---
title: Using text messaging
description: CareerPlug’s text messaging feature is designed to help you contact applicants faster. The best applicants are being contacted by multiple employers. Text messaging will help you beat the competition to the punch by easily inviting applicants for interviews and moving them through your hiring process as quickly as possible. Learn how to easily set up and use CareerPlug's text messaging.
---
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# Using text messaging
Available with a CareerPlug [Hire](https://adpsupport.careerplug.com/benefits-of-your-careerplug-hire-subscription?hsLang=en) or [Grow](https://adpsupport.careerplug.com/benefits-of-a-careerplug-grow-subscription?hsLang=en) subscription.
CareerPlug’s [text messaging feature](http://www.careerplug.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Text-Recruiting-01.2020.pdf) is designed to help you contact applicants faster. The best applicants are being contacted by multiple employers. Text messaging will help you beat the competition to the punch by easily inviting applicants for interviews and moving them through your hiring process as quickly as possible.
You can also use text messaging to create a better candidate experience, keeping your most interested applicants informed and engaged throughout the process, and sending interview reminders to help prevent no-shows.
#### In this article:
- [Texting applicants](https://adpsupport.careerplug.com/using-text-messaging#texting)
- [Setting up text message templates](https://adpsupport.careerplug.com/using-text-messaging#templates)
- [Text message notifications (in-app and email)](https://adpsupport.careerplug.com/using-text-messaging#notifications)
- [Frequently asked questions (FAQ](https://adpsupport.careerplug.com/using-text-messaging#FAQ))
### Texting applicants
Applicants must [opt-in to receive text messages](https://adpsupport.careerplug.com/how-applicants-opt-in-to-receiving-text-messages?hsLang=en).
You can text applicants from your **Applicants** page. There are two options available depending on what kind of message you want to send.
**To text an applicant without using a template, click the blue chat bubble icon:**
**%20Cropped%2c%20Blue%20Message%20Highlight.png?width=670&height=212&name=Applicant%20Page%2c%20Cropped%20(Nav%20bar%20expanded)%20Cropped%2c%20Blue%20Message%20Highlight.png)**
**To text an applicant using a text message template, click either the Invite or Schedule button:**
If you've created a text message template ([see below](https://adpsupport.careerplug.com/using-text-messaging#templates)) for the hiring step your applicant is in, you'll be able to choose the text message template from the drop-down menu in the Invite drawer.
.png?width=670&height=663&name=Text%20message%20template%20use%20on%20applicant%20(7.20.26).png)
Using text message templates ensures that your applicants are automatically moved along in the hiring process and makes texting each applicant faster.
Whether you use a message template or not, you may only respond to text message chains that you’ve started. You can still view text message chains started by other hiring managers for applicants to which you have access, you just won’t be able to join the conversation.
### Setting up text message templates
To streamline texting applicants, we suggest texting applicants using text message templates.
If your account does not come with text message templates built in, you can start out by creating a new text message template.
Text message templates work just like [email message templates](https://adpsupport.careerplug.com/editing-email-templates?hsLang=en). One difference is that we encourage you to introduce yourself and your company, because applicants will be getting your texts from a phone number they don’t recognize.
To create a text message template, navigate to **Settings (gear icon) \> Templates \> Messages**.
%20(7.20.26)%20Nav%20Highlighted.png?width=670&height=317&name=Settings%2c%20Template%2c%20Message%20(Navigation%20Shown)%20(7.20.26)%20Nav%20Highlighted.png)
Click the **plus icon (+)** and select **Create Text Message Template**.
Give the template a descriptive title, such as "Phone Screen Invite - Text Message." Choose the purpose of the text, for example, to invite applicants to a phone screen or in-person interview. Type the content of the text in the Body area. Use [dynamic fields](https://adpsupport.careerplug.com/using-dynamic-fields-for-message-templates?hsLang=en) to populate the applicant's name, the job they applied to, and more.
**Tip:** Include your company name so that applicants know with which company they are corresponding.
Make sure to select the hiring step(s) in which you want to be able to use this template.
When you use a text message template, applicants to whom you send it will automatically be advanced in the hiring process. If you text applicants without a template, they won’t be advanced in the hiring process automatically.
Here are some [sample text message templates](https://adpsupport.careerplug.com/sample-text-message-templatess?hsLang=en).
### Text message notifications (in app and email)
When you get a new text from an applicant, the notifications icon in your navigation (to the left of Settings) will be illuminated. Click the **notifications icon** to respond to the text.
You'll also receive an email every 15 minutes if you have any unread text messages. To adjust these settings, navigate to your **My Profile** page.
%20(NavEXP)%20(Account%20drop-down)%20My%20profile%20highlighted%20(6.11.26).png?width=670&height=196&name=Dashboard%20(6.9.26)%20(NavEXP)%20(Account%20drop-down)%20My%20profile%20highlighted%20(6.11.26).png)
Navigate to the **Settings** tab and click the **Edit** button.
%20Pointed%20to%20edit.png?width=670&height=322&name=Employee%20Page%2c%20Another%20User%2c%20Settings%20(Nav%20bar%20minimized)%20Pointed%20to%20edit.png)
Scroll down to the Notifications section and turn on the New Text Messages toggle, if not already switched on.
You can adjust the frequency of emails sent when a text message is received using the **Email Frequency** drop-down.
%20(Cropped)%20Notification%20toggle%2c%20Edit%20frequency.png?width=670&height=319&name=Employee%20Page%2c%20Another%20User%2c%20Settings%2c%20Edit%2c%20Save%20(Nav%20bar%20minimized)%20(Cropped)%20Notification%20toggle%2c%20Edit%20frequency.png)
When you're done configuring your settings, click the **Save** button.
### Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
**Q: Can I enable text messaging for only certain users or locations?**
**A:** No. At the current time, we require an account that enables text messaging to purchase it for all users and locations on the account. Pricing is based on the number of total locations on the account.
**Q: Is each user assigned an individual phone number to contact applicants?**
**A:** Yes, each user has their own unique phone number from which applicants will receive texts.
**Q: Many of my team members use CareerPlug — who receives text message notifications? And can other users see an applicant's texting activity?**
**A:** Text message notifications only go to the original text sender. However, anyone who has access to an applicant can see their text message history in the All Activity tab of the applicant's profile. If a different user were to send a text message to the applicant, it would come from a different phone number.
**Q: Why can’t I text certain applicants?**
**A:** You can only text applicants who have opted-in to receive text messages when applying for the job. If an applicant chooses not to be texted, this message will appear when you attempt to do so:
[Here's more information on how we ask applicants to opt into being texted.](https://adpsupport.careerplug.com/how-applicants-opt-in-to-receiving-text-messages?hsLang=en)
**Q: Can I bulk send text messages?**
**A:** Bulk sending text messages is currently unavailable.
**Q: Can I receive or respond to text messages from applicants on my own mobile device?**
**A:** No. You must review and send text messages to applicants from within your CareerPlug account.
**Q: Are there guidelines around what I can and cannot send via text?**
**A:** Yes, there are strict rules around what you cannot send via text. This is to protect both you and potential applicants. These requirements are enforced by the phone carrier, not CareerPlug specifically. You should never send any texts that include the following content or language:
- Sex
- Hate
- Alcohol
- Firearms
- Tobacco and related products (including cannabis)
We understand this may be limiting to some users who work in the nightlife or cannabis industry, so please be mindful of what you share via text.
If you accidentally send a text containing banned language, the message thread will be automatically marked as spam, and you may need to continue communication with the applicant through other channels, such as email.
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