How to Improve Communication with ATS

Bad communication loses good candidates. Your ATS should make communication better, not worse. Here's how to set it up right.

The Application Acknowledgment

Every candidate should hear from you within minutes of applying. Not days. Minutes. Set up an automatic email that:

• Thanks them for applying
• Confirms the position they applied for
• Sets expectations for next steps and timing
• Sounds like a human wrote it

Keep Candidates Updated

Silence is the enemy. If candidates don't hear from you, they assume you're not interested. Set up status update emails:

• When they move to "Under Review"
• When they're scheduled for an interview
• After the interview (even if you need more time)
• When a decision is made

Text Messaging

Email open rates are around 20%. Text message open rates are above 95%. For roles where candidates don't live in their inbox, text is essential:

• Interview confirmations
• Day-of reminders
• Quick questions
• Urgent follow-ups

Rejection Emails

Don't ghost rejected candidates. A short, respectful rejection email:

• Protects your employer brand
• Keeps the door open for future roles
• Is just the right thing to do

Template it in your ATS so it's easy to send.

Internal Communication

Your ATS should make it easy for your team to share notes, tag each other, and stay aligned. No more "did you call that candidate?" confusion.