Recruitment & Interview Process
A consistent hiring process is fairer to candidates and produces better hires. This SOP gives recruiters and hiring managers a clear funnel from application to offer, with explicit decision gates so candidates progress on merit rather than gut feel.
It moves from resume screening through a recruiter phone screen and panel interviews with scorecards, to a structured hiring decision and offer — with clear, respectful exits at each stage for candidates who are not a fit.
Import this template into Essoflo to match your interview stages and scorecards, connect your ATS and calendar, and assign the recruiter, hiring manager, and panel roles.
- Purpose
- Evaluate candidates consistently and fairly from application through offer.
- Scope
- Applies to all open-role applications from receipt to offer or decline.
- Steps
- 7 steps & decisions
- Roles & tools
- Recruiter, Hiring Manager, Interview PanelATS, Calendar, Scorecard
Step-by-step walkthrough
The same procedure as the diagram above, in reading order — decisions show where each answer leads.
- 1
Screen resume against criteria
Compare the application to the role requirements.
Who: Recruiter·Tools: ATS
- 2
Meets minimum criteria?
Does the candidate meet the must-haves?
True → Recruiter phone screen·False → Send rejection
Who: Recruiter
- 3
Recruiter phone screen
Confirm fit, motivation, and logistics.
Who: Recruiter
- 4
Advance to interviews?
Should the candidate move to panel interviews?
True → Panel interviews & scorecards·False → Decline & notify
Who: Recruiter
- 5
Panel interviews & scorecards
Run structured interviews and capture scores.
Who: Interview Panel·Tools: Scorecard, Calendar
- 6
Hiring decision positive?
Does the panel recommend hiring?
True → Extend offer·False → Send rejection
Who: Hiring Manager
- 7
Extend offer
Prepare and send the offer.
Who: Hiring Manager·Tools: ATS
Related templates
Employee Onboarding
A repeatable first-week onboarding flow that gets new hires set up, trained, and productive — covering accounts, equipment, and role-specific training.
HREmployee Offboarding
A clean, respectful exit every time: handover knowledge, revoke access, collect equipment, and close out pay and benefits without loose ends.
FinanceEmployee Expense Reimbursement
Reimburse employees fairly and on time: submit with receipts, check policy, get manager approval, verify in finance, and pay in the next run.
Prefer to start from scratch? Try the free RACI matrix builder or the onboarding program builder — no sign-up needed.