Executive Summary
Screening knockout questions in PyjamaHR allow you to automatically filter out unqualified applicants based on their answers to key questions during the application process. By leveraging these questions, you can save significant time, reduce manual review, and ensure only the most relevant candidates reach your shortlist—especially when dealing with high application volumes or strict must-have requirements.
Detailed Overview
What Are Screening Knockout Questions?
Screening knockout questions are mandatory questions added to your job application form that automatically disqualify candidates who do not meet your essential criteria (e.g., location, experience, work authorization). In PyjamaHR, these are typically Yes/No or Multiple Choice questions configured with auto-reject logic. When a candidate selects a disqualifying answer, their application is automatically moved to the "Rejected" pipeline, streamlining your initial screening process.
When and Why to Use Knockout Questions:
- High-volume roles: Quickly eliminate unqualified applicants when you receive hundreds or thousands of applications.
- Strict requirements: Enforce non-negotiable criteria (e.g., minimum experience, location, certifications).
- Save recruiter time: Focus only on candidates who meet your baseline requirements.
- Improve candidate experience: Prevents unqualified candidates from progressing, reducing unnecessary follow-ups.
Integration with Other PyjamaHR Features:
- Candidate Pipelines: Auto-moves disqualified candidates to the "Rejected" stage.
- Filters & Compare Candidates: Enables fast filtering and bulk actions.
- Export/Reporting: Download filtered candidate data for further analysis.
- AI Recruiter: Use in combination for deeper screening, though AI Recruiter does not auto-move candidates between stages.
Step-by-Step Guide: Setting Up and Using Knockout Questions
Prerequisites
You must have permission to create or edit job postings.
Decide your must-have criteria (e.g., location, experience, skills).
1. Add Screening Knockout Questions to a Job
Create or Edit a Job Posting
- Go to the Jobs tab and select Create Job or Edit an existing job.Navigate to the Screening Questions Section
- Look for the Screening Questions or Application Form section.Add a New Question
- Click Add Question.
- Choose Yes/No or Multiple Choice as the question type.Tip: Only Yes/No and Multiple Choice questions support auto-filtering. Single Choice and Single Line questions do NOT work for filtering (see Troubleshooting).
Write Your Knockout Question
- Example: “Are you currently located in Gujarat?”
- Example: “Do you have at least 3 years of relevant experience?”Set the Disqualification Logic
- For Yes/No: Select which answer (“No” or “Yes”) should disqualify the candidate.
- For Multiple Choice: Select the disqualifying option(s).
- Look for the “Disqualify candidate if…” or similar toggle/option.Mark the Question as Mandatory
- Ensure the question is set as Required so candidates cannot skip it.Save and Publish the Job
- Review your screening questions.
- Click Save and Publish the job.
[Screenshot Callouts:
- Where to find “Add Question”
- Example of Yes/No question with “Disqualify candidate if…” option
- Mandatory toggle]
2. How Auto-Filtering Works
When a candidate applies, they must answer all mandatory screening questions.
If their answer matches the disqualifying response, PyjamaHR automatically moves them to the Rejected pipeline.
You can view the rejection reason in the candidate’s timeline/profile.
3. Filtering and Reviewing Applicants
Go to the Job’s Candidate List
- Click on the job title to view all applicants.Use Screening Question Filters
- At the top, use the Filters panel.
- Filter by answers to your Yes/No or Multiple Choice screening questions.
- Note: Only these question types are filterable. If your question isn’t showing, check its type (see Troubleshooting).Bulk Actions
- Select filtered candidates for bulk rejection, emailing, or export.Export Data
- Use the Compare Candidates view to download an Excel sheet of all responses.
Advanced Usage & Best Practices
Power User Tips
Clone Jobs to Reuse Questions: Cloning a job will copy its screening questions, saving setup time for similar roles.
Repository/Template Workaround: PyjamaHR does not currently have a question repository, but cloning jobs is the recommended workaround.
Multiple Knockout Questions: You can add several knockout questions for layered filtering (e.g., location AND experience).
File Uploads: For document requirements (e.g., licenses), use the “File Upload” question type, but note this is not auto-filtered—manual review required.
Optimization Strategies
Keep Questions Simple: Use Yes/No for strict knockout logic.
Be Specific: “Are you willing to relocate to Hyderabad?” is clearer than “Location?”
Test Your Form: Preview the application to ensure questions appear and are mandatory.
Communicate Disqualification: Optionally, set up automated rejection emails for candidates who are filtered out.
Do’s and Don’ts
Do:
- Use Yes/No or Multiple Choice for knockout logic.
- Mark questions as mandatory.
- Regularly review and update your screening questions for relevance.
Don’t:
- Use Single Choice or Single Line questions for knockout filtering—they are not supported for auto-filtering.
