Which of the following is a stage of the recruitment process?

• A. Salary Negotiation.
• B. Onboarding.
• C. Counseling/Mentoring.
• D. Budget Approval.

Answer: (C)

Guiding and supporting candidates during the recruitment phase is a stage aimed at aligning expectations and assessing fit before a formal hire. Counseling and mentoring help candidates understand the role, organization, and career path, address concerns, and determine whether both sides are truly aligned. This pre-employment guidance supports better decision-making and can improve retention once someone is brought on board.

Onboarding, by contrast, occurs after a candidate is hired and focuses on integrating the new employee into the team, learning policies, and day-to-day routines. Salary negotiation typically happens during the offer stage, as part of finalizing terms, and budget approval is an administrative step that precedes or accompanies the hiring process rather than a stage of engaging candidates.