Let's Talk Recruit: An approval process with zero follow-ups

Welcome back to our Let's Talk Recruit series! Today, the topic of discussion is the Approval process. We’ll discuss how approval workflows function in recruitment, explore real-world use cases, and show how automation in Zoho Recruit can streamline approvals and drive efficiency in your organization.

What is an approval process?

An approval process is a structured workflow used to authorize various stages in the recruitment process, such as job requisitions, candidate approvals, and offer letters. Automating approvals in Zoho Recruit ensures efficiency, reduces delays, and eliminates miscommunication.

For instance, when a recruiter shortlists a candidate for a specific role, the hiring manager must approve the selection before scheduling further rounds. Additionally, once a final candidate is chosen, approval from HR and upper management is required before extending an offer.

Why automate approvals?

It automates the repetitive, cumbersome, and time-consuming tasks

Without Automation	With Automation
Manual follow-ups	Automatic notifications
Delayed decisions	Timely approvals
Miscommunication	Clear approval trials
Lost candidates	Faster hiring cycles
Inconsistent process	Standardized workflows

How does the approval process function?

The diagram above illustrates how a typical approval workflow functions in Zoho Recruit:

When should you use an approval process?

Objective:

An organization needs a streamlined process to manage approvals for job offers sent to selected candidates before finalizing the hiring process.

Example Scenario:

An internal recruitment team collaborates with various departments to hire candidates. When a candidate is selected after the final interview, the job offer must be approved internally before it is sent out. The HR manager and finance team must review the offer details, such as salary, benefits, and contract terms, before the final approval.

They want the approval process to be automated so that:

• Automated Approval Initiation:
  Once a recruiter selects a candidate and generates a job offer, the approval process should start automatically to avoid delays.
• Multi-Level Approvals:
  The job offer must first be approved by the HR manager to ensure compliance with company policies.☆ If the salary exceeds a predefined limit, it must be reviewed by the finance department to verify budget availability.
• Pending Background Verification:
  If a candidate’s background verification is still pending, the offer should not be sent until the verification is completed and approved.
• Final Offer Dispatch:
  Once the approvals are received, the system should automatically send the final job offer via email to the candidate with a confirmation notification.
  
  
  

Here's a challenge for you:

Identify activities that need automatic approvals. Create a rule and set up a trigger. Send approval requests automatically and put it to test

Start small—maybe automate email approvals or candidate shortlisting—and build from there!

Let’s Talk Recruit!

Now Over to You! Have you used approval processes in your hiring workflow? What’s your favourite feature in Zoho Recruit’s approval system? Drop a comment and let’s share ideas! Let’s help each other recruit smarter.

• Topic Participants

• Gayathri M S

  

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