Questionnaires help you get to know candidates before you spend time on a call. You can build a set of questions once, save it, and attach it to any job. This article walks you through creating one from scratch in the redesigned AvaHR.
Where questionnaires live
Go to Settings, then open Screening under RECRUITING. The Screening page is where you manage Questionnaires, Assessments, and Application Forms. Each one has its own tab across the top. Start on the Questionnaires tab.
Start a new questionnaire
Click New questionnaire. This opens the Create Questionnaire screen. Fill in the basics at the top:
- Name. Give it a clear name so your team knows what it is for, like "Warehouse phone screen".
- Description. A short note about when to use this questionnaire. This is for your team, not the candidate.
- Category. Pick one of Screening, Culture, Technical, or General so your questionnaires stay organized.
Add your questions
In the QUESTIONS section, click Add Question and choose a type from the dropdown. You can mix and match as many questions as you need. For each question, type your prompt into the What's the question? field. Use the reorder arrows to move a question up or down, and the X to remove one.
You can choose from these question types:
- Short answer. A single line of text. Good for one-word or one-sentence replies.
- Long answer. A larger text box for a fuller written response.
- Yes/No. The candidate picks Yes or No.
- Single choice. The candidate picks one option from a list you write.
- Multiple choice. The candidate can pick more than one option from your list.
- File upload. The candidate attaches a file, like a certificate or a work sample.
For Single choice and Multiple choice questions, add your answer options with Add option. You need at least two options.
Make a knock-out question
A knock-out question automatically flags candidates who give an answer you cannot work with, so you can focus on the people who qualify. Knock-outs are available on the three question types that have selectable answers: Yes/No, Single choice, and Multiple choice.
To set one up, open the question and check Make this a knock-out question. Each answer then shows a Disqualifies toggle (the lightning icon). Turn it on for any answer that should knock a candidate out. You can also add an optional Internal reason for that answer. The internal reason is logged on the candidate for your team's records and is never shown to the candidate.
A few things to know:
- Once you flag an answer, a Knock-out badge appears on the question.
- You cannot flag every answer. AvaHR asks you to leave at least one answer that passes, so there is always a way through.
- A candidate who picks a disqualifying answer still completes the whole questionnaire. After they submit, they are automatically moved to Disqualified.
- No automatic rejection email is sent. The move to Disqualified is quiet, so you stay in control of any message that goes out.
Save and activate
When your questions are in place, save the questionnaire. Back on the Questionnaires tab, each row shows the category, a question count, and an Active or Draft toggle. Flip it to Active when it is ready to use. The row menu also gives you Edit, Duplicate, and Delete. If you delete a questionnaire, any jobs using it fall back to the default.
A note on Assessments
Questionnaires collect answers so you can review them. If you want a graded skills test that is scored right or wrong, use the Assessments tab instead. This article covers questionnaires only.
Using your questionnaire
Once a questionnaire is active, you can attach it to a job on the Description step when you post the role (the Screening questionnaire card), or send it to a candidate by email. See "Adding a Questionnaire to an Email" for the step-by-step on sending one.