What Is a Job Requisition?
A job requisition is the formal internal request and approval document that authorizes HR/recruitment to begin actively hiring for a specific open position — typically initiated by a hiring manager and requiring budget and organizational approval before recruitment activity begins.
Why Job Requisitions Matter
- Ensures hiring is properly budgeted and approved before recruitment resources are invested in sourcing and screening candidates.
- Provides a documented, auditable record of exactly what role was approved, at what level, and why — useful for workforce planning and headcount tracking.
- Prevents unauthorized or ad-hoc hiring that could create budget or organizational structure issues.
Typical Job Requisition Process
- 1Hiring manager identifies the need for a new hire — backfill or new headcount
- 2Manager submits a formal requisition, including role justification, budget, and key requirements
- 3Requisition is routed for approval — typically through the manager's leadership chain and often Finance/HR
- 4Once approved, the requisition is opened in the ATS, and recruitment activity (sourcing, job posting) formally begins
Key Information Typically Included in a Job Requisition
- Role title, department, and reporting structure
- Justification — backfill vs new headcount, business rationale
- Budgeted compensation range
- Required qualifications and key responsibilities
- Target hiring timeline
How HR Software Helps
An ATS/HRMS with a built-in requisition approval workflow automates routing for approval, tracks requisition status, and prevents recruitment activity from beginning until proper authorization is confirmed — creating an auditable, efficient process.
See how Trilliant Software automates this →Job Requisition: Frequently Asked Questions
Can recruitment begin before a job requisition is fully approved?
How long does the requisition approval process typically take?
This glossary entry is for general information and reflects common HR practice in India at the time of writing. Statutory thresholds, rates and deadlines change — verify against the latest official notifications or consult a qualified legal or tax advisor before acting.