Candidate Criteria
Separate True Requirements From Preferred Qualifications
Required / Knockout Criteria
- Hiring territory or relocation requirement
- Genuinely required experience
- Work authorization
- Required license or certification
- Required travel, schedule, driving, or territory coverage
- Other objective minimum qualifications
Preferred Qualifications
- Direct-industry experience when adjacent experience is acceptable
- Specific CRM when equivalent experience is acceptable
- Degree when not truly required
- Existing relationships or specialized familiarity
- Preferred methodology or technology stack
Application Completeness
Define What Must Be Submitted Before Launch
Contact Information
Required information needed for evaluation and outreach.
Résumé
Can be required when part of the agreed completeness standard.
Screening Responses
Required questions help determine whether submitted information appears to meet knockouts.
Contact Consent
The workflow can require appropriate consent to contact the applicant.
Qualification Examples
What Counts as a Campaign-Qualified Applicant?
| Outcome | Example | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Counts | Meets all required criteria | Meets the Agreed Candidate Profile based on submitted information. |
| Does not count | Required information missing | Incomplete under agreed rules. |
| Does not count | Outside hiring territory | Fails an objective geographic requirement. |
| Does not count | Missing required credential | Fails an objective minimum qualification. |
| Count once | Duplicate application | Agreed duplicate rule applies. |
| Counts | Preferred qualification missing | Preference affects ranking, not campaign qualification. |
| Counts | Employer prefers another candidate | Subjective preference is not an agreed knockout. |
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Does missing a preferred qualification make an applicant non-CQA?
No. Preferences can affect ranking but do not invalidate an applicant who meets objective required criteria.
Does CQA status guarantee employment suitability?
No. It is a campaign classification based on submitted information and does not guarantee background clearance, interview success, hire, performance, or retention.
Start With the Job. Then Choose the Right Next Step.
Submit the role for review before approving paid campaign work.