human-resources staff, hiring managers—or both—narrow down applicants to those whose skills and work histories closely match the job description. If they are unsure, they might reach out by email or phone to learn more. In the end, they will typically have a list of candidates, usually no more than 20, to interview. However, as new applications come in, it is possible that the list will grow, especially if several of those initially selected fail to pass the next round, which is usually a phone interview.