Hard Skills and Soft Skills

Hard Skill and Soft Skill qualifiers are Yes/No format pre-screening questions asking applicants if they have the skills/abilities to do the job they are applying for. By default, each section automatically calculates a percentage score based on the total questions asked vs. the applicants supplied responses (Desired Answers gain points, Undesired Answers lose points).

To use include Hard or Soft Skills with your position template, during "Step 2: Add position elements," add the Hard and/or Soft Skill element by clicking the plus symbol. Once either element is on the right side of the screen labeled "Selected Elements," click Save and Continue at the bottom of the page.



During "Step 3: Fill in Content," you may now define your Hard and Soft Skill questions as you deem appropriate.

There are several interactive icon options available to the right-hand side of created entries:

• Pencil (Edit the entry)
• Stacked Paper (Duplicate the entry)
• X (Delete the entry)
• Stacked Bars (Drag-and-Drop entry to new location, click and hold mouse to Drag)

To create new questions/entries, type into the free text field below "Add Question." After typing, selected your Desired Response (either Yes or No), then click the plus symbol [+] to the right. You may then save your new entry to this position template only, or Save to your Library.

As you are typing, your system will suggest available entries from within your Library - click their corresponding [+] to add them. If you prefer to review all available entries, click "Browse Library." You may then select any desired pre-screening questions you've already created, then click "Add."

When Saving to your Library, you will have the option to choose which sub-folder to save your entry. You may review individual entries at any time under Library>Position Elements.

In addition to your Desired Answer, you must mark two additional settings, Critical and Core:

• Critical: If marked "Yes," this question and response will be marked with a red background to draw your attention while processing applications. Please note - Critical questions do NOT automatically Reject applicants or prevent them from applying if an undesired response is received. They are designed to make important questions stand out to speed up processing. In addition, it is often recommended to use no more than 1-2 Critical questions in order to maintain visual impact.
  
  
  
  
• Core: If marked "Yes," this question will automatically be included moving forward any time you create a new position template and select the Hard or Soft Skills element for inclusion or Import from the Community Library.

For most Hard or Soft Skills questions, they should be marked "No" for Critical and/or Core, but these additional options may be beneficial when creating unique or consistent entries.

Lastly, whenever you create or add a new question, it will automatically be placed as the last/bottom question in the section. If you wish to reorder your questions, use the Drag and Drop option (Stacked Bar icon) provided to the right for each entry.

Suggestions and Examples
In general, the Hard and Soft Skills sections are best utilized when keeping your questions as specific and objective as possible. Since the responses are basic Yes/No format, including open-ended/general or subjective questions will not provide as much value when comparing applicants head to head.

Hard Skills examples:
"Do you have a four-year college degree in Civil Engineering?"
"Do you have two years of relevant experience?"
"Do you have the valid certification required for this position?"

Soft Skills examples:
"Are you willing to undergo a formal background check?"
"Are you willing to undergo pre-employment and periodic drug testing?"
"Are you able to work the specified schedule for this position?"

There is no right or wrong way to use these sections - you may include just the Hard Skills or Soft Skills, or use both. Whenever either section is used, however, they will appear in your Applicant Queues to help clarify the quality of applicants before investigating further.

Note: When viewing individual Hard or Soft Skill entries under Library>Position Elements>Hard Skills/Soft Skills, click the "Information" icon to learn which position templates are currently using a question and when it may have originally been created.