Data Collection stages allow you to collect data and files from applicants via a questionnaire form. This stage offers different types of questions, from short answer for your more basic questions, to more controlled answers like multiple-choice questions.
Terminology
Value | The answer to a question is referred to as the value. |
Data Key | Every question has a unique identifier, this is called a Data Key. When adding a custom question, you'll have the opportunity to add in a Data Key. Different Data Keys are required for different questions. You cannot create a Data Key that has previously been created or used in the data collection stage. Ensure Data Keys are all lower-case and use underscores instead of spaces. |
Data Field | A data field is a place where you can store data. It is commonly used to refer to a column in a database or a field in a data entry form or web form. Information in data fields can be entered or selected.
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Question Types
Before adding questions to the stage, consider the types of questions and answers that will be most beneficial and applicable in your workflows according to your hiring needs. If you want to build rules based on how applicants answer, you may want to use drop-down, multiple-choice, or checkboxes, which limit the answer options and ensure your rule will work effectively.
Click the question types below to expand view the applicant's perspective of the question type:
Short Answer
Short Answer
May apply data entry validation to ensure the information entered is in the right format.
Address
Address
Address History
Address History
Length of time may be customized.
Employment History
Employment History
Length of time may be customized.
Paragraph
Paragraph
Dropdown
Dropdown
Can only select one of the options. Best for a long list of options. May link to Option Bank.
File Upload
File Upload
Can upload any file type except HTML and XMsDownload file types.
Datepicker
Datepicker
The Datepicker doesn’t allow inputs greater than 120 years in the past or in the future from today's date.
Hidden
Hidden
Open text where you have to pre-fill the answer. This question is hidden from applicants. Used to append a default value to the Applicant's Profile going through this stage.
Custom Questions vs Standard Questions
When adding questions, you can choose from standard questions, which are pre-created questions written by the Fountain team, or type your own question as a custom question.
Learn more about standard questions by reading this article.
Learn more about custom questions by reading this article.
Stage Instructions vs. Form Description
When setting up the Data Collection stage, you may choose to include instructions for your applicants while they answer the questions. Fountain suggests using this best practice when crafting these instructions:
For "getting started" instructions that the applicant only needs to read once before answering questions, use the Form Description field. By using this field, the applicant will read what they need to, and then on every subsequent page they can just focus on answering questions.
If an instruction is so important that it needs to be front and center when they answer every single question, put that in stage instructions/body for the Data Collection stage.
To add text to the form description, follow the steps below:
In the Data Collection Form section, click Edit Questions.
Enter text in the Form Description box.
Click Save.
To add text to the stage instructions, follow the steps below:
Click Customize towards the top right corner.
Enter text into the Stage Instructions or Stage Body boxes.
Click Save & Preview.
