Send candidate SMS from kanban
Send a text message (SMS / texto) to one or more candidates from the kanban — custom or template, with optional AI message assistance. Requires a configured SMS provider.
Send a text message (SMS / texto) to the candidate’s phone — pulled straight from the kanban. The sidebar has two starting modes: Custom (free-form) and Template (pre-written messages your team has configured).
When to use this
Text reaches candidates faster than email. Use it when:
- You want a quick “are you still interested?” check.
- You need to confirm a same-day interview attendance.
- The candidate is hard to reach by email.
Requires a configured SMS provider at your organization. If you don’t see this action in the menu, your administrator hasn’t set up texting.
How to open it
- Find the candidate on the kanban.
- Open the applicant menu (or check several cards for bulk send).
- Pick Send SMS / Send text. The sidebar slides in from the right.
What you fill in
Type
Two options:
- Custom — type the message yourself.
- Template — pick from your organization’s active SMS templates. The content prefills from the chosen template; still editable.
Template picker
Visible when type = Template. Lists every active SMS template your organization has configured.
Content
The actual message body. Required. Plain text only — no formatting. Keep it under typical SMS length (160 chars) to avoid being split across multiple texts; the counter under the field keeps score. Type $ to insert a variable, replaced when the message is sent.
Language tabs. If your organization supports several languages, one tab per language sits above the text — one message per language, each seeded from the template you picked. Each candidate receives the version matching their preferred language; a candidate with no preferred language on file receives every version in one text, separated by a -- line — which also counts against the 160 characters. When every selected candidate has a known language, the tabs are narrowed to those languages and a notice above the field says so. Organizations with a single language see one text area and no tabs.
AI assistant
An AI helper option is included for every organization, for a single candidate (not on a bulk send): Generate with AI on a blank canvas; Improve, Change tone, Fix spelling and Shorten once there is text — useful for crafting tone-appropriate outreach quickly.
What happens when you click Send
An SMS is sent to the candidate’s phone number (taken from their profile), in the candidate’s language. If the message is empty, the footer names the field — click it to jump there. The message is logged on the candidate’s timeline and visible on the Messages tab of their profile. Bulk send = one SMS per candidate.
Who can do what
| What you want to do | What you need |
|---|---|
| Send SMS to a candidate | Edit access to candidates and a configured SMS provider |
| Use templates | Read access to SMS templates |
| Use the AI assistant | Included for every organization — same access as sending the SMS |
Tips
- Be brief. SMS is short by design — under 160 characters per message keeps it as one text.
- Identify yourself. Candidates won’t recognize the number; start with your name or organization.
- Don’t use SMS for sensitive content. Treat it as a quick-touch channel, not a confidential one.
- Bulk SMS is one per candidate. Their numbers are not shared with each other.