Text messaging for job applications

Recruiter administrators must enable the text messaging for job applications so that recruiters can perform these tasks:
  • View, reply, and automate text messages to candidates in the applicant tracking system
  • Send ad hoc text messages
  • Automate text messages to candidates through hiring workflow steps

See Configuring Talent Acquisition organization parameters.

The Send Text action is available in the workflow. Text messaging for job applications is limited to the United States and Canada through Twilio.

Candidates can enable and disable receiving text messages from recruiters on a mobile device. They can reply START or STOP when they receive the text message.

Configure the Twilio messaging service

Before recruiter administrators enable text messaging for job applications, the administrator must configure the Twilio account to integrate with Talent Acquisition.

  1. Select System Administration > Integrations.
  2. In the Primary pane, click Interface Setup.
  3. Click Setup.
  4. On the Twilio section, specify the Twilio account SID.
  5. On the Twilio section, specify the Twilio message service SID.
  6. Click Save.

Assigning the virtual number to a recruiter

To send text messages to candidates, you can assign a virtual number to a recruiter.

  1. Select Administration > Primary.
  2. In the Recruiters pane, select a recruiter.
  3. Click Open.
  4. Specify the effective date of the virtual number.
  5. In the Virtual Phone Number For Texting field, specify the country or jurisdiction telephone code and the recruiter's Twilio virtual number.
  6. Click Save.

Creating text message templates

You can use these text variables in text message templates:
  • OrganizationName
  • JobID
  • PositionTitle
  • ManagerTitle
  • HiringManagerFirstName
  • HiringManagerFullName
  • HiringManagerPreferredFirstName
  • HiringManagerPreferredFullName
  • HRContactName
  • HRContactTitle
  • RecruiterFirstName
  • RecruiterFullName
  • RecruiterPreferredFirstName
  • RecruiterPreferredFullName
  • RecruiterTitle
  • AlternateRecruiterFirstName
  • AlternateRecruiterFullName
  • AlternateRecruiterPreferredFirstName
  • AlternateRecruiterPreferredFullName
  • AlternateRecruiterTitle
  • CandidateFirstName
  • CandidateFullName
  • CandidatePreferredFirstName
  • CandidatePrefferredFullName
  • HR Location
  • HR Location Address
  • CandidateDispositionReason
  • OrganizationName
  • CandidateApplicationStatusMessage
  1. Select Administration > Templates > Communications.
  2. To create a text message template for a new communication template, click Create.
  3. To create a text message template for an existing communication template, select the communication template and click Open.
  4. Click the Include Mobile Text Message check box.
  5. Click the Mobile Text Message arrow.
  6. Specify this information:
    To
    Specify {Candidate} to use the text variable for the internal and external candidate's mobile number.
    The source of the internal candidate's mobile number is from the candidate profile. The source of the external candidate's mobile number is from the associated employee contact detail.
    From
    Specify {Recruiter} to use the text variable for recruiter's virtual phone number.
    Message
    Provide the text message to send to the candidate.
    Optionally, you can add text variables to complete the text message to the candidates.
  7. Click Save.

Sending ad hoc text messages to the candidate

Recruiters can send ad hoc text messages to candidates who enable text messages for job applications.

  1. From the Requisitions menu, select a requisition and click the All tab.
    Alternatively, select Requisitions > All when the Redesigned Talent Acquisition Lists feature toggle is enabled.

    See Enhanced requisition list.

  2. Select the candidate.
    Alternatively, click the number of applications in the All applications column, and select the candidate when the Redesigned Talent Acquisition Lists feature toggle is enabled.
  3. Select ... > Send Text.
  4. Specify this information:
    To
    Specify the internal and external candidate's mobile number.
    From
    Specify the text variable for recruiter's virtual phone number.
    Text message
    Provide the text message to send to the candidate.
  5. Optionally, select a text message template to use to send a text message to the candidate.
    If you select a text message template, these fields are automatically specified:
    • From
    • To
    • Text message
  6. Click Send.

Viewing and replying the text messages for the candidate

Recruiters can view the status and time of the text messages that are sent to the candidate.

These statuses are displayed in the Text list:
  • Delivered: The outgoing text message has no error and is sent in Twilio
  • Undelivered: The outgoing text message is not sent successfully due to error
  • Sent: The outgoing text message is sent to the candidate
  • Queued: The outgoing text message is received in Twilio
  • Received: The incoming text message is received in Twilio
  1. From the Requisitions menu, select a requisition and click the All tab.
    Alternatively, select Requisitions > All when the Redesigned Talent Acquisition Lists feature toggle is enabled.

    See Enhanced requisition list.

  2. Double-click the candidate.
    Alternatively, double-click the requisition when the Redesigned Talent Acquisition Lists feature toggle is enabled.
  3. Select Hiring Process > Correspondence.
    Alternatively, select Requisition Details > Correspondence when the Redesigned Talent Acquisition Lists feature toggle is enabled.

    See Enhanced requisition list.

  4. To view the text messages for the candidate in the system, click Text.
  5. To reply to the text message, select the text message and click Reply To Text.
  6. Specify this information:
    To
    Specify the internal and external candidate's mobile number.
    From
    Specify the text variable for recruiter's virtual phone number.
    Text message
    Provide the text message to send to the candidate.
  7. Optionally, select a text message template to use to send a text message to the candidate.
    If you select a text message template, these fields are automatically specified:
    • From
    • To
    • Text message
  8. Click Send.

Automating text messages for job applications in hiring workflow steps

Recruiters can automate text messages to candidates when a candidate job application moves to a specific hiring workflow step.

Before candidates receive text messages, they must enable text messages for their job application.

  1. Select Administration > Recruiting Setup.
  2. In the Workflow pane, click Hiring.
  3. Double-click a hiring workflow.
  4. Click Workflow Steps.
  5. Select a workflow step and click Open.
  6. Click Automations.
  7. To create a new automated action, click Create.
    To automate an existing hiring workflow step, select an automated action and click Open.
  8. Specify this information:
    Workflow Action
    Select SENDTEXT.
    Run Order
    Specify the order of the automated action in the sequence of other automations.
    This field is applied to workflow steps with more than one automated action.
    Run Upon
    Select Entering Step to move the job application to a hiring workflow step with a Send Text action.
    Select Leaving Step to remove the job application to a hiring workflow step with a Send Text action.
    Eligibility Group
    Specify the group of candidates for which the automation is limited. If no group is specified, then the automation is performed for all candidates who are exposed to the step.
    Text Template
    Specify the text message template to use .
  9. Click Save.