Define a sourcing funnel you can trust
Course overview · 4 min reading + 12 min practice, estimated
Principles and method
Specify what counts as identified, contacted, replied, interested, assessed and hired. Events need timestamps and consistent definitions. A person can appear in several channels, so choose how duplicates and attribution are handled. Compare cohorts with similar observation windows; yesterday’s outreach has not had the same chance to convert as last month’s. Separate role-level and person-level counts. Missing data should be visible, not silently converted to failure or success. Document definitions before building a dashboard so the numbers answer the same question across the team.
Worked example
A report divides this week’s hires by this week’s messages even though the hires came from earlier searches. The revised report follows outreach cohorts and states the maturity window for each.
Put it into practice
Define six funnel events and a cohort rule for a fictional four-week campaign.
Use fictional information and keep your work in your own notes.
Compare your approach: self-review guidance
Include event timing, duplicate handling and incomplete outcomes. Explain why a recent cohort may still be open. A coherent funnel follows related events rather than mixing unrelated weekly totals.
Sources and further reading
Original Academy teaching and fictional examples. These references provide context, not endorsement. Edition 2026.09; updated 2026-09-24.
- CIPD: Recruitment
Professional context for the recruitment lifecycle.
- ICO: Recruitment and selection
UK guidance. Check its current status and updates before implementation.