Make every candidate stage lead to a clear next action
Build recruitment stages around decisions, ownership and evidence so candidates do not disappear between intake, interview and placement.
A stage should describe a decision
A pipeline is useful when its stages tell the team what has happened and what remains to be done. Avoid labels that mean different things to different recruiters. Define what permits a record to enter or leave each stage.
Write down entry and exit criteria
| Example stage | Entry evidence | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| Needs review | Application or imported CV received | Check details and assign an owner. |
| Interview planned | A slot and meeting details are confirmed | Conduct the interview and record the outcome. |
| Ready to submit | Recruiter review completed for a named vacancy | Send or record the submission. |
| Awaiting client | Submission associated with a client request | Follow up by an agreed date. |
| Readiness review | Client decision recorded | Review required documents and unresolved items. |
Separate the candidate from a particular application
The same candidate may be considered for more than one role. When reviewing a pipeline, confirm which job or client request the stage refers to. A decision for one application should not silently replace the context of another. Ask to see this in the configured workflow.
Give every unresolved record an owner
Comments preserve context; an owner and due date make the next action accountable. Record who should follow up, what they need to ask and when the team expects the action.
Bridge95 includes recruiter ownership, follow-ups and interview workflows. Notifications and automation depend on configuration; confirm which events trigger which channel before enabling them.
Review the queue with evidence
- Which records have no owner or next action?
- Which candidates are waiting on an internal review rather than the client?
- Which interviews need an outcome recorded?
- Which client decisions have unresolved document requirements?
- Which old records need a decision under the retention process?
Use metrics with a clear definition
If you measure time in stage or shortlist turnaround, define the start event, end event and excluded records. Report the period and sample size. Do not present a reduction in time as a product result until it has actually been measured.
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See your workflow in Bridge95
Bring a role, a sample import and your document checklist. We can review the setup your team needs.