What are the different step categories when adding steps in a sequence? How should I use each category?

What are the different step categories when adding steps in a sequence? How should I use each category?

When creating the steps for any given sequence, you can currently choose between various step categories (i.e., File Upload, Interview, Orientation, Training, Custom).

The only implication of adding a step within a specific category is it can be found in that category folder for future use and the assigned user in the sequence will see the category title as a 'folder' for the step (i.e., "Phone Interview" step in the "Interview" folder).

The Interview, Orientation and Training categories all have identical fields that admins can customize. You can add a step title and description, and in the description you can make use of hyperlinks to redirect people to external documents, media, websites, etc.

Examples

Interview: You could have an Interview step called "Zoom Interview" and in the description of the step you can include a hyperlink for them to book a meeting outside of Vome.

Orientation: You could have an Orientation step called "New Volunteer Intro" and in the description of the step you can include a description of the orientation session, the date and time, and a link to Google Drive folder where you house certain orientation videos and documentation.

Training: You could have a Training step called "Sensitive communication" and in the description you could add a hyperlink to a video (on Youtube, Google Drive folder, etc.) and then include another hyperlink to a questionnaire to ensure that they watched the video (i.e., a link to a Vome form, Google Form, etc.)

The File Upload category operates in a unique way. Admins must add a step title and description. However, the ability for an admin to attach a file is optional. When the user is on a sequence step that was created under this category, they will be prompted to attach a file. However, if the admin attached a file as part of the creation of the File Upload entry, they user will be instructed download the attach file (i.e., fillable PDF), fill it out, save it on their device, and then upload the completion version in the sequence step on Vome. There will be two specific Download File and Upload File buttons to allow them to complete this step.

Example 1: File Upload entry with attachment by admin

You could have a step called "Medical Form" and in the description of the step you would describe why they need to fill out the form and what they should know before or after filling it out (i.e., describe that they must upload the completed version of the form on this sequence step after they filled it out).

If you need to share multiple documents in a single step, admins can choose attach a ZIP file instead of a single file when creating a File Upload sequence step. However, the user will only be able to attach a single file on their end so if you wish to have a user complete multiple documents in a single step, you should instruct to ZIP their completed documents and upload them back into the sequence step.

Example 2: File Upload entry without attachment by admin

You could have a step called "Driver's License" and in the description you state the file format that's required, such as a PDF. The user will simply see a the step's title and description which should give them enough context to know which file they must attach.

The Custom category is more similar to Interviews, Orientation and Training, however it has a unique capability - attaching a file. That means that admins must add a step title, description, but have the option of attaching a file. This file is meant to transfer additional information to supplement the description.
Please consider that there's no Custom category for screening checklists, as this category is only available when creating sequence steps.

Example

Custom: You could have a step called "Criminal Record Check" and in the description you could redirect people through a hyperlink to a website where they can request their criminal record check form their local police station. Admins can optionally attach a file that has the Criminal Record Check template for them to fill out.
Please consider that there's no File Upload for the Custom category steps, so they will not be able to attach any files themselves.

In the Custom category, there's a really strong use case for creating steps that redirect people to fill out and submit forms from the Forms tab on Vome. You could add a hyperlink to a Vome form in the step's description to redirect people a form to have them fill out any form content that you added on the form (i.e., Questions, Attachments, Digital Consent, etc..). When creating the Vome Form, you can customize the sections and content as you fit for the sequence step.

To learn more about the step-by-step process of how to use Vome Forms within a sequence step, read this FAQ article: How do I create a Sequence step for people to fill out a form (i.e., answer questions, attach files, provide digital consent, etc.)