1. Check that skills are available in your Claude account
Anthropic says custom skills are available on Free, Pro, Max, Team and Enterprise plans when code execution and file creation are enabled. A Team or Enterprise administrator may control whether user-created skills are allowed. In Claude, check Settings → Capabilities, then Customize → Skills. Do not assume a missing upload control is a broken download; check the account setting and organization policy. See Anthropic's current access instructions.
2. Pick a job-specific skill and read it
For a concrete recruiting test, choose our Interview Scorecard Builder. It creates an evidence-based interview rubric before candidate evaluation. Open its free Markdown download and check the inputs, example, source and stopping rules. Do not put real candidate names or private resumes into a first test.
3. Package the download for Claude
Anthropic's custom-skill format requires a directory containing skill.md, beginning with YAML name and description metadata. Rename the downloaded file to skill.md inside a folder such as interview-scorecard-builder. ZIP the folder so the archive contains interview-scorecard-builder/skill.md, not a loose Markdown file at its root. The download already includes the required metadata. Anthropic's creation guide explains the folder and ZIP structure.
4. Upload, enable and test
- In Claude, open Customize → Skills, click + Create skill, then Upload a skill. Select your ZIP. If your organization disables uploads, ask its administrator rather than bypassing the setting.
- Enable the uploaded skill in the skills list. In a new chat, give Claude a fictional role with three job-specific competencies and ask for a scorecard rubric, examples of each rating and a reviewer checklist.
- Compare the result to the Markdown steps. Check the scoring anchors, job relevance, missing information and privacy boundary. Ask Claude to revise rather than using an untested rubric on applicants.
Claude may choose when to load a skill based on its description; enabling it does not prove every response used it. Anthropic recommends testing with different prompts and checking that the intended skill was applied. Read its use and troubleshooting guide.
5. Claude Code route, if you use it
For Claude Code, place a SKILL.md inside .claude/skills/interview-scorecard-builder/ in the project, or use the personal skills folder for all projects. Claude Code's path and behavior differ from the Claude web upload ZIP. Follow the current Claude Code skill guide for the version you run.
What this does not authorize
A skill is reference instructions, not permission for Claude to email candidates, change a hiring decision, publish a job or access private accounts. Review source data and final recipients yourself. Use the rubric as decision support; the accountable hiring team owns fairness and the decision.
Frequently asked questions
Do I upload a Markdown file or a ZIP?
Upload a ZIP with the named skill folder and skill.md inside for Claude's custom-skill flow. The AI Agent Skills Markdown download is the source file, not the ZIP.
Does a skill send emails or change accounts automatically?
No. It has no independent account access or approval. Actions depend on your assistant's permissions and your review.
Checked September 29, 2026. AI Agent Skills is independent of Anthropic. Anthropic's UI and plan rules can change; use the linked official pages for the current setup. US estimated monthly searches for "how to install claude skills": 320 on SearchVolume.io, observed Sep 29. This is a directional vendor estimate, not a traffic promise.