2 mins readThis Hiring Requirements Checklist is for HR teams, hiring managers and recruitment partners. Use it to organise HR tasks efficiently, reduce compliance and operational risk, and improve consistency across hiring and onboarding processes.
The checklist includes:
Compliance and Policy
- Verify role aligns with approved headcount and budget
- Confirm employment type, salary band and job grade
- Check legal right to work requirements for the role
- Ensure hiring follows internal recruitment and equal opportunities policy
- Record required pre-employment checks and clearances
Planning and Preparation
- Define role purpose, responsibilities and essential criteria
- Obtain written role approval and budget sign-off
- Set recruitment timeline and interview panel membership
- Create structured interview scorecard and selection criteria
- Identify required approvals and authorisation points
Candidate Screening and Selection
- Screen applications against essential criteria
- Shortlist candidates and schedule structured interviews
- Verify references for shortlisted candidates
- Perform identity and right to work checks before offer
- Escalate and document any conflicts of interest
Offer and Onboarding Requirements
- Prepare written offer with clear terms and conditions
- Obtain final approvals for salary and benefits
- Issue conditional offer subject to required checks
- Confirm start date and agree onboarding plan
- Notify payroll, IT and line manager of new hire requirements
Documentation and Records
- Collect signed offer letter and employment contract
- Store right to work and identity documents securely
- File background check and reference documentation
- Retain recruitment approvals, interview notes and scorecards
- Maintain document retention schedule and access controls
Review and Follow Up
- Complete new hire onboarding checklist within first week
- Set probation objectives and monitoring schedule
- Audit hiring steps for compliance and process gaps
- Close vacancy and update workforce records