31 Applicant Prescreening Question Ideas You Can Use Today

Applicant prescreening questions can be major time savers in the hiring process. By asking potential candidates to answer a few questions along with submitting their resume and/or cover letter, you can get a better idea of who your top contenders are (and aren’t) at a glance.

You can also use applicant questions to quickly identify “deal breakers.” For instance, if your open position has an essential qualification, say a license or other professional credential, then ask the applicant about it in your prescreening questionnaire. Or, use it as an initial measurement of a candidate’s character and writing abilities with an open-ended, free-form question about their top strengths.

Three common types of applicant prescreening questions are scale, yes/no, and written response (when you post your job with iHire, you can use all three and set up auto-disqualifying questions, too). Here are applicant questions for each category to help you start compiling your own list:

Create Your Account Today

Start Hiring

Scale (1–5) Applicant Question Examples

How qualified are you for this position?

How would you rate your teamwork abilities?

How proficient are you in [required/desired skill]?

Rate your attention to detail.

Rate your ability to handle stressful situations.

Rate your time-management skills.

Rate your overall knowledge of the [industry] field.

How important is customer satisfaction to you?

Rate your enthusiasm for professional development.

Rate your understanding of [job-related regulation, process, method, etc.]

Yes/No Applicant Question Examples

Do you have reliable transportation?

Are you authorized to work in the United States?

Do you have experience in the [relevant industry] field?

Do you have experience working remotely?

Do you have a [required/preferred educational degree]?

Do you have a valid driver’s license?

Are you willing to travel as required?

Are you available to work evenings and weekends?

Do you have leadership experience?

Do you speak [foreign language]?

If offered the position, would you be able to start within [desired time period]?

Written Response Applicant Question Examples

Please describe your management style.

Why do you want to join our team?

What are your top 3 strengths?

What was the most recent professional development activity you completed?

What are your long-term career goals?

What excites you the most about our open position?

What days and hours are you available to work?

Why are you seeking a new position?

Describe your community involvement/volunteerism.

What motivates you professionally?

Tips for Writing Effective Applicant Prescreening Questions

• Keep them relevant to the job. The questions you ask should be directly related to the skills and experience required for the position.
• Be clear and concise. Your questions should be easy to understand and answer.
• Avoid asking questions that could be illegal. This includes questions about age, race, gender, religion, or marital status.
• Get feedback from others. Ask a trusted HR professional to review your questions to make sure they are fair and appropriate.
• Don’t overwhelm your applicants with too many questions. Providing a positive candidate experience is critical. We recommend using five prescreening questions at most – save the rest for the interview process.

When used thoughtfully, prescreening interview questions can be a valuable tool for hiring managers. By asking the right questions, you can quickly get a better sense of a candidate’s qualifications, fit for the role, and overall potential. This can save you time and money in the interview process, and help you find the best candidates for your open positions.

For more hiring or interviewing advice, check out our Employer Resource Center.