Why a CV rarely tells the whole story
In a competitive hiring market, a resume or cover letter often leaves out exactly the details that decide whether an application can progress: right-to-work status, visa expiry, certifications, notice periods. Recruiters end up chasing candidates for basics — slow for the agency, irritating for the applicant.
Pre-screening questions fix that: essential, targeted prompts that establish fit early. (Recruiters sometimes call these knockout or “killer” questions — we prefer the friendlier name, and so do candidates.) Typical examples:
- Are you eligible to work in this country?
- Do you hold a valid visa — and when does it expire?
- Do you have the required years of experience in a specific field?
- Are you professionally qualified or certified in a particular area?
Why job-board applications fall short
Applications arriving from job boards or basic web forms are frequently incomplete. Crucial criteria — visa status, certifications, availability — simply aren’t part of the standard application, which means delays, extra admin, and decisions made on partial information.
How CloudFlow automates it
For job-board applications
When an application arrives, CloudFlow’s API triggers an automated workflow that emails the candidate a short set of pre-screening questions, chosen based on the job’s country (visa and eligibility requirements) and its specifics (qualifications, experience thresholds). Responses attach automatically to the application in your ATS — no manual re-keying.
For applications on your own website
Questions are asked in real time as the candidate applies, with the form adapting dynamically to the role — so every critical data point is captured upfront.
Tailored to each role, not one-size-fits-all
Questions can be tailored by role, location or recruiter, and the answers feed straight into CloudFlow’s AI screening, where they count as evidence alongside the CV. The result: recruiters spend less time chasing missing information and more time matching the right candidates to the right roles.