5 Best Texting Platforms for Recruiting in 2024

Recruiting can be demanding and time-consuming, often requiring constant communication, organization, and follow-up.

Without an efficient system, you risk losing potential candidates or failing to keep them engaged, which can ultimately hurt your hiring efforts.

Fortunately, texting platforms have become essential tools in recruitment, simplifying processes and improving communication.

These tools automate routine tasks like sending interview reminders and follow-up messages to ease the workload for your HR team.

At the same time, they enable you to create engaging text message conversations for candidates—without sacrificing efficiency.

In this article, we’ll explore the five best texting platforms for recruiting to help you manage your recruiting process and attract the best candidate for your organization.

How Texting Platforms Improve Recruitment Efficiency

The traditional hiring process, which often relies on phone calls and emails, can delay your recruitment.

Delays between initial contact, scheduling interviews, and receiving responses can lead to missed opportunities, especially when attracting top candidates in a competitive market.

Texting platforms for recruiting provide a faster, more direct way to communicate, making the recruitment process smoother and more organized.

Real-Time Candidate Communication

The longer it takes to communicate with a candidate, the greater the risk of the candidate moving on to another opportunity.

Texting provides an instant and more direct communication method, allowing recruiters to interact with candidates without delays.

Texting allows recruiters to send offers quickly and receive an almost immediate response from the candidate, reducing the window where competitors could swoop in with a counteroffer.

Text messages can also instantly ask about and confirm candidate availability for interviews, assessments, or other recruitment stages.

This real-time interaction ensures that recruiters and candidates stay on the same page without waiting unnecessarily.

Speeding Up Interview Scheduling

One of the most frustrating parts of recruiting is the back-and-forth communication required to schedule interviews.

Emails often go unnoticed, and phone calls can be difficult to coordinate, particularly for currently employed candidates who can’t answer during working hours.

Texting simplifies this process. With a text message, recruiters can send a list of available interview times and receive a response in minutes, compared to the potential hours or days it might take with email.

Some platforms even allow candidates to choose a time directly through a text-based system, automatically updating the recruiter’s calendar.

Higher Engagement in Candidate Pools

A pool of past candidates is a valuable resource for recruiters, especially when hiring for repeatedly open roles. Candidates previously considered but not hired may still be great fits for new positions.

However, reaching out to these candidates via email or phone can feel too formal or get ignored entirely. Texting offers a more casual and non-disruptive way to engage passive candidates, especially when the timing isn’t ideal for a phone call.

With a texting platform, recruiters can quickly and easily re-engage candidates already familiar with the company. A short, personalized message can serve as a nudge to get them interested in applying again.

Personalized Recruitment Campaigns

Texting platforms allow recruiters to send messages specific to candidates’ experience, skills, and job roles.

This personalization can go a long way in making candidates feel recognized, increasing their likelihood of engaging with the message.

A standout feature of texting platforms like Textellent is the ability to segment your candidate pool and send targeted campaigns to specific groups.

Recruiters can create groups based on job roles, experience levels, or geographic locations, making each message relevant to the recipient.

For example, if a recruiter has a pool of candidates who are all qualified for marketing roles, they can send a bulk message about an open marketing position.

Rather than sending a generic text, the message can be personalized for each segment: “Hi [Name], we have an exciting opportunity for a digital marketing manager in your area. Are you open to discussing this role?”

Automated Recruitment Workflows

Recruiters are often overwhelmed with repetitive tasks such as sending follow-up messages, scheduling interviews, and updating candidates on the status of their applications.

Texting platforms allow recruiters to automate these outreach tasks by setting up workflows that trigger specific actions based on pre-set conditions.

When a new position opens, recruiters can send an automated text message to a list of pre-qualified candidates. This message can include the job title, a brief description, and a call to action for the candidate to express interest or apply.

As soon as a candidate applies, you can send an automated message to acknowledge receipt and provide the next steps in the hiring process.

Top 5 Texting Platforms for Recruiting

SMS platforms provide a direct, immediate, and highly effective way to connect with candidates throughout recruitment.

Here are the five best texting platforms for recruiting that can help you optimize your candidate communications.

1. Textellent

Textellent stands out as the best text recruiting platform, offering powerful features that simplify recruitment logistics and improve communication efficiency.

Textellent allows recruiters to automate interview scheduling easily. Candidates can self-book interviews through the platform and automate interview reminders to reduce the chances of no-shows.

