How to answer job application screening questions

How it works

1. Pick the question the form is asking. The wording varies between employers, so choose the closest match and read the form's version carefully.
2. Fill in your details, such as the country, your visa situation, your notice period or your salary range.
3. Copy the answer. For yes/no or number-only fields, the tool shows exactly what to enter, alongside a fuller answer for text boxes.

Everything happens on this page. There is no server call, no AI model and no database: close the tab and your text is gone.

How to answer each question

Knockout questions are the ones most likely to decide an application before anyone reads your résumé, so read the exact wording twice. For more worked examples, see how to answer screening questions.

Will you now or in the future require visa sponsorship?

What they're checking: Whether hiring you means applying for a work visa, which costs the employer time and money and is something some employers can't offer at all.

• Answer for the country where the job is based, not where you live.
• "Now or in the future" includes when your current visa runs out. A time-limited visa usually means Yes.
• If there's a free-text box, say when your current permission ends. It helps the recruiter plan.

Example: Yes. I can work in the UK on my Graduate visa until June 2027 without sponsorship, and would need sponsorship after that.

Are you legally authorised to work in this country?

What they're checking: Your legal right to work in the job's country today. It is a different question from sponsorship, though forms often ask both.

• Yes means you can legally start work there now, on any valid status.
• Holding a visa with an end date still counts as Yes. Mention the end date if there is room.
• Right to work is checked with documents before your first day, so the answer must match them.

Example: Yes. I'm authorised to work in Canada on an open work permit valid until March 2027.

What is your notice period, or when can you start?

What they're checking: When you could realistically start, so they can plan the hire and compare candidates.

• Give the notice in your contract, not the one you hope to negotiate.
• If you might be released early, say so as a possibility rather than a promise.
• Keep the answer the same on every application. Recruiters notice when it changes.

Example: My notice period is one month, so I could start around a month after accepting an offer.

What are your salary expectations?

What they're checking: Whether your expectations fit their budget. Some employers filter automatically on a numeric salary field.

• Research the range first: pay ranges in comparable job ads are the most direct evidence.
• Give gross annual base pay in the job's currency unless the form asks otherwise.
• If the posting shows a range, keep your answer inside it rather than writing "negotiable".

Example: I'm looking for £55,000–£62,000 per year base salary, depending on the full package.

Are you willing to relocate?

What they're checking: Whether you can be where the job needs you, and how soon.

• Only say Yes if you would actually move for this role.
• If you already live nearby, say so. It removes a doubt.
• Mention timing if moving would delay your start date.

Example: Yes. I'm willing to relocate to Berlin and could move within two months of an offer.

How many years of experience do you have with…?

What they're checking: Whether you meet a minimum experience level. A number field like this is often used as an automatic filter.

• Count years you actually used the skill at work, plus substantial projects if the form allows.
• Make the number add up against the dates on your résumé.
• If you're just under the threshold, answer honestly and use any free-text box to explain.

Example: I have 4 years of hands-on professional experience with Python, most recently building data pipelines.

Why do you want to work here?

What they're checking: Whether you've looked at what they actually do, and whether your interest connects to the role.

• Name one specific thing: a product, a customer group, a problem they solve.
• Link it to one real thing you've done.
• Two or three sentences is enough. Avoid praise that would fit any company.

Example: I'm drawn to Monzo because of its work on budgeting tools people actually use. In my last role I redesigned a savings feature that doubled weekly active users, and this role is a chance to do more of that.

Frequently asked questions

Are screening questions used to reject candidates automatically?

Sometimes. Employers can set knockout rules so that one answer, such as needing sponsorship or having fewer years than required, moves you to a rejected stage. That is why exact, truthful answers matter. See how ATS screening works.

Should I lie on a knockout question to get through?

No. Facts like right to work, licences and degrees are checked, and a false answer can end an offer or a job later. Answer honestly and spend your effort on roles you qualify for.

What if the form asks for salary as a single number?

Enter the lower end of your researched range, without currency symbols or commas. There is more detail in salary expectations on application forms.

Do I need sponsorship if I'm on a graduate or temporary visa?

If the question says "now or in the future", usually yes, because you'd need sponsorship when the visa ends. Our work authorisation and sponsorship guide covers the common cases.

Is anything I type saved?

No. The answers are built in your browser from what you type. Nothing is sent, stored or passed to an AI.