Recruitment funnel
The path candidates take from first contact to accepted offer — sourcing, attraction, screening, interview, assessment, decision and offer — plus the outcomes the funnel produces and how to measure and optimise it. This is the funnel/conversion view that links to the detailed hiring process, metrics and lifecycle rather than duplicating them. Educational and evergreen — no benchmarks, no salary data, not legal advice.
The hiring funnel, stage by stage
- Top of funnel — sourcing, pipeline and attraction.
- Screening & selection — screening, interviews and assessment.
- Decision & offer — deciding, offering and converting to a hire.
- Outcomes & optimisation — speed, quality, experience, conversion, bottlenecks and improvement.
Browse all 15 pages
Top of funnel
Find and attract the right candidates and build a pipeline.
Candidate Sourcing
Candidate sourcing is how you find and reach the right candidates.
Open FunnelTalent Pipeline
A talent pipeline is the pool of candidates you have relationships with and can draw on when roles open.
Open FunnelCandidate Attraction
Candidate attraction is making the right people want to apply.
OpenScreening & selection
Move candidates through screening, interviews and assessment.
Candidate Screening
Candidate screening is the funnel’s first filter.
Open FunnelThe Interview Stage
The interview stage is where shortlisted candidates are evaluated in depth.
Open FunnelCandidate Assessment
Candidate assessment is how you evaluate whether a candidate fits the role.
OpenDecision & offer
Decide, offer and convert to an accepted hire.
Hiring Decision Process
The hiring decision process is how you turn assessment evidence into a clear, fair decision.
Open FunnelJob Offer Process
The job offer process is how you turn a decision into an accepted offer.
Open FunnelOffer Acceptance
Offer acceptance is the funnel’s final conversion.
OpenFunnel outcomes
The outcomes the funnel produces — speed, quality and experience.
Time to Hire in the Funnel
Time to hire is how long a candidate takes to move through the funnel to an accepted offer.
Open FunnelQuality of Hire in the Funnel
Quality of hire is the funnel’s most important outcome.
Open FunnelCandidate Experience in Recruitment
Candidate experience is how it feels to move through your funnel.
OpenMeasure & optimize
Measure conversion, find bottlenecks and improve the funnel.
Recruitment Conversion Rates
Recruitment conversion rates show how candidates move from one funnel stage to the next.
Open FunnelRecruitment Bottlenecks
Recruitment bottlenecks are the stages where your funnel stalls or loses candidates fastest.
Open FunnelRecruitment Optimization
Recruitment optimization is improving the funnel continuously.
OpenWhere this fits
Every page links into the detailed clusters that make it real.
Practical HR resources, by email
Templates, hiring insights and workforce updates. No spam — unsubscribe anytime.
Frequently asked questions
What is the recruitment funnel?
The recruitment funnel is the path candidates take from first contact to accepted offer — sourcing, attraction, screening, interview, assessment, decision and offer. Viewing hiring as a funnel lets you see where candidates progress, where they drop, and where to improve.
How is this different from the hiring process and HR metrics clusters?
The hiring-process cluster details the workflow by role; HR metrics defines the measures. This cluster is the funnel/conversion view — stages, drop-off and optimisation — and links to both rather than duplicating them.
Does it include benchmarks or conversion-rate data?
No. It is educational and avoids benchmarks, averages and fabricated studies. It explains how to measure and read your own funnel.
Is any of this legal advice?
No. It is neutral, educational guidance — not legal or employment-law advice. Confirm specifics with qualified professionals.
Who is the recruitment funnel for?
Founders, recruiters, hiring managers and HR teams who want to understand, measure and improve how candidates move through hiring.