Especially if you have an “HR Department of 1” and are perhaps new to HR and Recruiting, I’ve developed this simple checklist to keep you on-track as you start the candidate search process.

Pre-Candidate (Recruiting) Stage

(for Organizations with Internal Recruiters)

1. Hiring Manager receives approval to fill / backfill position
2. Hiring Manager and Recruiter partner to ensure Job Description is revised as needed
3. Recruiter confirms appropriate Salary Range equity (internal and external)
4. Recruiter posts Job Opening (remember your Employee Referral Program)
   • Perhaps “Post” on Company Bulletin Board?
5. Recruiter and Hiring Manager both post Job Opening on her/his LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and other posting options (niche sites; University job boards; etc.)
6. Recruiter posts on various external sites (both Free and Fee-based), per Job- or Industry-specific needs
   • Typically, start with your Company’s site.
   • You can find dozens of free sites available, including each State’s DOL, SimplyHired, Indeed, ResumeBucket, Goggle+, etc.
7. When Internal and/or Free Recruiting is slow or ineffective, your Recruiter should connect with Job- or Industry-specific Headhunters
   • Also post on “paid” job boards
8. Recruiting receives and reviews resumes
9. Recruiting sends “initially-approved” resumes to Hiring Manager for review. S/he gives OK for Initial candidate list
10. Recruiting starts Initial Phone Screen interviews

Candidate Stage    

1. Based on results of Phone screen interviews, Recruiting and Hiring Manager develop final slate of Candidates
2. Recruiting is responsible for setup of on-site Interviews, including ensuring each Interviewer has Interview Guide materials
3. Hiring Manager, and others interviews in person; if good job fit, candidate continues process
4. Recapping with all Interviewers, Recruiting leads Discussion and Decision Process
5. Recruiting to call each Candidate not chosen to move forward in the Interviewing process, thanks them for their interest in Company, and wishes them well (do this within 3 business days)
6. Note that your Recruiter should be providing Hiring Managers weekly progress reports