Your application form is often a candidate’s first real interaction with your brand—so making it clear, relevant, and easy to complete matters.
With customizable application forms, you can tailor what you ask, how you ask it, and which steps candidates complete—so you collect exactly what you need without adding unnecessary friction.
⭐️ Key info & what’s new
All applications now use an updated, mobile-friendly experience designed to improve completion rates and make it easier for candidates to apply.
A few important callouts as you configure your form:
- Availability updates apply only to candidates applying through HigherMe
- Screening questions apply to both HigherMe and Indeed applicants
- The new Configurations page (documents, agreements, etc.) applies only to HigherMe applicants
You can now:
- Add and reorder screening questions
- Use new question types (including file uploads and multi-select)
- Show or hide questions based on candidate answers
- Add video cover letter prompts
- Require documents, signatures, and legal agreements
- Include external follow-up steps (like assessments)
- Choose whether to collect availability
✏️ Building your application form
You can configure your application form directly within your Template or Job setup.
As you build, you’ll be able to add, edit, and reorder each section of the application flow—from candidate details to screening questions and additional steps.
Screening questions are flexible and support multiple formats:
- Single choice: candidates select one answer
- Multiple choice: candidates can select one or more answers
- Open text: short or long written responses
- File upload: collect documents like certifications or portfolios
- Instructions: display helpful context, links, or next steps (no answer required)
The Instructions question type is especially useful if you want candidates to complete something outside of the application. You can include formatted text and links (HTML supported), and this is the only question type where external links are supported for Indeed applicants as well.
You can also control whether questions are required and apply your existing scoring logic to evaluate responses.
🔀 Showing the right questions at the right time
To keep applications efficient, you can set up conditional logic so that candidates only see questions that are relevant to them.
For example, if a candidate answers “No” to a job requirement question, you can trigger a follow-up question. If the condition isn’t met, the question stays hidden.
This helps reduce unnecessary steps and creates a more streamlined application experience.
🎥 Video cover letters
If you use video cover letters, you can now guide candidates by adding a prompt.
You can set video as required, optional, or disabled, depending on the role.
📅 Availability & additional steps
Availability has been redesigned to be easier for candidates to complete—but keep in mind this update applies only to candidates applying through HigherMe.
Beyond that, the Configurations page allows you to add additional steps for HigherMe applicants, including:
- Legal agreements or consent steps
- Digital documents for candidates to complete and sign
- External links for additional steps
- Referral fields
These steps help you collect everything you need upfront, before moving candidates forward.
| Want all candidates to complete these steps? |
| Candidates from job boards may skip additional application steps if Quick Apply is enabled. To route them through your full HigherMe application (including documents, agreements, and more), disable Quick Apply for those job boards in your Settings. |
| Need to add a document for signature? |
| Our team will help configure this for you. Reach out to support with the document you’d like to include, and we’ll get it set up in your application flow. |
🧬 Template vs. Job customization
Application forms follow the same structure as the rest of your hiring setup:
- Templates define the default experience (e.g., for all Cashiers or Cooks)
- Jobs inherit those settings automatically
If you update a field at the job level, that specific field will no longer inherit future Template changes—but everything else will continue to stay in sync.
💡 Best practices
Keep your application focused and intentional. Asking only what you truly need helps improve completion rates and candidate quality.
Use conditional questions to reduce unnecessary steps, and use Instructions when you need to guide candidates or direct them to an external step.
A streamlined application makes it easier for the right candidates to apply—and complete the process.