---
title: Managing applicants from inactive jobs
description: When you close a job, you need to decide how to handle applicants from that position. This article will guide you through that process.
---

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2. [Applicant Tracking](https://adpsupport.careerplug.com/applicant-tracking?hsLang=en)
3. [Managing Applicants](https://adpsupport.careerplug.com/applicant-tracking?hsLang=en#managing-applicants)

# Managing applicants from inactive jobs

[When you close a job posting](https://adpsupport.careerplug.com/removing-or-closing-a-job-posting?hsLang=en), you have two options:

- **Deactivate** applicants who applied to the job
- Keep applicants active (and [transfer them to another job](https://adpsupport.careerplug.com/transferring-an-applicant-to-another-job?hsLang=en))

![file-cteTU77wtP.png](https://adpsupport.careerplug.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/25937710583707.png?width=670&height=86&name=25937710583707.png)

![file-sD2g8EVAak.png](https://adpsupport.careerplug.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/25937710590235.png?width=670&height=609&name=25937710590235.png)

**If you choose to deactivate applicants** when you make a job inactive, you will have the option to [set a rejection reason for each applicant](https://adpsupport.careerplug.com/setting-and-reporting-on-applicant-rejection-reasons?hsLang=en) and [send each applicant a rejection letter](https://adpsupport.careerplug.com/editing-the-rejection-email-template?hsLang=en).

**Note:** You have the option to deactivate applicants without sending a rejection letter, but **we strongly recommend informing applicants if you plan not to move them forward in the hiring process**. It's always better to hear a "no" than nothing at all.

### Finding and activating inactive applicants

Any applicants you deactivate are now considered "inactive." To view inactive applicants, navigate to your **Applicants** page and click the **Inactive** tab.

![Applicants Page, Job Status Filter (6.23.26) Pointed to inactive](https://adpsupport.careerplug.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Applicants%20Page%2c%20Job%20Status%20Filter%20(6.23.26)%20Pointed%20to%20inactive.png?width=670&height=299&name=Applicants%20Page%2c%20Job%20Status%20Filter%20(6.23.26)%20Pointed%20to%20inactive.png)

**Need help finding an applicant?** Click the " **X**" on the right edge of the **Job Status: Active** filter to remove it. This filter — which is on by default any time you sign into CareerPlug — hides applicants from your closed, passive, and draft jobs from view.

To make an inactive applicant active again, click the **Reactivate** button in the Actions column on your **Applicants** page.

![file-Dft00msDNg.png](https://adpsupport.careerplug.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/26847374440987.png?width=670&height=101&name=26847374440987.png)

### Finding active applicants from inactive jobs

**If you choose to keep your applicants active after closing your job posting**, you can find them on your **Applicants** page in two different ways:

- Enter their name in the **Search** field on the **Active** tab.
- Click the **All** tab and remove any applied filters (especially the **Job Status: Active** filter). 
    - If you only want to see active applicants from closed, passive, or draft jobs, select all of your Inactive Jobs from the **Jobs** drop-down menu.

![Applicants page, all, inactive applicants (Nav bar expanded) (6.23.26)](https://adpsupport.careerplug.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Applicants%20page%2c%20all%2c%20inactive%20applicants%20(Nav%20bar%20expanded)%20(6.23.26).png?width=670&height=321&name=Applicants%20page%2c%20all%2c%20inactive%20applicants%20(Nav%20bar%20expanded)%20(6.23.26).png)

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