Holcim (US) Inc. will partner with Select International, a provider of human resource assessment solutions, to hire about 200 employees for Holcim's still-under-construction 4 million-mtpy Ste. Genevieve County, Mo., cement plant, located about 50 miles south of St. Louis along the Mississippi River. All hires are expected to be completed by 2009. Select will offer Holcim the opportunity of evaluating, identifying, and hiring people for vacant line production, maintenance, quarry operations, and front management level positions.

“We are conscientious about the types of employees we hire,” said Jeff Ouhl, plant manager. “And with Select's hiring track record, we are confident potential candidates will be qualified and fit into the Holcim environment.”

Select will use a combination of assessment solutions to secure candidates for the technical level positions. The web-based EZ App and the Personal Preference Questionnaire will give Holcim the ability to design an application system that focuses specifically on the qualities the company seeks. The PPQ questions, presented in a multiple-choice format, incorporate characteristics of Holcim's working environment to ensure appropriate hires are made.

Select Assessment for Manufacturing, an interactive, web-based tool, is used for pre-employment screening, using the latest technology to evaluate candidates for manufacturing operations positions.

Basic Mechanical and Aptitude Reasoning Test assesses an applicant's ability to understand basic mechanical concepts and measure aptitude rather than specific industry knowledge.

To secure management-level employees, Holcim will use the web-based Select Assessment for Leader Manufacturing solution, which measure key leadership competencies for first-level manufacturing supervisors or managers.