A method for hydroprocessing a feedstock, comprising: providing a reaction system with multiple catalyst stages, including at least one stage containing a bulk metallic catalyst formed by sulfidation of a precursor composition comprising a Group VIII metal, a Group VIB metal, and from 10 wt.% to 60 wt.% of an organic compound-based component derived from an organic complexing agent that is an organic acid that contains a -COOH functional group and at least one additional functional group selected from carboxylic acid -COOH, hydroxamic acid -NOH-C=O, hydroxo -OH, keto -C=O, amine -NH2, amide: -CO-NH2, imine: -CNOH, epoxy: =COC=, or thiol: -SH, the catalyst precursor composition having a surface area of 16 m 2 /g or less measured by Brunauer-Ernett-Teller method, the carbon content of the catalyst after sulfidation being at least 10 wt%, and at least one additional catalyst stage containing a different catalyst; and further comprising a. conducting a hydrocarbon feedstock through the at least one stage containing the catalyst formed from the precursor composition at hydrotreatment conditions, and conducting at least a portion of the hydrotreated feedstock through the at least one additional stage at second hydroprocessing conditions; or b. conducting a hydrocarbon feedstock through the at least one additional stage containing the additional hydrotreatment catalyst at additional hydrotreatment conditions, and conducting at least a portion of the hydrotreated feedstock through the at least one stage containing a catalyst formed from the precursor composition at hydrotreatment conditions. providing a reaction system with multiple catalyst stages, including at least one stage containing a bulk metallic catalyst formed by sulfidation of a precursor composition comprising a Group VIII metal, a Group VIB metal, and from 10 wt.% to 60 wt.% of an organic compound-based component derived from an organic complexing agent that is an organic acid that contains a -COOH functional group and at least one additional functional group selected from carboxylic acid -COOH, hydroxamic acid -NOH-C=O, hydroxo -OH, keto -C=O, amine -NH2, amide: -CO-NH2, imine: -CNOH, epoxy: =COC=, or thiol: -SH, the catalyst precursor composition having a surface area of 16 m 2 /g or less measured by Brunauer-Ernett-Teller method, the carbon content of the catalyst after sulfidation being at least 10 wt%, and at least one additional catalyst stage containing a different catalyst; and further comprising a. conducting a hydrocarbon feedstock through the at least one stage containing the catalyst formed from the precursor composition at hydrotreatment conditions, and conducting at least a portion of the hydrotreated feedstock through the at least one additional stage at second hydroprocessing conditions; or b. conducting a hydrocarbon feedstock through the at least one additional stage containing the additional hydrotreatment catalyst at additional hydrotreatment conditions, and conducting at least a portion of the hydrotreated feedstock through the at least one stage containing a catalyst formed from the precursor composition at hydrotreatment conditions. a. conducting a hydrocarbon feedstock through the at least one stage containing the catalyst formed from the precursor composition at hydrotreatment conditions, and conducting at least a portion of the hydrotreated feedstock through the at least one additional stage at second hydroprocessing conditions; or b. conducting a hydrocarbon feedstock through the at least one additional stage containing the additional hydrotreatment catalyst at additional hydrotreatment conditions, and conducting at least a portion of the hydrotreated feedstock through the at least one stage containing a catalyst formed from the precursor composition at hydrotreatment conditions.