# Form Templates

for Recruiting WorkflowsForm Templates in SmoothHiring provide the structural foundation for questionnaires — the custom application forms that candidates complete when applying for jobs. This page explains how to manage, organize, and configure form templates at the account level.

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## Overview

![Form templates](/files/flow-form-templatesc143a1.png)

Form Templates are the reusable containers that hold your questionnaire questions. Each form template has a title, a collection of ordered questions, and a preferred status. Form templates can be:

- Created and managed from the settings area
- Attached to specific jobs during job creation
- Previewed to see the candidate experience
- Edited inline with drag-and-drop question reordering
- Set as preferred for automatic selection

> **Note:** Form Templates and [Questionnaires](/help/automation-templates/questionnaires) refer to the same feature. "Questionnaires" describes the candidate-facing experience, while "Form Templates" describes the administrative management of these forms.

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## Navigating to Form Templates

1. Click **Productivity** in the left sidebar.
2. Expand **Automation**.
3. Click **Questionnaires**.

This takes you to `/employer/settings/tools/templates/form-templates`.

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## The Form Templates List

The main page displays all your existing form templates in a list view. Each form entry shows:

| Element | Description |
|---|---|
| **Title** | The form template name |
| **Preview** button (eye icon) | Opens a preview dialog showing the candidate view |
| **Edit** button (pencil icon) | Navigates to the form editor |
| **Delete** button (trash icon) | Removes the form template |

Below the list, an **Add a Questionnaire** card allows you to create a new template.

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## Creating a Form Template

1. Click the **Add a Questionnaire** card or button.
2. You are navigated to `/employer/settings/tools/templates/form-templates/new`.
3. In the editor:
   - Enter a **Questionnaire Title** (required).
   - Optionally toggle **Preferred Template** on.
   - Add questions using **Add Question** or **Suggested** buttons.
   - Configure each question's type, options, required status, and auto-reject settings.
   - Reorder questions by dragging.
4. Click **Create Questionnaire** to save.

For detailed instructions on adding and configuring questions, see [Questionnaires](/help/automation-templates/questionnaires).

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## Editing a Form Template

1. Click the **Edit** (pencil) icon on the form card, or click anywhere on the form card.
2. You are navigated to `/employer/settings/tools/templates/form-templates/edit/{formId}`.
3. The editor loads with all existing questions pre-populated.
4. Make your changes:
   - Rename the form
   - Add, edit, or remove questions
   - Reorder questions via drag-and-drop
   - Modify options and auto-reject settings
5. Click **Update Questionnaire** to save.

> **Tip:** If you navigate away with unsaved changes, the system does not currently warn you. Be sure to save before leaving.

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## Deleting a Form Template

1. Click the **Delete** (trash) icon on the form card.
2. A confirmation dialog appears: "Are you sure you want to delete [form name]?"
3. Click **Confirm** to delete or **Cancel** to keep it.

> **Warning:** Deleting a form template is permanent. If this form is currently attached to a live job, candidates will no longer see these questions. Consider editing the form instead of deleting it if it's in active use.

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## Previewing a Form Template

1. Click the **Preview** (eye) icon on any form card.
2. A dialog opens showing the questions exactly as candidates would see them.
3. Close the dialog when you are done reviewing.

This is useful for quality-checking your questionnaire before attaching it to a job.

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## Attaching Forms to Jobs

Form templates connect to jobs through the job creation or editing flow:

1. When creating or editing a job, navigate to the **Additional Questions** step.
2. Your existing form templates appear with toggle switches.
3. Toggle **on** the form you want to attach to this job.
4. Toggle **off** to detach a form.
5. Only one form can be active per job at a time. Selecting a new form deselects the previous one.

The currently selected form is also accessible from the job's form template picker.

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## Preferred Templates

Set a form as preferred to make it the default selection when creating new jobs:

1. Open the form editor (create or edit).
2. Toggle **Preferred Template** in the title bar.
3. Save the form.

Only one form can be preferred at a time. Setting a new preferred form automatically removes the preferred status from the previous one.

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## Supported Question Types

Form templates support 10 question types. See [Questionnaires](/help/automation-templates/questionnaires) for the full reference table and details on each type.

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## Best Practices

- **Start with suggested questions.** The suggested questions library provides battle-tested screening questions you can add with one click.
- **Keep forms concise.** Long forms reduce application completion rates. Focus on must-have screening criteria.
- **Use the preferred flag.** If your hiring process uses the same screening questions for most roles, set that form as preferred to save time during job creation.
- **Preview before publishing.** Always check the candidate view before attaching a form to a live job.
- **Version your forms.** If you significantly change a form that's attached to an active job, consider creating a new form instead of editing the existing one, to avoid confusion with in-progress applications.

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## Related Pages

- [Questionnaires](/help/automation-templates/questionnaires)
- [Automations](/help/automation-templates/automations)
- [Email Templates](/help/automation-templates/email-templates)
- [Scorecard Templates](/help/automation-templates/scorecard-templates)