Recruiter Stage Definitions That Reduce Candidate Drop-Off

Define each hiring stage with explicit outcomes so candidate communication and status changes stay aligned.

Why stages fail in practice

Most pipelines fail because stage names are vague. “Reviewed” can mean anything from “opened profile once” to “hiring manager approved”. That ambiguity creates inconsistent candidate communication.

Use decision-based stage rules

• Reviewed: profile reviewed and disposition decided.
• Contacted: outreach sent with a specific next step.
• Interview scheduled: candidate received and responded to a structured round proposal.

Communicate every transition

For each stage update, send one explicit message: what changed, why it changed, and what action is expected next.