# Using Batch Auto Reject

The Batch Auto Reject feature allows you to efficiently reject multiple candidates at once based on configurable criteria. Instead of manually reviewing and rejecting each low-fit candidate, you can define rules and let the system identify and process rejections in bulk—saving hours of administrative time on high-volume roles.

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## Accessing Batch Auto Reject

![Applicants toolbar](/files/flow-applicants-table690164690164.png)

There are two places to manage auto-reject:

1. **From the Applicants List:**
   - Navigate to any job's applicant list
   - Click **Batch Auto Reject** in the toolbar
   - This takes you to `/employer/applicants/{jobId}/batch-auto-reject`

2. **Setting Up Criteria Templates:**
   - Go to **Settings** → **Tools & Automation** → **Automation** → **Auto Reject**
   - Navigate to `/employer/settings/automation/auto-reject/criteria`
   - Here you create and manage reusable reject criteria templates

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## How Batch Auto Reject Works

The process follows a **4-step wizard**:

### Step 1: Select Criteria

Choose a pre-configured criteria template or proceed to create custom filters.

Each template card shows:
- **Criteria Name** – Descriptive name of the template
- **Description** – What the template targets
- **Score threshold** – The resume score cutoff
- **Fit categories** – Which fit levels are included
- **Date Created** – When the template was made
- **Preferred badge** – Your default/preferred template (marked with a star)

Click a template card to select it (highlighted with a colored border).

> **Tip:** If no templates exist yet, click the link to create one in Settings → Automation → Auto Reject.

### Step 2: Modify Criteria

After selecting a template, customize the criteria for this specific batch operation:

#### 1. Resume Score & Job Fit

| Field | Description |
|-------|-------------|
| **Resume Score Threshold (%)** | Reject candidates with a resume score below this percentage (e.g., entering "20" rejects candidates scoring below 20%) |
| **Job Fit (reject these)** | Select which fit levels to reject. Options: Strong Fit, Good Fit, Fair Fit, Weak Fit, Distortion |

#### 2. Scope

| Field | Description |
|-------|-------------|
| **Stages** | Limit rejection to specific stages only. Leave empty to include all stages. Select from: New, Not Qualified, Phone Screening, Interview, Final Interview, Rejected, Auto Rejected |
| **Exclude Bookmarked** | Toggle ON (default) to protect bookmarked candidates from auto-rejection |

#### 3. Experience

| Field | Description |
|-------|-------------|
| **YOE Min** | Only reject candidates with fewer than this many years of experience |
| **YOE Max** | Only reject candidates with more than this many years of experience |

#### 4. Advanced Filters

For more complex criteria, use the full **Advanced Filter UI** which supports:
- Keyword filters with AND/OR logic
- Numeric filters (resume score, rating, years of experience)
- Text filters (resume content, skills, education, location, certifications, tags)
- Boolean filters (bookmarked, received emails)
- Additional question response filters

> **Important:** If you add Advanced Filters, they **replace** the preset criteria—the system uses one or the other, not both simultaneously.

### Step 3: Preview

Before executing, the system runs a **dry run** to show exactly which candidates would be rejected.

The preview displays:
- **Count summary** – "X of Y applicants would be moved to Auto Rejected"
- **Candidate table** with columns:
  - Name
  - Email
  - Current Stage
  - Job Fit (chip)
  - Resume Score
  - Recommendation
  - Years of Experience
  - Current Job Title / Employer
  - Rating

You can click any candidate row to open their full profile in a new view.

Click **Preview matches** to refresh if you've changed criteria.

### Step 4: Batch Reject

The final confirmation step shows:
- The criteria summary one more time
- The count of affected candidates
- A prominent red **"Batch Reject (Without Sending Email)"** button

> **Important:** Batch auto-reject does **not** send rejection emails to candidates. They are silently moved to the "Auto Rejected" stage. If you want to notify them later, use an Email Campaign.

#### Confirmation Dialog

After clicking the reject button, a confirmation dialog appears showing:
- A warning that matched candidates will be rejected
- The candidate list one more time
- The criteria summary
- **Cancel** and **Confirm** buttons

Click **Confirm** to execute the batch rejection.

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## Criteria Templates

### Creating a Template

1. Go to **Settings** → **Tools & Automation** → **Automation** → **Auto Reject** → **Criteria**
2. Click **Add Criteria**
3. Configure:
   - **Criteria Name** – e.g., "Low-fit Junior Reject"
   - **Description** – e.g., "Rejects weak/distortion fits with low resume scores"
   - **Resume Score Threshold** – Minimum acceptable score
   - **Selected Fits** – Which fit categories to reject
   - **Only Stages** – Restrict to specific stages (optional)
   - **Exclude Bookmarked** – Whether to protect bookmarked candidates
   - **YOE Range** – Min/max years of experience (optional)
   - **Recommendation** – Optionally target "Not Recommended" candidates only
   - **Additional Question Filters** – Filter by screening question responses

### Setting a Preferred Template

Mark one template as **Preferred** (starred) to make it the default selection when starting batch reject. The preferred template is auto-selected when you open the batch reject wizard.

### Editing and Deleting Templates

- Click a template to edit its fields
- Use the delete option to remove templates you no longer need
- Changes to templates don't affect past batch rejections

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## What Happens After Batch Rejection

- Affected candidates are moved to the **Auto Rejected** stage
- Their stage shows a grey "Auto Rejected" dot in the list
- They are separated from manually rejected candidates
- No notification email is sent to the candidates
- A success notification confirms how many candidates were processed
- The applicant list refreshes automatically

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## Safety Features

| Feature | Protection |
|---------|-----------|
| **Exclude Bookmarked** | Candidates you've bookmarked are protected by default |
| **Dry Run Preview** | See exactly who will be affected before committing |
| **Confirmation Dialog** | Extra confirmation step prevents accidental bulk rejections |
| **No Email Sent** | Candidates aren't notified, giving you time to reconsider |
| **Stage Restriction** | Can limit to only "New" stage to avoid rejecting candidates already in interviews |

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## Best Practices

1. **Set up criteria templates early** – Having predefined templates makes the process faster and more consistent across jobs.

2. **Always preview before confirming** – Even if you trust your criteria, review the preview to catch any unexpected matches.

3. **Use Exclude Bookmarked** – If there's ever a candidate you're unsure about, bookmark them first—they'll be protected from batch operations.

4. **Start conservative** – Set a low resume score threshold initially (e.g., 10-15%) and adjust upward after reviewing results.

5. **Combine with Stage scope** – Only auto-reject from the "New" stage to ensure candidates who've progressed aren't accidentally removed.

6. **Follow up with Email Campaigns** – After batch rejecting, consider sending a professional rejection email campaign to maintain your employer brand.

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## Related Pages

- [Managing Candidates](/help/applicants-pipeline/managing-candidates) – Understanding the applicant list and stages
- [Fit Score & Ranking](/help/applicants-pipeline/fit-score-ranking) – How resume scores and fit levels are calculated
- [Custom Hiring Pipeline](/help/applicants-pipeline/hiring-pipeline) – Stage configuration
- [Candidate Screening](/help/applicants-pipeline/candidate-screening) – How screening criteria relate to auto-reject