So, you apply for a job, and, sadly, you get a rejection email 15 minutes later.
Was it the famous ATS who decided to rule you out?
Yes, but not in the way you think.
It is recruiters or HR folks who set up the questions in the application that automatically disqualify candidates based on a certain set of criteria – so-called “knockout questions”.
Candidates who incorrectly answer these knockout questions are automatically rejected.
Frustrating, right?
But, you have to understand the hiring side of the story, too – these questions do save hiring teams AND job applicants valuable time and resources.
They vary depending on the industry and the position, and always target the minimum job requirements, core competencies and “must-haves” of the position for which the company is hiring.
This brings us back to the sentence I write way too often here on LinkedIn:
APPLY FOR THE JOBS YOU ARE QUALIFIED FOR❗
The best approach is to ALWAYS answer honestly to knockout questions or not at all.
If the only way forward is to answer dishonestly, just move on to the next job application.
Find out the possible knockout questions recruiters use in the photo below.
Work smarter, not harder. 🍀
🙂