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You can bulk upload candidates into Great Question from a CSV file, useful for loading an existing participant database, adding a new batch of people, or shortlisting candidates straight into a study.

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Before you import

Make sure your file is ready:
  • It must be a CSV file (.csv).
  • Column headers must appear in the first row.
  • Ensure quotes are correctly paired if any field uses them.
  • Only import the data you actually need.
  • Use YYYY-MM-DD format for any date fields.
  • Each row needs a valid email address (or another unique identifier, if enabled).

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Formatting multi-select values

When a column maps to a Multiple values attribute, put all of a candidate’s values in one cell. Great Question splits that cell on commas and semicolons, so each piece comes in as its own value:

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Values that contain a comma

If a value has a comma in it, for example Milk drinks (e.g. latte, cappuccino, flat white), the default splitting breaks it into several pieces. To keep it whole, write the cell as a list in square brackets. Put each value in double quotes and separate the values with commas:
Each quoted value comes in as one option, and any commas inside the quotes stay part of the value. The example above imports as four values.
  • Use straight quotes ("), not curly ones (“ ”). Excel and some Mac apps turn straight quotes into curly ones as you type. If that happens, the cell is split on every comma again.
  • You only need this format in cells where a value contains a comma or semicolon. Other cells can stay as plain comma-separated lists.
  • The attribute must already be a Multiple values attribute. If the import creates a new attribute from a column, that attribute is created as Text. Create the attribute as Multiple values before you import.
Fixing values that an earlier import split up? Re-import the file with the bracket format and set Candidate update process to Update existing candidates. That replaces the values on those candidates. Split-up values such as cappuccino can still show up as filter options until no candidate has them anymore.

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Option 1: Import from the Candidates page

  1. Go to the Candidates page.
  2. Click Add Candidates → Import from CSV.
  3. Upload your file.
  4. Map fields in your CSV to existing candidate attributes.
  5. Adjust import settings (see below).
  6. Confirm the import.
CSV import can be disabled for your workspace. If it is, you’ll see a lock icon and a message that your workspace admin has turned it off, ask an Admin to enable it.

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Option 2: Import within a study

You can also import directly from inside a study. Candidates are added to your main candidate database and shortlisted automatically to that study at the same time.

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Import settings

During import you can configure:
  • Import name — a label for this batch.
  • Candidate update process — how to handle candidates that already exist.
  • Contact access — who can contact the imported candidates. This setting only appears on accounts with Teams enabled.
  • Shortlist to a study (optional).
  • Unique identifier — Email, or a custom attribute flagged as unique.
  • Bulk attributes — apply an attribute value to every candidate in the import.
A custom attribute can only be used as the unique identifier for matching and updating existing candidates, if every row in your file is brand new, the import falls back to matching on email.
You’ll receive an email confirmation when the import completes.

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Finding candidates an import created

Use the Created by import filter to see exactly which candidates a CSV import added. It’s useful for reviewing a new batch, building a segment from it, or excluding it from recruitment. The filter supports two operators:
  • is any of — candidates created by any of the selected imports.
  • is none of — candidates not created by any of the selected imports.
Unlike the Import name filter, Created by import only matches candidates the import created. Existing candidates that the import updated aren’t included. That makes it the safer choice when you want to review what an import added. You can use the filter in the candidates list, segments, study limits, and eligibility rules.

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Choosing an import

Each import in the dropdown is labelled with its import name or file name, plus the date and time it ran, for example Spring panel (24 Aug '26, 14:05).
  • Admins see every import in the workspace.
  • Creators see the imports they ran.
  • Observers don’t see any imports.
Failed imports are listed too. The dropdown shows the 50 newest imports first. Search to find older ones.
Bulk delete doesn’t accept the Created by import filter, either directly or inside a saved segment. To remove the candidates an import created, go to CSV Imports and use Remove candidates created by this import.

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Troubleshooting

Still need help? Contact us at support@greatquestion.co — median response time is 19 minutes during support hours.