---
title: "Start Here: Screening Applicants with Questionnaires"
description: Build reusable questionnaires and use knock-out questions to screen out clear non-fits automatically.
---

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# Start Here: Screening Applicants with Questionnaires

## Build reusable questionnaires and use knock-out questions to screen out clear non-fits automatically.

Questionnaires are reusable sets of questions you send to candidates early, before you spend time on interviews. Build one once, then reuse it across jobs. They live at **Settings \> Screening**.

![](https://knowledge.avahr.com/hubfs/kb-questionnaire.jpg)

### Create a questionnaire

1. Go to **Settings \> Screening** and open the **Questionnaires** tab.
2. Click **New questionnaire**. Give it a name and description, and pick a **Category** (Screening, Culture, Technical, or General).
3. Click **Add Question**, choose a type, and write the prompt. Reorder with the arrows, remove with the X.
4. Save with **Create Questionnaire**. A questionnaire must be **Active** (not Draft) to be in use.

### Question types

You can add Short answer, Long answer, Yes/No, Single choice, Multiple choice, and File upload questions. Only choice-based types (Yes/No, Single choice, Multiple choice) can be knock-outs, because they have fixed answers to flag.

### Knock-out questions

Inside a choice question, check **Make this a knock-out question**, then turn on **Disqualifies** for any answer that should screen a candidate out. Add an optional **Internal reason** (logged on the candidate, never shown to them). You cannot flag every answer; at least one must pass. A candidate who picks a disqualifying answer completes the whole questionnaire, then is automatically moved to **Disqualified** after submitting. No automatic rejection email is sent.

### Attaching a questionnaire

Attach a questionnaire to a job on the Description step, or send one to a candidate. A pipeline stage can also send a questionnaire automatically when a candidate reaches it.

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