Candidates may respond faster when you contact them by phone. From Recruit, you can call candidates, send text messages, or start WhatsApp conversations.

Communication options in Recruit

Recruit supports several ways to communicate with candidates:

• One-Way Text (SMS) for the US and Canada (📢 in rollout): Send supported text notifications directly from Recruit. Recruit manages consent, sending rules, and activity tracking
• Integrated apps: Connect supported third-party communication tools to Recruit. These apps can save conversations in the candidate profile
• External apps: Open a calling, texting, or WhatsApp app on your device. Communication is not logged in Recruit

While you have the flexibility to use Recruit’s native Text (SMS) option, integrated apps, or external apps for calls, text messages, and WhatsApp conversations with candidates, Recruit’s native One-Way SMS and integrated apps offer a significant advantage: they save communication activity in the candidate profile, giving the hiring team a shared record of candidate interactions.

One-way text (SMS) messaging for Canada and the US

One-way Text (SMS) is a native Recruit feature. It is available only for positions in the US or Canada and candidates with valid US or Canadian phone numbers.

Integrated apps

Recruit offers integration with several communication apps.

External apps

Here are a few ideas for common apps that you may want to use for phone calls, texting, and WhatsApp.

• Phone calls – A third-party app or a browser extension should be installed on your device. A few popular options include:

  • Apple – App for Mac, iPhone, or iPad: Apple Messages

  • Microsoft – App for a Windows device connected to an Android device: Microsoft Phone Link

  • Google – Connect Google Chrome on Mac and Windows to an Android device: Google Messages

• Text messages (SMS) – To send messages from your desktop, a supported third-party app or a browser extension should be installed. A few popular options include:

  • Apple – App for Mac, iPhone, or iPad: FaceTime

  • Microsoft – App for a Windows device connected to an Android device: Microsoft Phone Link

  • Google – Connect Google Chrome on Mac and Windows to an Android device: Google Messages

  • Browser extensions – Grayscale or other Chrome browser extensions from the Chrome Web Store

• WhatsApp – WhatsApp Web should be connected to your device and enabled in your browser. The WhatsApp app should be installed on your mobile device.

Contact candidates by phone

To use any external messaging app installed on your device, follow these steps:

1. In Recruit, navigate to the relevant candidate you'd like to contact.

2. Click the phone number, then choose the relevant option from the External apps section: Call, Text (SMS), or WhatsApp. This launches the relevant default app on your device.

Country code

To ensure seamless communication through external apps and integrations, candidates’ phone numbers must include the appropriate country code. If a candidate's phone number doesn’t include the country code, Recruit will attempt to suggest the most relevant one.

How suggestions work

Recruit scans multiple data points related to the candidate and the position. For example, if the candidate has specified their country of residence in their resume or has applied to a job in a specific location, Recruit will use this information to suggest the most likely country code.

Save or edit the country code

To save or edit the country code, read update a candidates' phone number country code.