Recruiting Questionnaire, 21 Vital Questions To Ask Candidates

Are you looking to streamline your hiring process, particularly your very first screening?

Today, modern video tools like Vouch can speed up the recruitment process - and in 2025, a recruiting questionnaire can be an invaluable tool.

By asking the right questions, you can gather important information about a candidate's skills, fit for the role, and personality, helping you find the perfect match for your team and your company culture. It's also at this stage where your employer brand really shines, helping you attract the ideal candidates to reduce time to hire and costs.

In this article, we'll explore the answers to these questions and more, providing you with valuable insights to optimize your hiring process.

So, let's dive in:
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Why Use a Recruitment Questionnaire?

Every interview is based on questions. However, a pre-set recruitment questionnaire is designed to help you gain a deeper understanding of a candidate's background and personality, going beyond what is mentioned in their resume or cover letter.

By asking these "more open" questions, you can assess a candidate's softer skills and identify their suitability for the role and your company culture.

Furthermore, a recruitment questionnaire saves you time by narrowing down the pool of candidates so you can focus on the best potential hires. A well-designed questionnaire is perfect in the pre-screening phases, especially in roles with a lot of applicants.

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Essential Questions to Include in a Recruitment Questionnaire

When it comes to creating a recruitment questionnaire, the right questions can greatly impact the effectiveness of your hiring process.

By asking targeted questions, you can gather the necessary information to assess a candidate's suitability for the role.

Here are some essential questions to include in your job application questionnaire - and with modern video tools like Vouch, you can simply send a video link with these questions pre-loaded so you can see the candidate's video responses:

1. Can you tell me about yourself and your background?
2. What interests you about this position and our company?
3. What relevant experience do you have for this role?
4. How do you stay updated with industry trends and developments?
5. Can you describe a challenging project you've worked on and how you overcame obstacles?
6. How do you handle tight deadlines and pressure?
7. What are your strengths and weaknesses?
8. How do you prioritize and manage your workload?
9. Can you give an example of a time when you demonstrated leadership skills?
10. How do you approach problem-solving?
11. How do you handle conflicts or disagreements with colleagues?
12. What do you consider to be your greatest professional achievement?
13. How do you adapt to changes in technology or processes?
14. Can you describe a time when you had to quickly learn a new skill or technology?
15. How do you ensure accuracy and attention to detail in your work?
16. What motivates you in your career?
17. How do you handle feedback and criticism?
18. Can you give an example of a time when you had to collaborate with a diverse team?
19. How do you maintain a work-life balance?
20. What are your long-term career goals?
21. Do you have any questions for us about the role or company?

And don't forget that throughout these questions, you want to make sure that the ideal candidates are connecting with your culture and mission. Be sure to relate their answers back to parts of your company so they feel connected and inspired.

Tips for Using Recruitment Questionnaires Effectively

When using a recruitment questionnaire, it's important to keep a few things in mind.

To ensure a smooth and efficient process, follow these tips:

1. Avoid overwhelming candidates by asking too many questions. Stick to around 21 questions at most, or even cut this down to 7-10 of your favourite questions that focus on the most crucial aspects of the job and candidate evaluation.
2. Choose a user-friendly tool to send the questionnaire. Modern video platforms like Vouch offer intuitive interfaces that make it easy for candidates to navigate and respond.
3. Utilize tools like Vouch that can send automated reminders. Sometimes, candidates may forget to complete the questionnaire or miss the submission deadline. By using tools that send automated reminders, you can ensure all candidates complete the questionnaire on time.

By following these tips, you can make the most out of your recruitment questionnaires and streamline the hiring process, ultimately finding the best candidates for your organization.
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Enhancing the Hiring Process with Vouch

Vouch is a valuable tool for streamlining the recruiting process. Its recruitment questionnaire template can save you time and effort in preparing your own questionnaires.

Vouch also allows candidates to save their progress and complete the questionnaire at their own pace. This ensures that candidates have the flexibility to return to it when it's convenient for them.

Additionally, Vouch can send automated reminders to candidates, ensuring that they don't forget to submit their completed questionnaires. This feature helps recruiters stay on top of the hiring process and ensures a timely collection of candidate responses.

Overall, using Vouch can greatly enhance and expedite the hiring procedure for both candidates and recruiters. With its user-friendly interface and time-saving features, recruiters can focus more on evaluating candidate responses and making informed hiring decisions. 
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FAQs

What is a recruitment questionnaire?

A recruitment questionnaire is a valuable tool used during the hiring process to gather important information about a candidate's skills, fit for the role, and personality.

What are the advantages of using a recruitment questionnaire?

Using a recruitment questionnaire helps recruiters gain a deeper understanding of a candidate's background and personality, allows for the assessment of written communication skills, and helps save time by narrowing down the best potential candidates.

What are some essential questions to include in a recruitment questionnaire?

Essential questions to include in a recruitment questionnaire are those that assess a candidate's qualifications, experience, and suitability for the role. Examples include questions about skills, job-specific scenarios, work experience, and team collaboration.

How can recruitment questionnaires be used effectively?

To use recruitment questionnaires effectively, avoid overwhelming candidates with too many questions and stick to around 10 questions. Choose a user-friendly tool for sending the questionnaire, such as Vouch, with auto-save features and reminders to ensure completion on time.

Why is a well-designed recruitment questionnaire important?

A well-designed recruitment questionnaire is essential because it allows recruiters to gather crucial information about candidates, make informed decisions, save time, and increase the likelihood of making a smart hire.
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Conclusion

A well-designed recruitment questionnaire is an essential tool for optimizing the hiring process. By asking the right questions, recruiters can gather important information about candidates and make informed decisions. This not only saves time but also increases the likelihood of making a smart hire. 

Modern tools like Vouch also make it really easy to create authentic video content, so be sure to book a Free Vouch demo today to see why teams like Amazon, Canva, Hubspot, Cisco, Nike, and more love using Vouch!
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Like to try Vouch?

Loved by companies like Canva, Nike, Cisco, Stryker, HubSpot, Amazon, and more, tools like Vouch make leveraging video in your business remarkably easy.

Be sure to book a Vouch demo today and chat with a video content expert.