Status is useful when it answers a quick question: what is happening with this role, and do I need to do anything next?
A practical workflow
Use the following as a working sequence, then adapt it to the companies and conversations in front of you.
- Use a small set of plain-language statuses
- Record the reason for an on-hold or closed status
- Let dated interviews and follow-ups provide the detail behind the label
Keep the system workable
Keep one clear record for the opportunity, its current stage, the people involved and the next action. That gives you enough structure to return to the search without adding ceremony.
Candidate keeps this context together so a useful update after an application, conversation or exercise does not need to be copied across several tools.