Sourcing and the Recruitment Funnel
6
Channels
Internal through college recruiting
30-50%
Referrals
Higher retention vs other sources
1:N
Yield Ratio
Stage-by-stage funnel math
narrow at every stage
The Funnel
Each bar is a stage. The width is the count surviving. Yield ratio between stages multiplies through the funnel.
total funnel yield
From 1,000 applications to 8 hires = 0.8%. The yield at each stage compounds.
The Six Channels
| Channel | Cost | Retention | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internal Posting | Lowest | High | Engagement, succession |
| Employee Referrals | Low | Highest | Quality, speed |
| Job Boards | Medium | Medium | Volume, reach |
| Social Media | Low-Med | Medium | Passive candidates |
| Agencies | Highest | Mixed | Hard-to-fill, exec |
| College Recruiting | Medium | High | Entry pipelines |
Exam Traps
Yield ratios MULTIPLY through stages
50% × 50% × 50% × 50% = 6.25%, not 50%. Total funnel yield is the product, not the average.
Referrals can narrow demographics
Best practice pairs referrals with open posting. The exam often treats referral-only as the wrong inclusivity answer.
Internal posting may be required
Some collective bargaining agreements and affirmative action plans require internal-first posting. Skipping it can be a procedural violation.
Cost-per-hire varies dramatically by channel
Agencies highest, referrals lowest. The exam tests channel-cost intuition, not memorized dollar amounts.
Funnel math compounds
50% at four stages = 6.25% overall, not 50%. Multiply, do not average.
Referrals retain longer
Referral hires consistently outperform other channels on 1-year retention. Cheaper too.
200 applicants apply on Indeed. The funnel mouth is open.
40 survive. Yield ratio 20%.
15 survive. Stage yield 37.5%.
5 survive. Stage yield 33%.
2 hires from 5 offers. Stage yield 40%. Total funnel yield: 1%.
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