The short version
A knockout should only stop someone who could never do the job. Everything you would trade off belongs in scoring, where a person still sees it.
What deserves to be a knockout
Knockouts are the fastest screen you have, and the easiest way to lose a great person by accident. Keep the list short and make every item pass a simple test.
Keep it as a knockout only if
- The job legally or physically requires it (a license, work eligibility, a minimum age).
- You would not hire someone without it, even if everything else was excellent.
- It cannot be learned in the first few weeks.
- You can ask it as a plain yes or no without guessing what it means.
Word it so honest people answer correctly
Most wrong answers come from unclear questions, not from people trying to sneak through. Name the exact thing you need and avoid jargon the applicant may not use.
Set them up in the journey
- 1
Put must-haves first
Knockout questions end the journey politely when a must-have isn't met, before anyone spends time on the rest.
In Journeys - 2
Send nice-to-haves to scoring
Use a score gate for preferences, so people who fall short are routed by score instead of rejected on one answer.
In Journeys
Make the rules clear to candidates
- 1
Show what is ahead
A step timeline shows where they are and how much is left, so nobody quits halfway out of uncertainty.
In Journeys - 2
Answer questions before they guess
Candidate Concierge answers questions about the role and the process, and hands off to your team when it should.
In Journeys
Check that knockouts are not costing you
- 1
Look at who finished
Everyone who completes the journey lands in one ranked review queue, so you can see whether the right people are getting through.
In Applicant tracking - 2
Correct scores when you disagree
Override any score. Corrections feed back so scoring learns what your team values.
In Journeys
Review each knockout every few months
- Is it still required for the job as it is done today?
- Did a hiring manager ever want someone it screened out?
- Could a clearer question get a more accurate answer?
- Should it move to scoring instead?