> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.equip.co/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Automate a Hiring Pipeline End to End

> Chain automation rules so candidates move from application through AI interviews and tests on their own, then compare the strongest side by side.

With **stage automation**, a job opening can run most of its funnel without a recruiter clicking through each candidate. Each stage scores the candidate, a rule checks the score, and the candidate moves on and is invited to the next step automatically.

<Note>
  Stage automation is included with the **Premium** plan and above. See [Compare Plans](/compare-plans).
</Note>

## Build the Pipeline

<Steps>
  <Step title="Add your stages in order">
    In the job opening's **Candidate Pipeline**, add a stage for each step, in the order candidates take them. See [Pipeline Stages](/pipeline-stages) for the stage types.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Link a test or interview to each evaluation stage">
    Attach an assessment to each Assessment stage and an AI interview to each AI interview stage, so Equip knows what to invite candidates to.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add a rule to each stage">
    Add a rule that moves candidates on when they score well; see [Stage Automation](/stage-automation). When Equip asks you to confirm that the invitations will use credits, click **Allow and save**.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Example: A Customer Support Role

This pipeline screens CVs, runs a short one-way AI interview, then a [communication test](/communication-test), and gathers the strongest candidates in a Custom stage called **Review**.

| Stage | Trigger | Condition | Action |
| - | - | - | - |
| **Applied** | Status changes to Finalized | Job fit score is at least 70 | Move candidate to Next Stage |
| **One-Way AI Interview** | Status changes to Finalized | Overall score is at least 60 | Move candidate to Next Stage |
| **Assessment** | Status changes to Finalized | Overall score is at least 65 | Move candidate to Next Stage |
| **Review** (Custom) | Candidate enters this stage | None | Reassign to a team member |

Each rule waits until the stage's score is final (see [what Finalized means](/automation-rule-reference#stage-statuses)). Candidates below a threshold stay in their stage until you act on them.

## What Still Needs a Recruiter

CV scoring, invitations and auto-graded tests run on their own. A recruiter still grades the test types listed in [How Tests Are Graded](/grading-tests#manually-graded-tests), reviews proctoring evidence, and makes the hiring decision.

<Warning>
  If your credit balance runs out, an automatic invitation is skipped, the candidate stays in their current stage, and you are notified. Keep enough credits for the volume you expect. See [How Credits Work](/how-credits-work).
</Warning>

## Review the Strongest Candidates

Rules cannot read the Trust Score, so a rule that moves candidates on by score alone ignores proctoring flags. Moving high scorers into a review stage, as in the example above, gives a person the final look.

| To | Do this |
| - | - |
| **See scores on the board** | In Kanban view, open **Fields** and turn on **All scores** to show every assessment and AI interview score on each card |
| **Rank by assessment score** | Open the assessment's results page, which sorts by **Overall Score**. See [Test Scores and Overall Score](/test-scores-and-overall-score). |
| **Rank by AI interview score** | Sort the AI interview's results by **Score** |

## Related Resources

* [Stage Automation](/stage-automation) - Create, pause and edit rules
* [Automation Triggers, Conditions, and Actions](/automation-rule-reference) - Every trigger, condition and action
* [Candidates and CVs](/candidates-and-cvs) - Table and Kanban views of your applicants
* [Trust Score](/trust-score) - How to read the proctoring summary on each report


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