> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.firstwork.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Hiring Flows

> Design multi-stage hiring pipelines to manage your recruitment process from application to offer

## Overview

Hiring Flows are the backbone of recruitment in Firstwork. A Hiring Flow defines the stages candidates go through during the hiring process, the forms they need to complete, the compliance checks they must pass, and the automations that run along the way.

## Key Concepts

### Stages

Each Hiring Flow consists of ordered **stages** that represent steps in your pipeline. Common stage configurations include:

| Stage               | Purpose                         | Typical Actions                        |
| ------------------- | ------------------------------- | -------------------------------------- |
| Application         | Initial candidate submission    | Collect personal info, resume          |
| Screening           | Preliminary review              | Compliance rule evaluation, AI scoring |
| Document Collection | Gather required documents       | ID verification, certifications        |
| Background Check    | Verify candidate history        | Sterling integration, E-Verify         |
| Interview           | Schedule and conduct interviews | Calendar booking, AI caller            |
| Offer               | Extend employment offer         | Contract creation, onboarding flow     |

### Stage Transitions

Candidates move between stages through **transitions**. Each transition is recorded with:

* Source and destination stage
* Timestamp
* Reason (manual, automation, compliance, etc.)
* The user or system that triggered the transition

### Funnels

**Funnels** are public URLs that allow candidates to apply to a hiring flow without an account. They support:

* Pre-filled data (e.g., source tracking, referral codes)
* Custom branding per link
* Expiration dates
* Application limits

## Creating a Hiring Flow

### Define your stages

Map out the stages of your hiring pipeline. Each stage should represent a meaningful step in the candidate journey.

### Attach forms to stages

Create or assign forms to each stage. Forms collect the data you need from candidates at that point in the process.

### Configure compliance rules

Set up rules that automatically evaluate candidate data. Rules can gate stage transitions or trigger automations.

### Set up automations

Configure automated actions that fire when candidates enter a stage, complete a form, or meet certain criteria.

### Create application links

Generate funnels for candidates to apply. Each funnel can have unique pre-filled data and tracking parameters.

## Hiring Flow Details

Each Hiring Flow has associated **Hiring Flow Details** that configure:

* **Job opening information** — Title, description, location, employment type
* **Application settings** — Auto-advance rules, duplicate detection
* **Notification templates** — Stage-specific email/SMS templates
* **Integration mappings** — Fountain stage mappings, external ATS sync

## Stage Groups

**Stage Groups** allow you to categorize stages across multiple hiring flows for unified analytics and reporting. For example, you might create groups like:

* "Screening" — Groups all screening stages across different flows
* "Background Check" — Groups all background check stages
* "Onboarding" — Groups all onboarding-related stages

This enables cross-flow analytics and dashboard widgets that show aggregated metrics.

## Advanced Features

### AI-Powered Hiring Flows

Firstwork supports creating hiring flows with AI assistance. The AI can:

* Suggest optimal stage configurations based on your industry
* Generate appropriate forms for each stage
* Recommend compliance rules based on your requirements

### Bulk Operations

Perform bulk actions on applications within a hiring flow:

* **Bulk status updates** — Advance or reject multiple candidates at once
* **Bulk transitions** — Move groups of candidates to a specific stage
* **Bulk automation triggers** — Fire automations for selected candidates

See [Bulk Operations](/features/bulk-operations) for details.

### Fountain Integration

If you're migrating from Fountain, Firstwork supports:

* Importing Fountain stages and mappings
* Syncing application data bidirectionally
* Mapping Fountain form fields to Firstwork forms

See [Fountain Integration](/integrations/fountain) for details.