How to Use InstaScreen on Instahyre

InstaScreen helps you filter candidates faster with an automated pre-screening assessment. Every applicant receives your custom questions the moment they apply, and based on their answers, they are automatically qualified or rejected against the criteria you set. This article walks you through setting it up.

Enabling InstaScreen on a Job

1. While posting or editing a job, go to Step 2 of the job form.
2. Turn on the toggle under InstaScreen.

That's it. Screening questions will now go out to every applicant automatically, and candidates will be qualified or rejected based on your criteria for each question.

How Candidates Move Through Stages with InstaScreen

Once InstaScreen is enabled, candidates move through your pipeline automatically based on their response:

• When a candidate applies, they immediately receive the questionnaire via email and move to the Reached Out stage.
• If they complete the questionnaire, they move to Questionnaire Qualified or Rejected, depending on their answers.
• If they reply to the email instead of filling out the questionnaire, they move to the In Conversation stage.

Ways to Send Questionnaires to Candidates

You can share InstaScreen questionnaires with candidates in three ways.

1. Through the Job Form

This option appears as soon as you switch on InstaScreen.

• Pick a questionnaire from the dropdown menu, or click the + icon to create a new one.
• If you've set rejection criteria for any questions, they'll show up automatically next to each question.
• Choose the Stage that qualified candidates should move to after responding. If you don't create one, they'll go to the Questionnaire Qualified stage by default.
• Edit the email that goes out to applicants along with the questionnaire. You can save this template for future use.
• Click Next and continue posting the job.

2. Through Email Templates

While creating a new email template or editing an existing one for a specific job, you can insert your questionnaire link. This ensures the questionnaire goes out every time you send that email to a candidate.

3. From the Candidate Dashboard

Search for the candidates you want to reach, or select one or more from the candidates' dashboard. Compose your email, insert the questionnaire link, and hit send.

Creating a New Questionnaire

• Click on your Initials in the top right corner and select Questionnaire from the dropdown.

• Click Create New Questionnaire and give it a name.

• Start adding questions with the Add a new Question button.
• Pick a response type for each question and set any additional options you need.

A Sample Questionnaire is added by default to help you get started.

Question Response Types

Text (Single Line)

Use this for short answers, such as one-word responses or answers in one to two sentences.

Text (Multiple Lines)

Use this when candidates need more space to explain their response in detail, without any word limit.

Single Choice

Use this when candidates need to select one option from a list. You can also set rejection rules to automatically move candidates to the Rejected stage based on their response.

Multiple Choice

Use this when candidates can select more than one option. This is useful for capturing multiple skills, preferences, or qualifying criteria.

Rating Scale

Use this when you want candidates to rate their response on a scale of 1 to 5. You can also set rejection rules based on the selected rating.

Dropdown

Use this when candidates need to choose one option from a longer list, such as skills, locations, states, or departments. Dropdowns help keep the questionnaire clean and compact. You can also set rejection rules based on the selected option.

Video Answers

Use this when you want candidates to record or upload a video response. This helps recruiters understand the candidate’s communication style, confidence, and intent to join early in the hiring process.

Add File

Use this when you want candidates to upload documents such as resumes, portfolios, work samples, certificates, or other credentials.

Infobox

Use this to add context or instructions to the questionnaire. You can place an Infobox at the beginning to explain the purpose of the questionnaire, or at the end to let candidates know what to expect next.

Numeric Type

Use this when you want candidates to enter number-based responses only. This is useful for collecting details such as salary expectations, notice period, years of experience, or other numeric inputs.

Managing Your Questions

Each question card gives you a few quick actions:

• Delete: Click the Bin icon to remove a question.
• Reorder: Use the arrows to move a question up or down.
• Duplicate: Click the Copy icon to create a copy of a question.

Saving, Editing, and Previewing

• Click Save to save your questionnaire. You can come back and make changes anytime.
• To edit, simply click on the specific questionnaire and update the questions or responses.
• After saving, click Preview to see exactly how the questionnaire will appear to candidates.

And that’s it!

Once your questionnaire and screening criteria are set, InstaScreen helps take care of the first round of screening for every applicant.

Candidates receive your questions as soon as they apply, and based on their responses, they are moved to the right stage automatically. This gives recruiters more context early in the process and makes it easier to focus on candidates who are better aligned with the role.

Set it up once, and let InstaScreen support your screening flow from there.

Updated on: 16/07/2026