Hiring Funnel
A visual model representing the stages candidates move through during the recruitment process, from awareness of a vacancy to accepting an offer.
The hiring funnel (or recruitment funnel) maps the journey candidates take from the moment they first encounter a job posting to the point of accepting an offer. A typical funnel includes: awareness (job posted), application, screening, interviews, offer, and hire. Each stage is narrower than the last as candidates are assessed and filtered.
Measuring conversion rates at each stage of the funnel reveals where the process is breaking down. A high drop-off at the application stage might indicate that the job listing is unclear or that the application process is too long. High drop-off after the final interview might indicate that compensation expectations are not aligned.
Optimising the hiring funnel requires both data analysis and a focus on candidate experience. Reducing friction, communicating clearly at each stage, and moving quickly are the most effective ways to improve overall funnel conversion and reduce cost per hire.