This guide is applicable for v2 of the product.
For v3, please visit
Step By Step User Guide - Recruitment Dashboard Excel Template - v3
STEP 1: Enter Settings information
Recruitment Stages: The template can accommodate up to 6 stages in recruiting process. If you have only 4 stages, just clear the last two values.
Customize Recruitment Stages
Application Sources: This will be the list of sources where you receive applications. You can customize the list as needed. Enter up to 15 sources.
Customize Application Sources
Decline Reasons: This will be the list of reasons we provide when decide not to hire a candidate. You can customize the list as needed. Enter up to 15 reasons.
Customize Decline Reasons
STEP 2: Enter Jobs
In the Jobs sheet, you will enter each job in a new row with the following information.
Fields available: JOB ID, JOB TITLE, JOB LOCATION, HIRING MANAGER, DEPARTMENT, JOB TYPE, JOB LEVEL, RECRUITER NAME, JOB POSTED DATE, POSITIONS, STATUS, COST
Recruitment Manager Excel Template – Jobs Table
Most fields are self-explanatory. The last three need some explanation.
Positions: This template can handle multiple openings of same title. For example, if you have 3 openings for Graphic Designer, you can enter them in one row and enter 3 in Positions field/column.
Status: When you enter a new job to be filled, enter ‘OPEN’ as Status. When all the positions for that job are filled, enter ‘COMPLETED’ as Status. If the job is cancelled, enter ‘CANCELLED’.
Cost: After the job is filled, enter the total cost incurred in the recruiting for that job.
STEP 3: Enter Applications
Enter each application you receive as a new row in the APPLICATIONS sheet. Start entering from Row 6. Please do not modify Row 5, as it will break calculations.
• Enter Job ID for which the application was sent.
• Enter Applicant name and the source through which you received the application.
Recruitment Manager Excel Template – Applications 1
STEP 4: Track Progress of Applications
In the next 6 columns, enter the dates on which the applicant crossed each of the recruitment stages.
Recruitment Manager Excel Template – Applications – Stage Dates
For example, in the image above, you can see the dates on which each candidate crossed the 6 stages. If a candidate does not reach a stage, please don’t enter anything in that column.
STEP 5: Update Application Status
Recruitment Manager Excel Template – Applications – Status, Reasons and Comments
When a decision is made on a candidate, update APPLICATION STATUS column. Enter ‘HIRED’ if hired or ‘NOT HIRED’ if decision was taken not to hire the person. Enter the decline reason if the candidate was not hired. For example, if the candidate reaches the interview stage but does not get the offer due to ‘Technical’ knowledge , then enter ‘Technical’ as Decline Reason.
Please enter any comments or notes about the application in the COMMENTS column.
Error Checks
While entering data in steps 4 and 5 , please make sure that there are no errors. The template assigns applications as ‘ERROR’ (see column Q named ERROR) if one or more of the following conditions apply.
- Subsequent stage date is earlier. Example: Stage 2 Completion Date is before Stage 1 Completion Date
- Application Status = ‘HIRED’ and all stages are not completed.
- Application Status = ‘NOT HIRED’ and a stage is missing. Example: Stage 4 has Completion Date but Stage 3 does not have a Completion Date.
Error Calculation for Applications
Those Applications with ERRORs will not be reported in Dashboard.
STEP 6: Update Job
When a job order is fully completed, go back to the Jobs sheet and update.
Status: When all the positions for that job are filled, enter ‘COMPLETED’ as Status. If the job is cancelled, enter ‘CANCELLED’.
Cost: After the job is filled, enter the total cost incurred in the recruiting for that job.
STEP 7: View Dashboard
View Dashboard anytime to view performance metrics. The dashboard is fully automated. Since it uses pivot tables for calculations, we have to refresh it whenever we added/updated input data on Jobs and Applications. Please refresh it by (DATA ribbon –> Refresh All button) or keyboard shortcut (Ctrl+Alt+F5).
Recruitment Manager Excel Template – Data Refresh
Recruitment Manager Excel Template – Dashboard
The dashboard is very flexible as it allows you to drill down using the filters. There are 10 filters/slicers available to analyze the data in detail and make smarter business decisions.
Dashboard – Slicers (or Filters)
If the dashboard does not reflect the data entered, please refresh the calculations first. Then, check if there are ERRORs in the Applications (see column Q).
STEP 8: View Job Report
In the Job Report sheet, we can choose a Job ID and view all details for that one job. We can also see the Candidates and comments for each stage. This can be a useful tool to have a meaningful discussion with the stakeholders on the applications and thus take decisions.
Job Report
STEP 9 (Optional): Enter Candidates’ data
The Candidates sheet available is optional. We can store candidates’ contact information and other notes such as Skills, Strengths and Weaknesses. We can add new columns as needed.