Inviting Candidates: Settings, Bulk Upload, and Customized Emails

Once your interview is set up, the next step is getting candidates into it. Bridge Labs gives you three ways to do that: share a direct link, upload a CSV of candidate details, or sync from your connected ATS. Before you send anything, Invite Settings lets you control link expiration, resume requirements, and bulk question templates so every invitation goes out exactly the way you want it.

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Invite Settings

Before inviting candidates, click Invite Settings in the top right of the Invite Candidates panel. This is where you configure three key preferences that apply across all candidates in this interview.

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Interview Link Expiration

Set how long each candidate’s unique interview link stays active before it expires. Options are 1, 3, 7, or 14 days from the date the invitation is sent. Shorter windows create urgency. Longer windows give candidates more flexibility, which typically improves completion rates. Choose the expiration period that fits your hiring timeline. You can always refresh an expired link later without starting over.

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Resume Upload

Control whether candidates can attach a resume to their interview submission.

• Toggle off to make resume upload optional. Candidates can submit without attaching anything.
• Toggle on and set to Required to make resume upload mandatory. Candidates cannot complete their submission without attaching a resume.

For roles where the resume is essential context alongside the video, requiring it upfront saves a follow-up step.

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Bulk Apply Template

If you want to apply a specific question template to all candidates in your pipeline at once, select a template from the dropdown and click Apply to All Candidates. This replaces the need to configure each invite individually when everyone should be answering the same question set.

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Three Ways to Invite Candidates

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Share the Interview Link Directly

Every interview has a unique shareable link. Copy it from your dashboard and paste it into your job posting, a sourcing email, your company careers page, or anywhere candidates are applying. Anyone who receives the link can start the interview without creating a Bridge Labs account. This is the fastest method for broad outreach or when candidates are self-applying through a job board.

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Bulk Upload via CSV

To invite a specific list of candidates by email, download the sample CSV template from the Invite Candidates panel, fill in each candidate’s contact details, and upload the completed file. Bridge Labs will send each person a personalized invitation email with their unique interview link. This method is best when you have a defined list of screened applicants you want to move into the interview stage.

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Sync from Your ATS

If your applicant tracking system is connected, candidates can be synced directly into Bridge Labs without any manual steps. See the ATS Integration guide for setup instructions.

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Customizing the Candidate Invitation Email

Bridge Labs lets you fully customize the email each candidate receives when they are invited to an interview. From the Invite Candidates panel, open Send Candidate Email to access the email editor. The editor gives you full control over the subject line, body copy, and formatting. On the right side of the editor, a Template Variables panel lists every dynamic field you can insert: Candidate fields: {{FirstName}}, {{LastName}}, {{Email}}, {{FullName}} Job and interview fields: {{Position}}, {{InviteLinkButton}}, {{InviteLinkUrl}} Company and sender fields: {{CompanyLogo}}, {{CompanyName}}, {{YourFirstName}}, {{YourLastName}}, {{YourEmail}} Click any variable in the panel to copy it, then paste it into your subject line or email body. Variables are replaced automatically with the correct values when each individual email is sent. Before sending, use Send Test Email to preview exactly what the candidate will see. When you are ready, click Send Invitation Email to dispatch the personalized invitation to each candidate on your list.

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Refreshing Expired Invite Links

Candidate links expire based on the expiration period you set. When a link expires, the candidate’s card in your dashboard shows an Expired Invite Link badge. To reactivate the invitation:

1. Click the Expired Invite Link badge on the candidate’s card.
2. In the Refresh Invite Link dialog, choose a new expiration period: 1, 3, 7, or 14 days from today.
3. Click Refresh Invite. Bridge Labs immediately sends the candidate a fresh invitation email with a new active link.

No re-uploading, no recreating the invite from scratch. One click gets the candidate back into your funnel.