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# How to Handle Stuck Candidates

# How to Handle Stuck Candidates

Get notified when candidates remain in a stage too long without progress.

## What Are Stuck Candidates

Candidates become "stuck" when they remain in a pipeline stage beyond an expected timeframe. This often indicates:
* Waiting for feedback
* Forgotten follow-up
* Scheduling delays
* Decision bottlenecks

## Setting Up Stuck Candidate Alerts

1. Open a job
2. Go to the **Workflow** tab
3. Click the **bolt icon** on a stage
4. Click **Add Automation**
5. Select **Act If Candidate Is Stuck** ![How to Handle Stuck Candidates: Setting Up Stuck Candidate Alerts](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/4/f/a/a/4faab8f2b2ab0400/how-to-handle-stuck-candidates_x5b6zt.png)
6. Configure the trigger and action

## Configuration Options

### Days Until Considered Stuck
Set how many days a candidate can stay in this stage before triggering the alert.

Examples:
* Applied stage: 3 days
* Phone Screen: 5 days
* Interview: 7 days
* Offer: 3 days

### Action When Stuck
![How to Handle Stuck Candidates: Action When Stuck](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/4/f/a/a/4faab8f2b2ab0400/how-to-handle-stuck-candidates_uhb8p1.png)
**Email to Teammate:**
* Select recipient
* Customize message
* Include candidate link
* Set repeat frequency (e.g., every 3 days)

**Move to Stage:**
* Automatically advance or archive
* Use for: cleanup after extended periods

**Disqualify:**
* Auto-reject after timeout
* Use carefully, mainly for unresponsive candidates

### Repeat Notifications
Set how often to resend alerts if candidate remains stuck:
* Every 1 day (urgent)
* Every 3 days (normal)
* Every 7 days (low priority)
* Never repeat

## Example Configurations

### Applied Stage
* Stuck after: 3 days
* Action: Email to recruiter "Review pending candidates"
* Repeat: Every 2 days
* Purpose: Prevent application backlog

### Phone Screen Stage
* Stuck after: 5 days
* Action: Email to recruiter "Schedule phone screen"
* Repeat: Every 3 days
* Purpose: Keep screening moving

### Waiting for Feedback Stage
* Stuck after: 2 days
* Action: Email to hiring manager "Submit interview feedback"
* Repeat: Every 1 day
* Purpose: Get timely decisions

### Offer Stage
* Stuck after: 7 days
* Action: Email to HR "Follow up on pending offer"
* Repeat: Every 2 days
* Purpose: Close deals faster

## Manual Stuck Candidate Report

For candidates already stuck:
1. View the pipeline in the job
2. Look for candidates with long stage duration
3. Use filters to find candidates by date added to stage

## Tips

* Set realistic timeframes for each stage
* Shorter delays for competitive roles
* Don't over-notify—balance with workload
* Review and adjust based on actual hiring pace
* Combine with task assignments for accountability

## Related screenshots

These screenshots show the 100Hires areas used in this workflow.

![Job Workflow tab with Add automation button highlighted on the For review stage](https://100hires.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/workflow-stages-add-automation-v2.png)