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

# Custom stages

> Add your own hiring stages to track Candidates beyond the built-in pipeline.

Every Interviewer comes with built-in stages such as **Shortlisted**, **Completed**, and **Expired**. If you add an assessment or role play to an Interviewer, stages for those steps also appear, such as **Shortlisted for Assessment** or **Role Play Completed**.

Custom stages let you add steps that match your own process, such as "Manager Review" or "Take-home test".

## Add a custom stage

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Configuration">
    Click **Configuration** in the sidebar.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open Custom Stages">
    Select the **Custom Stages** tab. You see your current stages laid out in order.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add a stage">
    Click **Add Stage** and enter a name, for example "Technical Round".
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save">
    Click **Save Changes**.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Warning>
  Once you save a custom stage, you can't rename or delete it. Check the name before you save.
</Warning>

## Limits

* You can add up to 20 custom stages.
* Each name can be up to 80 characters.
* You can't reuse the name of a built-in stage.

## Use custom stages

After you save a stage, it appears in the stage selector next to each Candidate on the Interviewer's **Applicants** list. Pick a stage to move the Candidate there. See [Manage Candidates](/interview-automation/manage-candidates).

<Note>
  Only Owners can add custom stages and change a Candidate's stage.
</Note>


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