As our first post, let us investigate how the hiring process actually works.

The hiring process is pretty much split into four phases:

• The Review Phase
• The Interview Phase
• The Offer Phase
• The Onboarding Phase

The Review Phase is actually the job posting / ad / application / review phase, completed from both the hiring manager side and the candidate side.

• Hiring managers tell what the job entails and what they see as the requirements of fitting candidates.
• Candidates review the job posting and decide if it seems like a fit. If so, they then explain why they meet the requirements.
• The hiring team reviews the candidates and chooses who to interview.

Then, the Interview Phase:

• Hiring managers tell what the job entails and what they see as the requirements of fitting candidates, and ask questions about their experience and background.
• Candidates explain why they meet the requirements, and answer questions about their experience and background.
• Candidates ask questions about the job and company, and review the team’s ambiance and the company and workplace environment and ambiance.
• The hiring team reviews the candidates’ responses and chooses who to interview again, or who to offer the job.

Then, the Offer Phase:

• The hiring team decides how much to offer the candidate, based on how much they fit in the job needs.
• The candidate reviews the offer, workplace environment and ambiance, and decides whether to accept. If they feel the offer meets their needs, they accept. If the job fits their needs, but the offer is too low, they may decide to tell the manager, and tell them how much they would want, in order to accept the offer.
• If the candidate accepts the offer, the hiring team then moves on to the onboarding phase. If the candidate makes a counter offer, the hiring team decides whether to make that offer, or not.

Should the candidate decline the offer, or the hiring team decides not to move forward with a counter offer, then we move back to the interview phase.

But if the candidate accepts the offer, we move to the Onboarding Phase:

• The hiring team sends an employment agreement.
• The candidate signs and returns the agreement.
• The hiring team then competes reference reviews, background checks, and medical testing, as required by company rules, and by law.
• Once all is successfully complete, a start date is planned, and, if required, the new employee relocates to the new location, and starts work.

From this point of view, it all seems straightforward and simple. But, we all know that is deceptive, because the process for each is a lot more complicated than it first seems.

So now we get to the root of the Hiring Catalyst Blog: explaining the complete hiring process, and how, as a candidate, we can make sure we complete all the stages.

Next time, we will work through the Review Phase, from the candidate point of view:

• How to read and interpret a job posting, and decide if you are a good fit, and whether to apply.
• How to format and word your application and resume to convince the hiring team that you are the best fit.

Let us know, by leaving a comment, if this meets your expectations, and what else you would want us to investigate in the process!