The Office of Quality Improvement found that creating a Time Line (also called a Step Chart) at the beginning of the hiring process was useful both to ensure that all necessary activity was taking place, but also to identify where activities (such as screening and letter preparation) could be done as early as possible in the process. (Download a  Blank Time Line  that can be customized.)

A variation on this Time Line is to add individuals’ initials in the columns rather than just check marks to ensure that all responsibilities are assigned.