vacancyfilling

Vacancy filling is the process of occupying an unfilled position or site. The term is used in different domains to describe restoring completeness by relocating a missing resource, such as a job vacancy in an organization or a vacant lattice site in a solid material through diffusion.

In human resources, vacancy filling encompasses recruiting, selecting, and onboarding to bring a new employee into a role. Organizations define requirements, advertise openings, screen applicants, interview, and hire. Key metrics include time-to-fill, vacancy rate, and cost per hire. Effective vacancy filling supports productivity and continuity, while prolonged vacancies raise workload and costs. Practices to improve filling include clear job design, internal mobility, targeted sourcing, and fair, compliant hiring.

In materials science, vacancy filling refers to diffusion by atoms into lattice vacancies, reducing defects and enabling processes such as annealing and alloying. The rate depends on temperature, crystal structure, impurities, and the energy barrier for atom–vacancy exchange. Over time, vacancy filling alters microstructure and properties such as strength and diffusion rates. Researchers study it with experiments and simulations to understand mechanisms and optimize heat treatments and processing.

Across disciplines, vacancy filling aims to restore completeness through movement of a missing component, whether human or atomic.