Can recruiters text candidates?

Yes, with consent. A candidate who applied and gave their number is generally treated as having agreed to informational texts about that application; job alerts and other ongoing texts should have their own opt-in. Name your company in every message and honor opt-outs right away.

Can I text candidates from a resume database?

Not as a first contact on Signilio. A number from a resume database, a scraped profile or a purchased list isn't consent, and Signilio's Acceptable Use Policy prohibits messages to non-consented lists. Reach those candidates another way and ask them to opt in.

Do staffing agencies need 10DLC registration?

Yes, to text from ordinary local numbers. The agency registers a brand (legal name and EIN) and a campaign describing candidate messages and how candidates opt in. Signilio registers your brand and campaign during onboarding.

What time can I text candidates?

Keep recruiting texts and job alerts between 8am and 9pm in the candidate's local time, and hold overnight shift offers for the morning unless the candidate asked for them right away.

Can several recruiters share one texting number?

Yes, through a shared inbox. Candidates see one consistent number, and each conversation is assigned to one recruiter so two people don't contact the same candidate about the same job.

Industry

Texting for Staffing Agencies and Recruiters

How staffing agencies and recruiting teams text candidates: interview scheduling, shift offers, job alerts, consent, quiet hours and 10DLC registration.

Candidates often answer texts faster than email, and in staffing, reaching a candidate first can decide who fills the role. Recruiting teams text to schedule interviews, staffing agencies text to fill shifts, and both text job alerts to people who signed up for them.

What recruiting teams text

Application follow-up: we got your application, here's the next step.
Interview scheduling and reminders, with a reply to confirm.
Shift offers for staffing agencies, first come first served.
Job alerts to candidates who opted in to hear about new openings.

Consent for candidate texts

Applications and candidate sign-ups. Add an unchecked box that names your company and says the candidate agrees to receive texts about their application and about job openings. A candidate who applied and gave their number is generally treated as having agreed to informational texts about that application; ongoing job alerts are a separate program and should have their own opt-in.
Sourced candidates. A number from a resume database, a scraped profile or a purchased list isn't consent. Signilio's Acceptable Use Policy prohibits messages to purchased or non-consented lists, so reach those candidates another way first and ask them to opt in.

Keep your own record of each candidate's consent; Signilio doesn't keep that proof for you. STOP-keyword opt-outs are honored automatically; treat any reply asking you to stop as an opt-out too. See how to word SMS consent.

Timing

Shift work runs around the clock, but texts don't have to. Keep job alerts and recruiting texts between 8am and 9pm in the candidate's local time, and schedule overnight shift offers for the morning unless the candidate asked to hear about them right away. See SMS quiet hours.

One inbox for the recruiting team

Recruiters and coordinators can answer candidates from one shared inbox on registered numbers, with each candidate assigned to one recruiter, so two people don't text the same candidate about the same job. See speed to lead.

10DLC registration for staffing and recruiting

A staffing agency or employer texting from local numbers registers a brand (legal name and EIN) and a campaign that describes candidate messages and how candidates opt in. Since February 2025, US carriers block unregistered business traffic from local numbers. See 10DLC registration.

What texting costs a recruiting team

On Signilio, Pro is $189.99 a month for 12,000 texts and 15 seats, enough for a full recruiting desk, then 3¢ a text, with carrier fees included and replies free. See pricing.

None of this is legal advice; have counsel review your program before you send.

Sample texts for staffing and recruiting

Starting points to adapt. Bracketed fields are merge fields or your own details; every marketing text names your business and says how to opt out.

Application follow-up

Hi [First name], this is [Recruiter] at [Your company]. Thanks for applying for the [Role] position. Are you free for a 10-minute call tomorrow? Reply STOP to opt out.

Interview reminder

[Your company]: reminder of your interview tomorrow at 11am with [Name]. Reply C to confirm or R to reschedule.

Shift offer

[Your company]: warehouse shift available Sat 7am to 3pm, $[rate]/hr. Reply YES to claim it. Reply STOP to opt out.

Job alert (opted-in candidates)

[Your company]: new [Role] opening near you, $[pay]. Details: [link]. Reply STOP to opt out.

Common questions

Can recruiters text candidates?: Yes, with consent. A candidate who applied and gave their number is generally treated as having agreed to informational texts about that application; job alerts and other ongoing texts should have their own opt-in. Name your company in every message and honor opt-outs right away.
Can I text candidates from a resume database?: Not as a first contact on Signilio. A number from a resume database, a scraped profile or a purchased list isn't consent, and Signilio's Acceptable Use Policy prohibits messages to non-consented lists. Reach those candidates another way and ask them to opt in.
Do staffing agencies need 10DLC registration?: Yes, to text from ordinary local numbers. The agency registers a brand (legal name and EIN) and a campaign describing candidate messages and how candidates opt in. Signilio registers your brand and campaign during onboarding.
What time can I text candidates?: Keep recruiting texts and job alerts between 8am and 9pm in the candidate's local time, and hold overnight shift offers for the morning unless the candidate asked for them right away.
Can several recruiters share one texting number?: Yes, through a shared inbox. Candidates see one consistent number, and each conversation is assigned to one recruiter so two people don't contact the same candidate about the same job.