Settle on a number for your shortlist Find a number you’re comfortable with and keep a few in your ‘maybe’ pile in case things don’t work out with your initial shortlist. Create a set of criteria based on your job description List the must-have attributes of the job. Make a second list of nice-to-haves, which can be a tiebreaker when choosing between candidates with similar skills or experience. Filter candidates Choose those who tick (almost) all the boxes when it comes to the essentials and check for any nice-to-haves that give candidates an edge over others. Deliver the news Deliver the good news to those who were shortlisted and inform them of the next steps in the recruitment process. Send a thank you note to those who didn’t make the cut and wish them all the best in their job search.