---
title: How applicants opt-in to receiving text messages
description: Federal law requires that applicants must opt-in to receive test messages from an employer. This article dives into how CareerPlug allows applicants to opt-in and why it's important.
---
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# How applicants opt-in to receiving text messages
Federal law requires that applicants must opt-in to receive text messages from an employer. The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) requires that [applicants have the right to opt-out of text messaging](https://gohire.com/text-recruiting-tcpa-compliance/), much like everyone has the right to opt-out of telemarketing calls and auto-dialed calls. If an applicant does opt-in, CareerPlug built the ability for applicants to simply reply "STOP" in the SMS thread at any point and they will no longer receive text communications from that employer about that job application.
If your account has our text messaging feature activated, we automatically add a checkbox to all of your jobs asking applicants to confirm whether they would like to receive text messages from an employer. This box is checked by default.
If an applicant has opted-in to receive text messages, you will be able to text them from the Applicants page.
You can either use the **blue chat icons** on the right side of the page:
%20(NavEXP)%20(Standard)%20Highlighting%20blue%20chat%20box.png?width=670&height=295&name=Applicants%20page%20(6.9.26)%20(NavEXP)%20(Standard)%20Highlighting%20blue%20chat%20box.png)
Or click the **Send Invitation** or **Invite** buttons in the Actions column:
When you use the blue chat icon to contact an applicant, you'll need to click over to the **Text Message** tab in the drawer that pops up, enter your text message, and click **Send Text** when you're finished.
.png?width=518&height=496&name=Sending%20a%20text%20message%20to%20an%20applicant%20(6.23.26).png)
When you use the **Send Invitation** or **Invite** buttons to contact an applicant, you'll need to select the text message template you want to send from the **Template** drop-down.
If you only have one template available for the hiring step, it will already be selected and pre-filled by default. We recommend cleaning up the text before clicking **Send**.
.png?width=545&height=584&name=Inviting%20an%20applicant%20to%20take%20an%20assessment%2c%20test%20(6.23.26).png)
If an applicant opted out of text messaging or has replied "STOP" in an existing SMS thread, the following message will be displayed when you attempt to text them. You can still send emails to these applicants.
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