This platform offers the option to use a shared SMS short code, an easy-to-remember number for candidates to text. Recruiters can advertise their job postings and increase applicants’ interest using these shortcodes. For example, they can send: “Text ‘JOBS’ to 87000 to learn more about our open positions.” All responses are directed to the recruiter’s text-enabled business number, keeping communication consistent and professional.

Even when candidates or employees reach out after hours, Textellent helps you maintain a professional appearance. 

With auto-reply texts, recruiters can set up automated messages to text candidates immediately, letting them know you’ve received their message and when they can expect a follow-up.

Textellent integrates with existing recruitment tools, including applicant tracking system (ATS) and calendar applications. This integration allows recruiters to manage candidate communication, scheduling, and tracking in one place without juggling multiple platforms.

Key Features

• Automated drip campaigns: Keep candidates engaged with scheduled messages throughout the hiring process
• Self-book interviews: Allow candidates to schedule interviews themselves through text
• Automate interview reminders: Set up automatic reminders for upcoming interviews
• Advanced scheduling: Set reminders and follow-ups for interviews and meetings
• Message management: Organize messages by name, tag, or recruiter for easier tracking
• Referral incentives: Use periodic text blasts to contractors and employees
• Bulk messaging: Quickly send mass texts for job openings or referral incentives
• MMS support: Share job details, tips, or documents with multimedia messages
• ATS integration: Connect with applicant tracking systems and calendars seamlessly
• After-hours response: Send automatic responses to after-hours candidate inquiries
• Compliance tools: Ensure legal compliance, including TCPA, for recruiting across locations
• Targeted messages: Use tags to send the right message to specific groups
• Team communication: Easily share updates across your organization

Pricing

Textellent offers incredible value by blending flexible pricing with industry-specific features designed to meet your unique needs.

• You can explore all the essential features with a 2-week free trial to see how it works for your business.
• The Essential Plan starts at $49/month, providing 750 SMS credits without charge for incoming messages.
• For larger teams, the Standard Plan is $99/month and includes 2,000 SMS credits for up to two users.
• Premium Custom Plans are available for businesses with more complex requirements. Use it to customize options like user count, SMS credits, and advanced features based on your needs.

2. SimpleTexting

SimpleTexting makes recruiting easier by letting you send one-on-one texts and mass messages quickly. It includes tools like scheduled texts, autoresponders, and MMS messaging to share job details or interview info with photos, videos, or PDFs.

The platform’s inbox helps you reply to candidates fast, and AI Assist helps create better messages.

Source: SimpleTexting

You can use a 6-digit short code for mass job alerts or text-enable your current phone number for more personal communication, which is ideal for large hiring campaigns and individual candidate outreach.

Key Features

• Real-time conversations with customers
• Send bulk messages to large groups
• Create and optimize texts using AI
• Automate messages for specific times or regular intervals
• Set automated replies based on keywords
• Segment contacts for targeted messaging

Pricing

SimpleTexting offers plans starting at $39/month for 500 credits, with prices increasing as your messaging needs grow. You only pay for outgoing messages, and they offer carrier registration for an additional fee.

3. EZ Texting

EZ Texting is a text marketing platform that helps businesses connect with their audiences through SMS campaigns. It helps send job updates, interview reminders, and follow-ups, keeping candidates informed and engaged.

Source: EZTexting

With two-way messaging, recruiters can quickly answer candidate questions, while mass texting allows for sending personalized messages to large groups at once. The platform also uses keywords, letting candidates text a word to get automatic responses for faster and more efficient communication.

Key Features

• Segmenting contacts for targeted messages
• Two-way texting with candidates in real-time
• Send images using pre-made templates
• Easily import large contact lists
• Use keywords for automated responses
• Automatically send messages based on actions
• Set up automatic interview or deadline reminders
• Schedule messages to send at the best time

Pricing

EZ Texting offers a variety of pricing plans based on your contact list size.

• The Launch Plan costs $25/month and covers up to 500 contacts.
• The Boost Plan, ideal for managing 500-2,000 contacts, starts at $75/month.
• The Scale Plan starts at $125/month for larger needs and is recommended for 2,000-50,000 contacts.
• For businesses handling 50,000+ contacts, the Enterprise Plan starts at $3,000/month.

4. ClickSend

ClickSend simplifies recruiting by allowing you to send and receive SMS, MMS, email, and voice messages from one platform.

