioning.