Using text messaging

The best candidates are looking at multiple job opportunities — if you're not quick to respond, you risk losing them to competitors. Use text messaging to contact applicants quickly and directly from CareerPlug to speed up your hiring.

You can also use texting to help you improve the candidate experience, keep interested applicants informed and engaged throughout your process, and prevent no-shows with interview reminders.

In this article:

• How do I text applicants from CareerPlug?
• How do I create a text message template?
• How am I notified when applicants text me?
• How do I set up my text message notifications?
• Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

How do I text applicants from CareerPlug?

You can text applicants using one of three methods, depending on where an applicant is in your hiring process and what kind of message you're trying to send.

• Texting an applicant informally from your Applicants page (without a template)
• Texting an applicant as part of a hiring step from your Applicants page (with a template)
• Texting an applicant from the applicant's profile (with or without a template)

Texting an applicant informally from your Applicants page (without a template)

1. Navigate to your Applicants page.

2. Click the Contact (chat bubbles) icon to the right of an applicant's name.

3. Click the Text Message tab at the top of the Contact drawer.

4. Enter your text message in the open text field.

5. Click the Send Text button at the bottom of the drawer.

Texting an applicant as part of a hiring step from your Applicants page (with a template)

1. Navigate to your Applicants page.

2. Click the Send Invitation button in the Actions column.

3. Turn on the Send Text Message toggle (if not already on).

4. Verify the selected text message Template. If you need to change it, select a different one using the drop-down menu.

5. Review the pre-written text message template, adding or removing content as you see fit.

6. If you want send an email simultaneously with your text message, turn on the Send Email toggle (if not already on) and configure the email message.

7. When you're done editing your invite message, click the Send button at the bottom of the drawer.

Texting an applicant from the applicant's profile (with or without a template)

1. Navigate to your Applicants page.

2. Click the applicant's name to open their profile.

3. In the applicant's profile:

• Click the Contact (chat bubbles) icon in the top-right corner to text an applicant informally.
  • Follow the steps above to finish texting an applicant without a template.
• Click the Invite button in the applicant's hiring step or in the top-right corner of the page to text an applicant as part of a hiring step.
  • Depending on the hiring step, you may also see the Send Reminder button that works the same.
  • Follow the steps above to finish texting an applicant with a template.

How do I create a text message template?

Text message templates work just like email message templates. However, we strongly recommend introducing yourself and your company, as applicants will receive your job-related texts from a phone number they don’t recognize.

1. To create a text message template, navigate to Company settings (gear icon) > Templates > Messages.

2. Click the plus (+) icon and select Create Text Message Template from the drop-down menu.

3. Enter a descriptive Title for the template, such as "Phone Screen Invite - Text Message."

4. Select a Purpose for the template using the drop-down menu: Invite or Schedule.

5. Enter your text message template content in the Body field.

6. Click the Insert Dynamic Field link to add any dynamic fields to the template. These allow you to populate job or applicant information automatically.

7. Select the hiring step(s) in which you want to use your template by turning on the associated toggle(s). You'll see all hiring steps across all of your hiring processes — make sure you turn on the toggle for each instance of the hiring step to add this template to all of your hiring processes.

8. Click the Save button at the bottom of the page (or the Save and Exit button in the top-right corner) to finish creating your template.

Here are some sample text message templates.

How am I notified when applicants text me?

When you receive a new text from an applicant, you'll see the Recent text messages (chat bubbles) icon highlighted in the top-right corner of your account.

Click the Recent text messages (chat bubbles) icon to view recent texts between your team (including yourself) and your applicants.

You'll also receive an email every 15 minutes if you have any unread text messages.

How do I set up my text message notifications?

After an applicant texts you, you'll receive an email notification every 15 minutes by default. However, you can change how often you receive an email notification after an applicant sends you a text.

1. Navigate to Account (circle with initials icon) > My profile > Settings.

2. Click the Edit button in the top-right corner of the Settings tab.

3. Scroll down to the Notifications section and turn on the Incoming Text Messages toggle (if not already enabled).

4. Set the Email Frequency using the drop-down menu.

5. Click the Save button to update your notification preferences.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Q: Can I enable text messaging for only certain users or locations?

A: No.

Q: Is each user assigned an individual phone number to contact applicants?

A: No, all texts from your account will be sent using the same phone number.

Q: Many of my team members use CareerPlug — who receives text message notifications? Can other users see an applicant's texting activity or reply to a text message not sent to them?

A: Text message notifications are only sent to sender. However, anyone who has access to an applicant can see their text message history in the All Activity tab of the applicant's profile. If a different user were to send a text message to the applicant, it would come from a different phone number.

Q: Can other team members reply to a text message that was not sent to them?

Whether using a template or not, only the sender may respond to text message chains that they’ve started. You and other users can still view text message chains started by other hiring managers for applicants to which you have access, but you won’t be able to join the conversation.

Q: Why can’t I text certain applicants?

A: You can only text applicants who have opted in to receive text messages when applying for the job. If an applicant chooses not to be texted, this message will appear when you attempt to do so:

Here's more information about how we ask applicants to opt in to receiving texts.

Q: Can I send bulk text messages?

A: No.

Q: Can I receive or respond to text messages from applicants on my own mobile device?

A: No. You must review and send text messages to applicants from within your CareerPlug account.

Q: Are there guidelines around what I can and cannot send via text?

A: Yes, there are strict rules around what you cannot send via text. This is to protect both you and potential applicants. These requirements are enforced by the phone carrier, not CareerPlug specifically. You should never send any texts that include the following content or language:

• Sex
• Hate
• Alcohol
• Firearms
• Tobacco and related products (including cannabis)

We understand this may be limiting to some users who work in the nightlife or cannabis industry, so please be mindful of what you share via text.

If you accidentally send a text containing banned language, the message thread will be automatically marked as spam, and you may need to continue communication with the applicant through other channels, such as email.