Understanding job requisitions
A job requisition formalises the hiring process by requiring documentation and approval before recruitment begins. It ensures the organisation has agreed on the need, budget, and specifications for a role before investing time and resources in finding candidates.
Requisition purposes
- Justify the business need
- Get budget approval
- Define role requirements
- Create audit trail
Controls provided
- Headcount management
- Budget control
- Role standardisation
- Approval workflow
Key requisition elements
Job requisitions typically include these essential details:
Standard requisition fields
Requisition approval process
- Hiring manager: Creates and submits requisition
- Department head: Reviews business need and fit
- Finance: Confirms budget availability
- HR: Reviews for policy compliance
- Executive (if required): Final approval for senior roles
Don't skip the process
Starting recruitment without an approved requisition creates problems - budget surprises, role misalignment, or offers that can't be honoured. Get proper approval first, even if it takes time.
Job requisition best practices
Creating requisitions
- Strong business justification
- Clear role requirements
- Realistic salary range
- Reasonable timeline
Processing requisitions
- Standard approval workflow
- Clear approval authority
- Track status and progress
- Keep for records
Common requisition mistakes
Weak business case
Vague justifications like "we need more help" don't get approved. Clearly articulate the business impact, workload demands, or strategic initiatives that require the role.
Unrealistic salary expectations
Setting salary too low means you can't attract quality candidates. Setting it too high wastes budget. Research market rates before specifying the range.
Bypassing the process
Starting recruitment before approval "because it's urgent" creates chaos. Build requisition lead time into your planning and follow the proper process.
Key takeaways
Job requisitions ensure proper authorisation and documentation before hiring begins. A strong requisition with clear business justification and realistic requirements gets approved faster and leads to better hiring outcomes.
RosterElf's staff management helps Australian businesses manage growing teams with integrated rostering, time tracking, and leave management.
