Time to Fill
Definition
The number of days between opening a job requisition and a candidate accepting the offer.
Time to Fill is one of the most important recruiting KPIs. It measures operational efficiency — how quickly your team moves from identifying a hiring need to closing the role.
The average time to fill varies by industry and role type. Tech roles often take 40-60 days, while executive positions can take 90+ days. Reducing time to fill without sacrificing quality is the holy grail of TA optimization.
Key levers include building pre-qualified talent pools, automating screening, using AI-powered scheduling, and reducing interview rounds. Analytics tools can break down time spent at each pipeline stage to identify bottlenecks.
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Related Terms
Candidate Pipeline
The structured sequence of stages a candidate moves through during the hiring process, from initial contact to offer.
Cost per Hire
The total cost of filling a position, including advertising, recruiter time, tools, and agency fees divided by the number of hires.
Quality of Hire
A composite metric measuring the value a new employee brings, typically assessed through performance reviews, retention rate, and hiring manager satisfaction.