A hiring plan outlines the specific steps, timelines, and strategies required to attract, evaluate, and hire the right talent for various roles within an organization. Below is a detailed hiring plan template customized for entry-level, mid-level, senior-level, technical, and customer-facing roles.
Attract and hire candidates with little to no experience who have the potential to grow within the company.
Example: "Bachelor’s degree in Marketing or related field, excellent communication skills."
Sourcing Strategy:
Post job listings in student career portals and internship platforms.
Screening Criteria:
Evaluate internships, volunteer work, or extracurricular activities.
Interview Plan:
Optional Assessment: Short test or case study to evaluate basic skills.
Timeline:
Hire candidates with relevant experience who can contribute immediately to team goals.
Example: "3-5 years of experience in product management, expertise in Agile frameworks."
Sourcing Strategy:
Advertise on niche job boards relevant to the industry (e.g., AngelList for startups, Dribbble for designers).
Screening Criteria:
Use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to filter resumes for keywords.
Interview Plan:
Round 3: In-depth interview with hiring manager and peers to evaluate team collaboration skills.
Timeline:
Hire experienced professionals who will bring leadership, strategic direction, and expertise to the organization.
Example: "10+ years of experience in operations management, history of leading cross-functional teams, strong P&L management skills."
Sourcing Strategy:
Reach out to potential candidates via personalized messages on platforms like LinkedIn.
Screening Criteria:
Focus on leadership capabilities, strategic thinking, and demonstrated achievements (e.g., “Increased revenue by 50% over 2 years”).
Interview Plan:
Assessment: Case study, business strategy exercise, or leadership simulation task.
Timeline:
Hire candidates with specialized technical expertise and problem-solving skills to fulfill critical technical needs.
Example: "Proficiency in Python and SQL, 3+ years of experience in machine learning, familiarity with AWS or Google Cloud."
Sourcing Strategy:
Host or attend hackathons and developer meetups.
Screening Criteria:
Look for project experience in their portfolio or GitHub profile.
Interview Plan:
Round 4: Cultural fit interview with HR or team members.
Timeline:
Hire candidates who excel in communication, problem-solving, and building customer relationships.
Example: "2+ years of experience in customer service, excellent problem-solving skills, and ability to work under pressure."
Sourcing Strategy:
Reach out to candidates via LinkedIn.
Screening Criteria:
Look for metrics-driven achievements (e.g., "Exceeded sales targets by 20%").
Interview Plan:
Round 3: Final interview with team lead or manager.
Timeline:
| Stage | Action Items | Timeline |
|--------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------|
| Planning | Define role requirements, create a job description, set budget. | Week 1 |
| Sourcing | Post job ads, power referrals, and actively source candidates.| Week 2 |
| Screening | Review resumes and conduct initial phone/video screenings. | Week 3 |
| Interviewing | Conduct structured interviews and assessments. | Week 4 |
| Offer | Prepare and send offer letters, finalize negotiations. | Week 5 |
| Onboarding | Prepare onboarding materials and assign a mentor/buddy. | Week 6 onwards |
| Tool | Purpose | Examples |
|-------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|
| Job Boards | Posting and sourcing candidates. | LinkedIn, Indeed, Glassdoor. |
| Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) | Streamline resume screening and candidate tracking. | Greenhouse, BambooHR, Workable. |
| Assessment Tools | Evaluate technical or role-specific skills. | HackerRank (coding), TestGorilla (general skills). |
| Video Interview Tools | Conduct remote interviews. | Zoom, Microsoft Teams, HireVue. |
Tailor your hiring plan to the specific role and organizational needs while keeping the candidate experience top of mind. A structured, efficient process not only attracts the best talent but also reinforces your company’s employer brand.