Definition
Job requisition — A job requisition, often shortened to "req," is the internal request a hiring manager files to get formal approval and budget for filling a position. It usually specifies the role's title, level, department, reporting line, salary range, and the reason the position is opening, whether that's growth, a backfill, or a new function. Approval typically comes from finance or a senior leader who confirms the headcount and budget actually exist before recruiting work starts. Only after a requisition is approved does a recruiter move to writing a job description and building a job posting; skipping the requisition step is how companies end up recruiting for a role that was never actually budgeted. Larger organizations often route requisitions through formal software with an approval chain of two or three people, while a small company might handle the same step as a short conversation and a headcount spreadsheet update. Either way, the requisition is the internal record that a role is real and funded, separate from anything a candidate ever sees.
A requisition stays internal. It's a budgeting and approval record, not something posted publicly or shown to applicants. Recruiters and hiring managers reference it throughout the search to confirm the agreed level, salary range, and headcount haven't shifted, since a requisition can be paused or closed if a company's hiring plans change mid-search.
An open requisition with no approved budget behind it is a common reason a posting gets pulled after candidates have already started applying, which is part of why confirming headcount is real matters before recruiting time gets spent.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between a job requisition and a job posting?
A requisition is the internal approval to open and fund a position. A job posting is the external, candidate-facing ad that goes out only after that approval is in place.
Who approves a job requisition?
Usually a finance team member or a senior leader above the hiring manager, confirming the headcount and salary budget are actually available before recruiting work begins.
Can a job requisition be closed before anyone is hired?
Yes. A requisition can be paused or closed if a company's budget or hiring plans change, even after candidates have already applied to the related posting.
Related pages
Practice for the roles that are actually open
Once a requisition turns into a live posting on Intervieux's job board, applying can go straight into a real AI screening interview for that role.