- Expect the system to restrict who can apply; it only filters after application.
- Forget to check for LinkedIn or job board integration issues if answers are missing (see Troubleshooting).
Troubleshooting & Common Issues
Common Problems and Solutions
1. Screening Questions Not Filtering Candidates
- Cause: Question type is not Yes/No or Multiple Choice.
- Solution: Edit the job and change the question to a supported type.
2. Candidates Bypassing Mandatory Questions
- Cause: Question not set as “Required.”
- Solution: Edit the question and mark as mandatory.
3. Filter Not Showing All Questions
- Cause: Only Yes/No and Multiple Choice questions appear in filters.
- Solution: Recreate questions in the correct format.
4. All Candidates Auto-Rejected
- Cause: Disqualify logic set incorrectly (e.g., “Yes” disqualifies when it should be “No”).
- Solution: Review and adjust the disqualification setting.
5. Screening Answers Missing for Some Candidates
- Possible Causes:
- Candidate applied before questions were added.
- Job reposted or cloned incorrectly.
- Integration issue with LinkedIn or job board (data not captured).
- Solution: Confirm timing of question addition. For LinkedIn issues, contact support—data may not be recoverable if not captured at application.
6. Want to Disable Auto-Rejection
- Solution: Edit the screening question and turn off the “Disqualify candidate if…” option.
7. Bulk Rejection/Filtering Not Working
- Solution: Ensure you are filtering by supported question types and using the correct filters.
8. Repository for Reusing Questions
- Current State: Not available. Use job cloning as a workaround.
Comprehensive FAQ
1. What types of questions can be used for auto-filtering?
- Only Yes/No and Multiple Choice questions support auto-filtering and appear in filters.
2. Can I prevent unqualified candidates from applying at all?
- No. All candidates can apply, but knockout questions will auto-reject those who don’t meet your criteria.
3. How do I set up a question to auto-reject candidates?
- Add a Yes/No or Multiple Choice question, select the disqualifying answer, and mark it as mandatory.
4. Why aren’t my screening questions showing in the filter?
- Only Yes/No and Multiple Choice questions are filterable. Single Choice and Single Line are not.
5. Can I reuse screening questions across jobs?
- Not directly. Clone jobs to reuse questions.
6. Can I filter candidates by their answers after they’ve applied?
- Yes, using the Filters panel in the candidate list.
7. Why are some candidates missing answers to screening questions?
- They may have applied before the questions were added, or there may be a job board integration issue.
8. Can I disable automatic rejection for a question?
- Yes, edit the question and turn off the disqualification logic.
9. Can I send a separate form to candidates at a later stage?
- Not currently supported. All screening questions must be part of the application form.
10. Can I filter by resume match score and screening questions together?
- Yes, use both filters in the candidate list.
11. What if I want to filter by numeric values (e.g., years of experience)?
- Use a Numeric question type, but note that filtering support may be limited—check if it appears in your filters.
12. What if my auto-reject logic is not working as expected?
- Double-check the question type, mandatory setting, and disqualification logic.
13. Can I export candidate responses to screening questions?
- Yes, via the Compare Candidates view.
14. What if I need to collect documents (e.g., licenses)?
- Use the File Upload question type, but manual review is required.
15. Are knockout questions available on the mobile app?
- Filtering by screening questions is currently only available on the web version; mobile support is planned.
Related Features & Next Steps
Compare Candidates View: Export all candidate data, including screening responses.
AI Recruiter: Use in tandem for deeper screening, but note it does not auto-move candidates.
Bulk Actions: Email, reject, or move filtered candidates in bulk.
Job Cloning: Reuse screening questions for similar roles.
Automated Rejection Emails: Set up to notify disqualified candidates.
Recommended Additional Setup:
- Review and update your screening questions regularly.
- Test your application form before publishing.
- Monitor candidate flow and adjust knockout logic as needed.
Related Help Articles:
- How to Export Candidate Data
- Understanding Access Types
- How to Clone a Job Posting
Summary Table: Do’s and Don’ts
Do | Don’t |
Use Yes/No or Multiple Choice for knockout | Use Single Choice or Single Line for filtering |
Mark questions as mandatory | Forget to set as required |
Clone jobs to reuse questions | Expect a question repository (not available) |
Regularly review screening logic | Assume all question types are filterable |
Test your form before publishing | Ignore integration issues with job boards |
When to Contact Support
Screening questions or filters not working as expected after following all best practices.
Candidate answers missing due to integration issues (e.g., LinkedIn).
Bulk actions or exports not functioning.
Feature requests (e.g., repository for screening questions, mobile filtering).
By following this guide, you’ll maximize the efficiency of your hiring process in PyjamaHR, ensuring only the best-fit candidates reach your shortlist—saving you time, effort, and frustration.