Did you know that answering Screening Questions increases your chances of having your job applications viewed? And that’s merely one of the reasons why they are an important part of applying for jobs on WUZZUF.

One of the features that we offer companies on WUZZUF is the ability to add a number of customizable questions to a job post for applicants to answer. These are called Screening Questions, and we’re going to discuss why you should answer them and how to best do it.

So what are Screening Questions?

When you apply for a job on WUZZUF, you can get redirected to a page that looks like this with the heading “The hiring team at [Company x] also requires that you answer the below questions.”

These are the Screening Questions. The hiring company can ask any questions about info that doesn’t appear on your profile or CV, like “What makes you the best candidates for this job?”

The company could ask a question that’s specific to the technicalities of the posted vacancy. For example, if you’re applying for a vacancy of a digital marketer, you can find a question asking about brands you like and what made them your favorite.

Another common request is a sample of your work, especially if you’re in the creative field (writing, design, etc.). Because the company wants to know about you as much as they can before making a decision regarding your application, asking for a sample gives them a great idea of what your work is actually like.

Why should you answer Screening Questions?

So why are Screening Questions important? There are a couple of reasons why they’re important and hence why you should definitely answer them.

• “To get over a mountain, you have to climb it.” — Unknown

Answering Screening Questions increases your Matching Score. Applicants for a job on WUZZUF are ranked according to their Matching Score, and therefore the ones with the highest scores are placed at the top of the list and have the highest chances of having their applications viewed.

• “Details create the big picture.” — Sanford I. Weill

Using Screening Questions, companies inquire about info they otherwise can’t know without actually sitting in an interview with you. Due to the complicated logistics of hiring (the time it takes, the number of applicants a job has, the required human resources, etc.), interviewing all candidate with seemingly fitting profiles is not possible. That’s why Screening Questions are a great tool because they give you a chance to talk more about yourself and fill in any details the company wants to know about you before it decides on an interview.

[clickToTweet tweet=”Answering Screening Questions is a great way to let companies know more about you. #ScreeningQuestions” quote=”Answering Screening Questions is a great way to let companies know more about you. #ScreeningQuestions” theme=”style3″]

• “Go the extra mile and you will stand out from the crowd.” — Robin Crow

Screening Questions are the first thing the company sees in your application. Use this chance to impress the company with the effort you put into answering the questions. The company you want to join took the time to ask the questions that matter to the job and that makes answering them important. So respond in kind. Do go the extra mile and take the time to answer well and show your commitment. Use the opportunity to differentiate yourself from the crowd.

How to answer Screening Questions

So now that you’re going to answer the Screening Questions, how should you do it?

A good point to keep in mind is that Screening Questions are a great chance to get the person doing the screening hooked. The position of the questions means that if your answers are not good, there’s a good chance they won’t go over the rest of your application and just move on to the next one. If they do check it out, it will already have left an unpleasant impression of you.

So here are some pointers on how to provide great answers to these questions.

• Avoid clichés

Even when the question is one of the most common ones like “What makes you the best candidate for this job?” the company is still looking for a unique answer. Never copy and paste an answer from somewhere, even if it was another application of yours.

[clickToTweet tweet=”Never copy and paste an answer from somewhere, even if it was another application of yours. #ScreeningQuestions” quote=”Never copy and paste an answer from somewhere, even if it was another application of yours. #ScreeningQuestions” theme=”style3″]

It helps to thoroughly read the job description, requirements, and the questions themselves before answering because only then can you focus on your strengths that are directly related to the job.

You should also be unique and true to yourself. This is the only way the company gets to know you really well.

• Be concise

The hiring company is busy so having someone go through all the applications on a job post would be hectic. Our research shows that someone hiring on WUZZUF spends only an average of seven seconds looking at any one application. This means they won’t read long answers, at least not fully. So be concise, get to the point, and cut the fluff. But do cover the point(s) the question is inquiring about thoroughly.

• Play the game

In its core, getting a job is a barter deal. You give the company your skills and experience and in exchange you get a position, benefits, and career progress. It’s a two-way street, but if it were this straightforward, true professionals would be equated with the rest. So you have to play the game. Don’t assume just because that someone is hiring that they’re going to accept anyone. Put the effort in and pull out all the stops.

Don’t go overboard though. Never beg for the job in your answers. No matter how badly you need the job, don’t let it show. Don’t add your personal info (phone number or email) in your answers either. All of this will make the company undervalue you, so even if you did end up getting hired, you probably wouldn’t be getting your true worth.

• Review your answers

Nothing leaves a worse impression than a good answer full of typos. Go over your answers when you’re done writing. Never submit an application without checking for those pesky, little errors that usually skip our attention. Make sure you’re using good grammar and punctuation. This is even more important if you’re applying for a job where excellent writing skills are a requirement. Use a tool like Grammarly for better results.

Here are more examples of bad answers to Screening Questions that are sure to kill your chance at getting the job you want:

By following the tips above, you can get an answer that looks something like this:

Bottom line: Take your time when answering Screening Questions. They are what will get your foot in the door.

Have you ever encountered any Screening Questions you didn’t know how to answer? Let us know in the comments below so we can give you some tips.

[mks_separator style=”solid” height=”1″]

If you like this article, don’t forget to like, share and subscribe to the blog to get more of this content regularly.