> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.staffer.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Build a hiring process
> Design the sequence of steps a candidate moves through, on the canvas or in chat.
A job's **Process** tab holds the sequence of steps a candidate moves through: reviews, interviews, questionnaires, tasks and more. A new job starts with no steps. You build the process on the canvas, or ask the agent to. For advice on what to include, see [Design a process](/academy/design-a-process).
## The canvas
The process runs top to bottom from **Start** to **End**, with your steps in between. By default every candidate follows the same line. When a step applies only to some candidates, the canvas splits into two lanes, **Applied** and **Sourced**. Steps for all candidates stay in the shared line.
An empty process shows one button for each step kind, such as **Add Review** and **Add Interview**.
## Add, arrange and save steps
Hover over a step, or over the Start or End pill, to reveal **Add step above** and **Add step below**. Click one to see every step kind.
Each kind opens its own editor with a **Setup** tab (what the step does) and a **Rules** tab (who it applies to, and what the candidate is told). See [Step types](/companies/process-steps) for every field.
A grip handle appears on the left of a step when you hover over it. Drag it to reorder, or drag a step straight into the **Applied** or **Sourced** lane.
The process doesn't save on its own. When you change anything, **Discard** and **Save** appear in the toolbar. Click **Save** to keep your changes. **Discard** puts the canvas back to what you last saved. If you close the page before saving, your edits are still there when you come back.
## Applies to: split the process by where candidates come from
Every step's Rules tab has an **Applies to** dropdown with three options: **All candidates** (the default), **Applied only** and **Sourced only**. A step set to **Applied only** or **Sourced only** applies only to that group. Use it to keep a step for sourced candidates but skip it for people who applied, or the other way round.
When you copy a process from another job, its **Applied** and **Sourced** lanes come with it.
## Viewing as
The **Viewing as Recruiter** dropdown, top right of the canvas, shows the process as someone else would see it. It only changes the view.
| View | Shows |
| - | - |
| **Recruiter** | Every step, editable. |
| **Applicant** | Only steps visible to candidates on the Applied track. |
| **Sourced candidate** | Only steps visible to candidates on the Sourced track. |
| A named teammate | Only the steps that person is assigned to. |
## What candidates see
Candidates see the process in their application, so they know what's ahead. Interview, AI interview, File upload and Questionnaire steps are always visible to them, because they have something to do. Review, Task and Message steps are hidden unless you turn on **Visible to candidate** on the step's **Rules** tab. A visible step doesn't email them. See [Step types](/companies/process-steps) for exactly when each kind emails a candidate.
## Editing a process that already has candidates
Once any candidate has started, completed or skipped a step, the step locks. A padlock icon appears, and you can't delete it or change its kind. You can choose **Archive step** instead. It stops the step applying to candidates who haven't reached it, and keeps everyone's history on it.
You can delete a step nobody has reached yet. **Delete permanently** removes the step and its settings, including any message text, when you save.
## Build or change it from chat
You can describe the process to the agent instead of using the canvas. It reads the current process and proposes changes. In **Ask permission** mode, the default, it shows a confirmation card before adding, changing or removing anything. In **Auto** mode it applies straight away.
If the agent saves a change while you have unsaved edits on the canvas, Staffer keeps your version on screen and shows that a newer version exists. It asks you once whether to keep your edits or see the update. Nothing you typed is replaced without you choosing.
## Step order and the candidate's "current step"
When a candidate joins the job, Staffer sets up every step that applies to them. Their current step is the first one they haven't finished. When it's completed or skipped, the next one becomes current. So candidates move through steps in the order on the canvas, and reordering changes what's next for anyone who hasn't reached that point.
## Common questions
No. Every job starts with an empty process. You build it, or ask the agent to.
Yes. Locking only stops you deleting the step or changing its kind. Its name, instructions, reviewers and rules all stay editable.
Only for steps set to **Applied only** or **Sourced only**. Steps set to **All candidates** apply to everyone.
It's gone when you save. You can't get it back.
Every field on every step kind, and when each one emails the candidate.
Who gets asked, and what can reject a candidate on its own.
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