Recruitment Funnel Calculator
How many applications a hire needs — from the conversion rate at each stage — and where the funnel is actually leaking.
Every stage multiplies.
How the recruitment funnel calculator works
Every stage multiplies. Screen 30%, interview 40%, final 50%, offer accept 80% gives an overall conversion of 4.8%, so one hire needs about 21 applications.
Because the rates multiply, the worst stage dominates. Doubling the weakest conversion helps far more than improving three strong ones, which is why finding the leak matters more than optimising everywhere.
Formula: applications = hires / (screen × interview × final × accept)
Worked examples
| Inputs | Applications needed | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Six hires at typical rates | 125 | 125 applications |
| A weak screen | 375 | the funnel triples |
| Poor offer acceptance | 250 | doubles everything upstream |
FAQFrequently asked questions
How many applications does a hire need?
Twenty to fifty for most roles, depending entirely on how well the top of the funnel is targeted.
Why does the weakest stage matter most?
Because the rates multiply. Doubling a 10% stage halves the applications needed; improving a 50% stage to 60% barely registers.
What is a good offer acceptance rate?
Above 80%. Below that usually means pay is off market, the process took too long, or expectations were not set during interviewing.
Does a bigger funnel solve a weak process?
It hides it expensively. Sourcing more applications to compensate for a 10% screen rate costs more than fixing the job advert.
Should screen rates be low?
A very low screen rate means the advert is attracting the wrong people. It is a targeting problem, not a sign of high standards.
Where these figures come from
- CIPD — Employee turnover and retention factsheet — the turnover and stability index definitions used here
- Fair Work Ombudsman — the Australian workplace regulator
Last checked: September 2026. These are standard management definitions; where practice varies, the page says which convention it uses.