Recruitment & AI

The 20 essential questions to ask in a prequalification interview

A successful prequalification interview relies on targeted questions — not an hour of unstructured chat. This list of 20 essential questions is ready to copy into your interview script, ATS, or AI interview tool.

Each question is grouped by theme with guidance on what it assesses. For ideal length and minute-by-minute structure, see our article on prequalification interview duration.

Recruiter conducting a structured prequalification interview with a checklist.
20 well-chosen questions beat an hour of unfocused conversation.

How to use this list

  • Pick 8–12 questions per role — not all 20 every time.
  • Start with motivation and availability to filter early.
  • Use the STAR method for behavioural questions.
  • Score each answer on a 1–5 scale for objective comparison.

Motivation and role fit (5 questions)

  1. 1. What attracts you to this role and company?

    Reveals genuine motivation and context knowledge.

  2. 2. What do you expect from this role in the first 6 months?

    Checks alignment between candidate expectations and role reality.

  3. 3. Why are you leaving (or looking to leave) your current role?

    Surfaces red flags without judgment.

  4. 4. What would make you decline an offer?

    Identifies decision criteria and negotiation points.

  5. 5. Where do you see yourself in 2–3 years?

    Assesses career coherence with possible role evolution.

Skills and experience (5 questions)

  1. 6. Describe a professional achievement you're proud of — what was your exact role?

    STAR question: measures concrete impact.

  2. 7. Which key skill for this role do you master best? Give an example.

    Validates match with essential job criteria.

  3. 8. Tell me about a difficult work situation and how you handled it.

    Assesses resilience and problem-solving.

  4. 9. What tool or process do you use daily for [key skill]?

    Tests depth, not just CV keywords.

  5. 10. Which skill do you want to develop in this role?

    Shows intellectual honesty and growth appetite.

Evaluation scorecard and question checklist for prequalification interview.
A scorecard turns subjective impressions into comparable criteria.

Availability and conditions (4 questions)

  1. 11. When can you start?

    Filters candidates whose timeline doesn't match.

  2. 12. What are your salary expectations (range)?

    Avoids wasted time on budget mismatch.

  3. 13. Is the role compatible with your situation (remote, travel, hours)?

    Validates practical constraints early.

  4. 14. Are you in process with other companies? At what stage?

    Anticipates urgency and competition risk.

Culture and soft skills (4 questions)

  1. 15. How would you describe your teamwork style?

    Assesses cultural fit without discriminatory questions.

  2. 16. How do you handle feedback or disagreements with a manager?

    Measures professional maturity.

  3. 17. Do you prefer autonomy or a structured framework?

    Matches profile to team management style.

  4. 18. What motivates you most day-to-day at work?

    Complements motivational assessment.

Closing and next steps (2 questions)

  1. 19. Do you have questions about the role, team, or hiring process?

    Quality of candidate questions signals engagement.

  2. 20. Is there anything else you'd like to add that we haven't covered?

    Gives voice to introverts or uncovered strengths.

Scale without losing quality

When application volume exceeds team capacity, deploy these 20 questions via AI voice or async interviews. See our prequalification automation guide and effective phone screening method. HiLucy lets you configure this script in a structured voice flow with scoring and recruiter summaries.

Want to move from reading to action? See how Hi Lucy automates your voice AI interviews and your approach to interviews powered by artificial intelligence.

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