Source: ClickSend

With its global SMS gateway, recruiters can reach candidates anywhere, making it great for large-scale or international hiring. You can also integrate it with other systems through API to automate messages for tasks like interview scheduling or application follow-ups.

Key Features

• Business messaging for managing all communication needs
• Engage in real-time conversations with candidates
• Send multimedia messages with images, videos, or documents
• Send mass texts to large groups
• Automate messages to be sent at specific times
• Set up auto-replies to simplify candidate communication

Pricing

ClickSend offers a flexible pay-as-you-go pricing model, with rates starting at $0.0258 per text message. Businesses that send mass texts can also take advantage of volume discounts. There’s no monthly subscription, so you only pay for what you use.

5. Twilio

Twilio is a cloud communication platform that provides essential tools for recruiters to boost their candidate outreach and communication.

Source: Twilio

Twilio lets recruiters integrate and automate key communication processes like making and receiving phone calls and sending and receiving text messages.

In addition to its messaging features, Twilio automates tasks like candidate verification and campaign tracking, making it ideal for teams managing a high volume of applicants.

One thing to bear in mind is that Twillio charges for incoming SMS, something that other platforms, like Textellent, don’t. Also, the platform doesn’t provide support to small businesses when it comes to 10DLC compliance.

Key Features

• Add secure verification to logins and account creation to prevent fraud
• Send notifications across multiple channels like SMS and email
• Deliver emails reliably via SendGrid Email API
• Create personalized, multi-channel campaigns with Twilio Engage
• Use real-time data to build effective marketing campaigns
• Easily build custom IVR and self-service workflows with drag-and-drop tools
• Seamlessly transition from self-service to live agents on any channel

Pricing

Twilio charges $0.0079 per message, both for sending and receiving. You only pay for the messages you use, with discounts available for higher message volumes.

Why Textellent Is the Best Texting Platform for Recruitment

If you want to make recruiting easier and more effective, Textellent is the best text recruiting software to help you do that.

Textellent takes care of important tasks like sending interview reminders and follow-up messages so you can focus on finding the best candidates. With automated drip campaigns, you can keep candidates engaged without extra work, and scheduling tools ensure your messages always go out at the right time.

Textellent stands out because it helps you send personal, meaningful messages. Every message feels relevant and thoughtful if you’re texting a big group of candidates or just a few top prospects.

You can also increase employee morale through automated text birthday campaigns. With Textellent, you can send personalized birthday, anniversary, or holiday well-wishes to your employees to boost goodwill and loyalty.

Whether you’re managing local recruitment or nationwide hiring efforts, Textellent scales to fit your needs.

This texting software ensures compliance with legal regulations while offering local phone numbers for a personalized touch. With seamless ATS integration, all your candidate data and communication tools are in one place.

Boost Candidate Engagement with Textellent’s Automated Solutions

A well-connected organization is successful, and Textellent is the ultimate tool to power up your recruiting process.

Whether you’re a small firm or a large enterprise, Textellent helps you streamline your candidate communications, keeping your recruitment process organized and efficient.

From automating tasks to personalizing messages, you’ll never miss an opportunity to engage candidates.

Textellent integrates smoothly with your existing applicant tracking and employee management systems, so you won’t have to switch between tools.

All your messages, appointments, and attachments are synced automatically for effortless communications.

Don’t let missed opportunities or communication breakdowns slow you down—choose Textellent and take control of your recruiting process today!

Sign up for a free trial or request a demo consultation now.

FAQs About Texting Platforms for Recruiting

How can I filter candidates using a texting platform?

Most texting platforms offer contact management tools that allow recruiters to organize and filter candidates. You can apply filters such as job role, location, qualifications, or custom tags assigned to contacts.

For example, candidates who have passed the initial screening can be tagged as “Interview Scheduled,” allowing recruiters to quickly communicate with specific groups of candidates without sifting through all contacts manually.

Can I send group messages to specific teams within my organization?

Yes, texting platforms have internal communication features that enable recruiters to send updates or reminders to different talent acquisition teams within the organization.

For example, you can group recruiting and HR teams or interview panels and send mass texts to update them about the status of candidates or share scheduling information.

How do texting platforms handle opt-outs from candidates?

To comply with TCPA regulations, text messaging platforms allow candidates to easily opt out of receiving future messages by replying with keywords like “STOP.” When a candidate opts out, the platform automatically updates the contact’s status and ensures no further messages are sent.

Some platforms even provide confirmation messages to the candidate after opting out, confirming that they have been unsubscribed.