Prescreen and phone screen questions for small businesses

A short prescreen stops you from booking interviews with people who can't work the shifts or don't have the licence. Here's what to ask.

The basics (every role)

1. Are you legally entitled to work in Canada?
2. Which days and times are you available to work?
3. When could you start?
4. What pay are you looking for?
5. What interests you about this job?

Must-haves by role

Office administrator

• This role uses email, spreadsheets and documents every day. How comfortable are you with those?

Receptionist

• This role is the first point of contact by phone and in person all day. Does that suit you?

Bookkeeper

• Which accounting software have you used?
• Have you prepared GST/HST returns or payroll remittances?

Retail sales associate

• This job includes evenings and weekends. Can you work those shifts?
• This job involves standing for most of each shift. Can you do that, with or without accommodation?

Cashier

• Have you handled cash and card payments before?

Line cook

• Do you have a food handler or food safety certificate?
• This job includes evenings and weekends. Can you work those shifts?

Server

• Do you have responsible alcohol service training for this province?
• This job includes evenings and weekends. Can you work those shifts?

Dishwasher

• This job includes late closing shifts. Can you work those?

Barista

• This job includes early morning shifts. Can you work those?

Customer service representative

• How comfortable are you typing and using several computer programs at once?

Warehouse associate

• This role involves lifting up to 23 kg (50 lb). Can you do that, with or without accommodation?
• Do you have a current forklift certificate?

Delivery driver

• What class of driver's licence do you hold, and in which province?

See prescreen questions for all 78 roles

Record checks come after a conditional offer

Record checks (criminal record, vulnerable sector, driver's abstract) are not prescreen questions. Ask for them only after you make a conditional offer, and only when the check is tied to the real duties of the job, such as driving, handling cash or working with children or vulnerable adults. Asking earlier can screen people out for reasons the job doesn't need. In British Columbia and Quebec, human rights law protects people from discrimination for a conviction that isn't related to the job. Say in the offer letter that the offer depends on the check, and tell the candidate which results would matter for this job.

Roles in our library that usually need a check, and what to ask once you've made the offer:

• Delivery driver: driver's abstract
• Cleaner: criminal record check
• Personal support worker: vulnerable sector check
• Long-haul truck driver: commercial driver's abstract
• Plumber: driver's abstract
• Site supervisor: driver's abstract
• Continuing care assistant: vulnerable sector check
• Licensed practical nurse: criminal record check with vulnerable sector screening
• Registered nurse: criminal record check with vulnerable sector screening
• Care coordinator: criminal record check with vulnerable sector screening
• Recreation programmer: criminal record check with vulnerable sector screening
• Early childhood educator: criminal record check with vulnerable sector screening
• Educational assistant: criminal record check with vulnerable sector screening
• Outside sales representative: driver's abstract
• Fleet manager: driver's abstract
• Volunteer coordinator: criminal record check (and vulnerable sector check if the program requires it)

Put the condition in writing with our conditional offer letter template.

Do and don't

• Do ask about real job requirements, "with or without accommodation" for physical duties.
• Do ask everyone the same questions.
• Don't ask about age, family plans, health, religion or origin.
• Don't ask about current or past pay. Ask what pay the person expects. Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island do not allow pay-history questions.
• Don't ask for a criminal record or driving record check in a prescreen or interview. Ask after you make a conditional offer, and only for the checks the job needs: "This offer is conditional on a [type of check]. Are you willing to provide it?" See questions to avoid.

Questions